By Jamie-Paige Tucker
Manic by Halsey
When looking at this album you can’t only consider the music. You need to consider the story, and transmedia that went into the promotion of the album. This was a project more than it was a piece of traditional artistry.
To really review this album, you need to rewind to November 7th 2019 when Halsey linked her twitter followers to a YouTube episode called “road to manic. episode one.” These videos were periodically released even after the album was live. It was the beginning of this journey. Then, just short of four weeks later, Halsey tweeted a handwritten track list, captioned with the date “January 17 2020”.
Interestingly, after this list was released, three days later she uploaded two of the tracks to music streaming sites. And again, kept releasing music off of this album right up until the release week. This meant six out of the sixteen songs on the album were already out, in the public domain, creating a buzz.
It was the perfect way to keep people interested. But also meant there was an opportunity to draw in a new audience, just in time for the album to come out. Existing fans of the American singer now have had ten weeks’ worth of videos, music and promotional shots to lead to a highly anticipated album.
This is the third album in Halsey’s discography (excluding her ep Room 93) which means her style is already clear to her audience. This was more an opportunity to really express her feelings in a way that only could be done through lyrics. She touches on her drug use, her anxiety, her failed relationship and her self-insecurities. It feels personal, the listener feels the emotion that’s behind each song.
Compared to her previous work, this album is significantly different. This album has a clear timeline, each song (if listened to in the correct order) flow directly into each other, making it sound like art. And Halsey has increased the use of interludes, which each feature an artist who has a connection to her and break up the track list in a delicate yet purposeful way.
One factor that has stayed the same is the use of a ballad. On every album (including the EP), Halsey includes one ballad that is completely different to any other song on there, and Manic is not exception to this rule. Keeping the continuity, and structure that her fans know and love.
The album is not what you necessarily were expecting, but it was well written, well-structured and the music was enjoyable. It’s an album that is highly recommended and something you’ll enjoy if you’re a long term listener, or a new fan. It is like a story, which is exactly what Halsey intended.