Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

Halsey: The Face of the New Americana

 Photo by Jesus J. Montero

She’s an up and coming recording artist, set to release her debut album in August. She’s biracial, bisexual and bipolar. She’s a blue-haired, empowered woman with tattoos, a pixie cut and a “mess with the bull, you get the horns” attitude. She’s Ashley Frangipane, better known as Halsey. And she’s the face of America’s youth.

Halsey, 20, gained notoriety via her first single, Ghost, and has only continued to grow since. The release of her debut EP, Room 93, only made her popularity soar, with artists giving her the opportunity to tour with them twice before she’s even released her first full-length album. She’s a bisexual woman of color, dominating in a straight, white male controlled industry. And that’s no small feat.

However, she didn’t get there for no reason. Halsey’s charming and humble personality, combined with her sultry vocals, powerful lyrics, and massive social media presence, give her a winning combo for success. And she uses her newfound fame well. Halsey’s Twitter account, @halsey, is filled with tweets supporting the LGBTQ+ community, calling out racists on their prejudice, pushing body positivity, support for those with mental illnesses, and brutally honest opinions on current events. She’s noted the Charleston shooting as a racist attack, encouraged her young fanbase to forget what others think of their body, and declared her love for Caitlyn Jenner, and she prides herself on her uncensored opinions.

But Halsey’s activism and honesty isn’t just noticeable on her social media accounts. Her views are laced into her music as well. Her upcoming debut, BADLANDS, is self-described as an “angry feminist record,” the single New Americana tells the story of a gay football player, her video for Ghost features Halsey in a relationship with another woman, and Control is an autobiographical piece on Halsey’s struggle with her bipolar disorder. She makes sure everyone knows what’s on her mind, and she doesn’t apologize for it either.

And her fanbase lives for it. Her replies on Twitter are filled with her supporters screaming “YES QUEEN,” “MOM,” AND “FUCK IT UP BITCH YAS” In fact, her previously mentioned enormous social media following is one of the reasons Halsey is so powerful. She has an audience. And one that agrees with her. She has 445K followers that will willingly relay her messages, with thousands of retweets on everything she posts. 3.3K. 7.8K. 9.9K. 16K. I managed to get a retweet once, and I was still getting notifications from it a month later.

But it’s not just her powerfully social awareness that makes Halsey an icon for the new generation. Her story of building herself from the ground up, going from living out of hotel rooms to a Los Angeles apartment, balcony included, is another factor that makes her an inspirational leader for America’s youth. Her experience with homelessness and financial lows, but making it out and turning her talents into her financial stability, give hope to her young fans who hope to do the same.

The remarkable thing about Halsey is that despite her young age, she’s managed to go through so much. She’s struggled with a mental disorder, experienced unhealthy relationships and found herself homeless all before she’s old enough to legally have a pint of beer. And her vivid songwriting tells her stories well.

She’s aware. She’s experienced. She’s got a bad girl attitude with a heart as big as her brain.

She’s Halsey. The face of the new Americana.

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