Everything We Know About Halsey’s New Album

In January 2020, Halsey released her third studio album Manic. Shortly after, Halsey appeared on SNL to promote her new album singles, “You should be sad” and “Finally // Beautiful Stranger.” Halsey even planned a large, worldwide “Manic” Tour to promote her highly successful album. She also wanted to celebrate with her fans, to put her hands in the air to commemorate this chapter in her life. She earned it.

Then the pandemic happened. Lucky for us, Halsey didn’t stop working during quarantine. In fact, a lot has happened in Halsey’s life since we last saw her. So much, that a new album, and baby, are about to be born into the world.

Halsey’s fourth studio album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, arrives August 27. Here is everything we know about Halsey’s new album, coming out just next month.

What will Halsey’s new album be about?

First, let’s acknowledge what Halsey herself has told us about the fourth studio album. According to the artist, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, “is a concept album about the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth.” Halsey revealed the new album cover on Instagram, where she expands on what the album, and its art, means to her.

“It was very important to me that the cover art conveyed the sentiment of my journey over the past few months. The dichotomy of the Madonna and the Whore. The idea that me as a sexual being and my body as a vessel and gift to my child are two concepts that can co-exist peacefully and powerfully.”

What else could Halsey’s fourth studio album be about? Since the release of Manic, Halsey has remained largely out of the public sphere—like several artists during Covid. But Halsey didn’t disappear entirely. In May 2020, Halsey was seen protesting the murder of George Floyd with ex-boyfriend Yungblud. She found emotional balance through gardening. She promoted black creators throughout the month of June, furthering what we know of her activism.

Halsey, being an artist, will likely use her life’s spectacles as the foundation of her concept album. Motherhood, pregnancy, childbirth. This has been Halsey’s latest chapter, the one she first announced this past January. It was a surprise to her fans, a photo shoot of her pregnancy taken by photographer Sam Dameshek. You can check the post out, here.

Who will be on Halsey’s new album? Who has Halsey been working with?

When it comes to clues about Halsey’s new album, the most we have occurred in May 2020. That is when Halsey and Marshmello teamed up for the single “Be Kind.” It’s also when Halsey was seen with her ex Yungblud at a George Floyd protest. Could Marshmello or Yungblud appear on Halsey’s new album? We wouldn’t be surprised to see them both.

Some collaborators we do know of are Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. They will be producing If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. Halsey has described the album as “punk-rock.” The snippet of If I Can’t Have Love… is *exactly* what you’d think a Halsey with NIN production would sound like. Slow-burning, but heavy, almost haunting.

Halsey can work with anyone she wants in the rock/experimental rock sphere. Jack White? Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard? Brandon Flowers? We simply cannot wait to see who Halsey tapped for the making of their fourth album.

Halsey’s last album, Manic, included appearances from Alanis Morissette, BTS, Suga from BTS, Dominic Fike, Juice WRLD, Marshmello, and others.

Will Halsey go on tour?

We know. It’s been a long time since Halsey has last been on the road. For her American fans, it’s been since the “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” Tour in 2017 and 2018. Some fans in Europe were able to catch Halsey on the “Manic” World Tour before all shows were indefinitely postponed, and then cancelled. But for most of us, it’s been nearly five years since we’ve seen a Halsey concert.

And unfortunately, it’s not looking good for this year. Considering Halsey will be giving birth sometime this year, we don’t think she will take time away from her baby, and new motherhood, until she and the world are absolutely ready (and safe). Will Halsey tour in 2021? We don’t think so. But we do think that Halsey could announce tour plans this year, for 2022.

Now that Halsey has revealed more album details, we anticipate even more to come soon. Let’s hope Halsey announces a 2022 tour, as well. You can check out Halsey walking the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, towards her album cover, the latest glimpse of her work in progress, below.