If you've heard of the recent music sensation Halsey, then congratulations: you've been exposed to a true artist. If not, you need to, and should hear about her. From completely blowing up in the music scene this past year, to bringing up real world issues and raising awareness about them, Halsey is a name to remember and keep an eye out for.
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, or as the world knows her, Halsey, is a 21 year old singer and songwriter from northern New Jersey. She has been singing and songwriting throughout her life, but started taking it seriously at 17 years old, posting her songs on YouTube and SoundCloud. Her music is in the category of electropop and is seen as very raw and truthful.
"Halsey" is a stage name that Frangipane created for herself. It is based on the fact that it is an anagram of her first name Ashley, and it is also the name of a street in Brooklyn that she spent a great deal of time on that influenced her songwriting.
Halsey's debut album "Badlands" was released in August 2015 and debuted second on both the United States and Australian music charts. She has been nominated for various awards and recognition on many different platforms including Artist on the Rise, Best New Artist, and Favorite Breakout Artist.
In 2015 alone, Halsey has headlined her own tour, the Badlands Tour, and co-headlined The American Youth Tour with the band Young Rising Sons. American rock band Imagine Dragons invited Halsey on their Smoke + Mirrors Tour this past summer, and The Weeknd had her open for select shows on their The Madness Fall Tour.
Not only is Halsey dominating the music industry at the moment, but she is also making noise in other places. She openly talks about some of the world's hottest and controversial topics including race, mental illness, and gender equality in interviews and on social media.
Being biracial, a strong supporter of the feminist movement, and a sufferer of a mental illness herself, Halsey freely states her opinions and views to the world and her adoring fans without a second thought.
Halsey is the epitome of a true artist. She is not afraid to be different, creative, and innovative. She pushes the boundaries with her music and offers real, tangible emotions in her songs. Rising in popularity more and more every single day, Halsey does whatever she can to keep herself grounded in her music and to please her fans.
A little less than a year ago, Halsey was playing modestly sized clubs in New York City with no more than 1,000 people in attendance. Now, she has over a million followers on Twitter and has announced a headlining show at Madison Square Garden in August 2016. This show has since then completely sold out.
2015 was more than a fantastic debut for Halsey. Now that she has made her mark on the world, I can't wait for the amazing things she does next. This year is going to be a great one for Halsey and I encourage people to support her and stand behind this amazing artist.
