Halsey: The Epitome of Creativity
No one is doing creativity quite like Halsey.
Over the course of the pandemic, many creatives spent their time creating. People were stuck at home, and with the craziness of the world around them, they needed an escape. Fortunately for fans, there was not a shortage of music releases no matter what genre you listen to: there’s been Nine Inch Nails, Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift, Alanis Morrisette, and plenty of other bands/artists releasing content.
Music is a perfect example of multiple forms of creative expression intertwining with each other. While most singers have assistance, they normally have some type of involvement with writing lyrics, playing instruments, creating makeup looks, and filming music videos.
When asked who my role model is for creativity, my mind instantly thinks of Halsey, one of my favorite singers/songwriters.
Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) expresses her creativity in multiple ways, even outside of music. Let’s go over some of her major accomplishments from the last couple of years. Her third album, Manic, was released right before the pandemic in January 2020. This album was different from her previous ones as it was written from a personal perspective instead of a created character. Then, they released a collection of poems, I Would Leave Me If I Could, in November 2020 followed by her unique and vibrant makeup brand about-face in January 2021. While these were likely in the works before the pandemic, all the promotions and new releases would surely be time-consuming. In the meantime, she was also releasing singles/collaborations with other artists (like Marshmello and Machine Gun Kelly) and producing various artwork. She was even cast in The Player’s Table, a new mini-series in development for HBO.
Halsey was also active when it came to politics, interviewing Bernie Sanders, attending protests, and voicing her opinion on multiple issues. In January 2021, they also released photos revealing she was pregnant and in a relationship, which led many people to believe they would probably take a well-deserved break from their creative pursuits to focus on their personal life.
As it so happens, this was not the case. This summer, they announced their new album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, which will not only be a musical release but theatrical as well. A one-hour IMAX experience, the trailer looks dark, captivating, and visually appealing. It also suggests the album and film will touch on numerous social issues like sexuality and pregnancy.
While I can only guess when Halsey started upon these projects, it is amazing how they were able to release a wide variety of art in such a short period of time. Sure, she has a massive fanbase, and being creative is her career, but the quality of their art only seems to improve with time. Sacrificing quality for quantity does not appear to apply to Halsey.
Another aspect that amazes me about Halsey is her authenticity. With her involvement in so many creative outlets, it really makes you feel as if they truly follow their inspiration wherever it leads them. She speaks her mind and shares her art rather freely. Oftentimes, people are too afraid to branch out of their comfort zone to try something unfamiliar to them. If you’re a writer, you may stay away from painting a portrait simply because you fear you’d be horrible at it. Maybe you would be, but you’ll never know (or get better) if you never try.
Plus, if you’re constantly inspired and creating, it becomes a part of you. Hopefully, you love it, but if you’re constantly inspired, at least the art loves you.
Fear can also impede creativity when people know what they want to create but are afraid of how their work will be perceived by others. The beauty of art, however, is that it can be up to interpretation. Some people may not like it, but you are bound to inspire others if you share your truth. Halsey speaks honestly about topics like mental health and sexuality, which is refreshing to hear after being taboo for so long. Some people may still turn away, but it creates a wonderful connection for others who may not feel their struggles represented accurately in the media.
Of course, not everyone has to be a master of all arts-just one works too! As someone who likes to express creativity in various ways, however, Halsey has always stood out to me. She does poetry, music, art, acting, makeup…so why can’t I? My work will likely never be as distinctive and well-known as theirs, but it’s for me. If it makes me happy and resonates with anyone, that’s all I’m asking for.
The most important part of creativity is: be honest with yourself and create the art you wish to create. If it works, great. If not, you still have the opportunity to try again.
