Halsey, pop and alternative pop

Halsey, Past Lives Soundtrack And Ongoing Chart Presence

Published on 07/04/2026 at 12:34 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂŒller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Halsey remains a key voice in pop and alt-rock, from the acclaimed album Badlands to her role on the Past Lives soundtrack. This Saturday piece looks at her chart story, core records and current status for US fans.

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Mitten im Spiel: Die Hand des Drummers fĂŒhrt die Sticks ĂŒber Snare und Becken des goldbraun schimmernden Sets im Freien., Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Halsey has become one of the defining crossover acts between mainstream pop and alternative rock over the past decade. Her debut studio album Badlands introduced a cinematic, synth-heavy sound that quickly translated into strong chart placements and a devoted US fanbase.

What the charts show

When Badlands arrived in 2015, Halsey entered the Billboard 200 at a high position and stayed on the chart for weeks, signaling that a new alt-pop presence had arrived for US radio and streaming audiences. The record helped cement her name before later albums deepened the run.

Her second studio album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom continued that trajectory, with singles finding their way onto the Hot 100 and a growing streaming profile that reached into the hundreds of millions of plays on the major platforms. For US listeners, she became a regular fixture on pop playlists and festival lineups.

Anniversary paths from Badlands

With Badlands now more than ten years behind its original release, the record is increasingly discussed as a modern alternative pop reference point. Tracks like ‘New Americana’ and ‘Colors’ form part of the mid-2010s sound that bridged Tumblr-era aesthetics with mainstream airplay.

That early period also provided the launchpad for her later collaborations, including the worldwide hit ‘Closer’ with The Chainsmokers, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced Halsey’s voice to a broader US audience beyond her own albums. The combination of solo work and high-profile features built a lasting chart profile.

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All news and background on Halsey

For more reporting on Halsey’s albums, collaborations and live activity, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers additional news pieces and background stories.

The musical core

Sonically, Halsey works in a crossover zone between electronic pop, alternative rock and, on later records, industrial and punk influences. Manic and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power broadened her palette with more guitars, live drums and darker lyrical themes.

Where the act stands

Halsey is currently active as a recording artist and performer, with no single next live date publicly fixed as the clear anchor event.

Halsey at a glance

  • Act: Halsey
  • Genre: Pop, alternative pop, synth-pop
  • Origin: Washington, New Jersey, United States
  • Active since: 2014
  • Lineup: Solo
  • Label: Capitol Records
  • Key works: Badlands (2015), Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017), Manic (2020), If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021)
  • Current album/single: If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, released August 27, 2021
  • Charts / certifications: Multiple entries on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, including the No. 1 collaborative single ‘Closer’ with The Chainsmokers on the Hot 100.
  • Next live date: currently with no announced live date

Frequently asked questions about Halsey

What was Halsey’s breakthrough album for US audiences?
Her breakthrough came with the debut studio album Badlands, released in 2015. It reached the Billboard 200 and established her as a prominent alternative pop artist for US listeners.

Which Halsey collaboration reached No. 1 on the Hot 100?
The collaboration ‘Closer’ with The Chainsmokers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for multiple weeks, becoming one of the defining pop hits of the mid-2010s.

How has Halsey’s sound evolved across her albums?
Starting from synth-heavy alternative pop on Badlands, she expanded into more mainstream pop on Hopeless Fountain Kingdom and then into more experimental, rock-oriented and industrial textures on Manic and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.

Where to hear and follow Halsey

This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed. All information without guarantee; dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice.

Disclaimer regarding our articles: No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Information on prices, companies, and markets is provided without guarantee; changes are possible at any time. Stock market transactions can lead to substantial losses. Our articles are created and reviewed in whole or in part automatically with the support of AI.

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