Melissa Kacar

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power is a largely dark and brooding exploration of femininity, identity, body autonomy, and gender exploration beyond the framework of traditional stereotypes and conventions. There are many aspects of Halsey 's life that informed this conceptual project, but perhaps the most pertinent influence is their own path to motherhood. She has been very open about her health and fertility journey throughout her career, especially in bringing awareness to her endometriosis diagnosis and the miscarriages she has experienced. This album became a bold and honest confrontation of all that society and the world at large place on women, as well as the limitations of her own body as someone living with chronic illness. In January 2021, Halsey announced she was pregnant with her first child, and she gave birth just a month before the album was released. So much of this album is rooted in reclaiming autonomy over her body in the wake of illness, pregnancy, and the ...

For two nights only at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, Halsey performed live with a string ensemble on stage for a special engagement benefiting arts programs and art education across the state. It is a part of the inaugural state-wide North To Shore Festival that featured hundreds of New Jersey artists throughout June. I am still speechless after seeing her perform live for the first time in her home state, the entire night was so surreal. Finally getting to hear so many of the songs that have changed my life in countless ways in that setting was an unforgettable experience. I was in awe for the entire performance, it was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen! I have always admired Hasley for their incredible songwriting ability that is always deeply personal and honest while simultaneously crafting an intricate universe within the music and art. I have always recognized a piece of myself in her music that has inspired my own artistic journey in such an impactful...

"Lonely is the Muse" // Halsey I am continuously blown away by Halsey 's stunning artistry and vivid world-building in their music. "Lonely is the Muse" is so powerful and sharply written, sonically drawing from rock and grunge aesthetics of the 1990's. That is a style that I always felt suited her best, especially after the incredible  If I Can't Have Love I Want Power   in 2021 . The song is about the way she always falls in love with artists and creative types, only to realize that time and time again she ends up feeling commodified and put on a pedestal as a means of inspiration for that person's art. I never heard this described before in a song and it truly gives me chills every single time I listen. Dare I say "Lonely is the Muse" is her best song yet?  It is so poignantly written, so many lyrics stand out to me as among their greatest ever. "I will exist in every second just to decorate your life and when you're done, you c...