Halsey says she’s ‘not allowed’ to make an album after The Great Impersonator was a ‘failure’
Halsey describes herself as “an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time”. (Gilbert Flores/Getty)
Halsey describes herself as "an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time". (Gilbert Flores/Getty)
“Without Me” hitmaker Halsey – who is openly bisexual and uses she/they pronouns – has said she’s currently “not allowed” to make another album.
Apple Music’s Zane Lowe interviewed the American singer-songwriter and actress on Thursday (18 September). In the conversation, she said she’s unable to make new music as her recent release underperformed.
The 30-year-old outlined her 2024 album, The Great Impersonator, was “a failure in the context of the kind of success I’ve had previously.”
The Great Impersonator was Halsey’s fifth album, and it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.
“If I’m being honest with you, the album sold 100,000 f**king copies first week,” Halsey shared.
“That’s a pretty big first week, especially for an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time.”
However, she noted that the peak of her career, so far, was her 2000 album Manic. “Without Me”, the album’s lead single, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, it has been certified platinum six times, exceeding six million units.
Comparing those stats to her recent album, Halsey said: “It would be considered a success for most artists, 100,000 albums in the first week, in an era when we don’t sell physical music.
“But it’s a failure in the context of the kind of success I’ve had previously.
“And that’s the hardest part of having been a pop star once, because I’m not one anymore, and I’m being compared to people that I don’t consider lateral to me.”
Despite this, Halsey’s most recent tour, For My Last Trick: The Tour, sold out almost instantly. The 32-date tour, in support of The Great Impersonator, began in May and concluded in July 2025.
Additionally, Halsey is soon embarking on their sixth headline tour: Back to Badlands Tour. The tour will celebrate the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Badlands. The UK leg of the tour is sold out.
Badlands was released in 2015 and features songs like “Ghost,” “Colors,” and “Castle.”
The album was a commercial success around the world. In the UK, it peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Charts.
Halsey will be touring across North America, Europe and Australia, from October 2025 through February 2026.
Back to Badlands Tour will begin in Los Angeles on October 14 2025, and conclude in Melbourne on February 19 2026.
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