When Hailee Steinfeld dropped her debut single Love Myself this summer, it took most of us surprise. Who knew the Oscar-nominated True Grit actress wanted to be a singer -- and who'd have guessed her first track would be a super-catchy self-empowerment jam? Now 18-year-old Hailee is releasing an EP titled Haiz after a nickname given to her by fans, so i-D called her to discuss the tricky move from movies to music, and the reaction she's received so far.
On her move to music:
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You know, making music has always been something I've wanted to do. Though most people know me as an actor, what they don't know is I that really did start making music around the same time as I got into acting. Now is just the first time anyone has heard it. About a year ago I made a film, Pitch Perfect 2, which was really the perfect segue into the music world. Since then it's all happened so quickly but so organically too. I've been surrounded by the most amazing team of writers and producers who've helped me bring my musical ambitions to life.
On the transition [from acting to music]:
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I think the hardest part might be actually putting it out there. I find that being an actor and being a musician require the same amount of vulnerability, so I don't know that the art of one is harder than the other. But when you do a movie, at a certain point it's totally out of your hands. You've done your job, it goes into post-production, and hopefully it comes out great. But there almost is no end with music. Putting music out with my name and my voice on it - it's not a character, it's me - I do find that to be very nerve-wracking. And that's probably the biggest difference between the two.
The reception to her music, specifically Love Myself:
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It's been so much more than I could ever have imagined. It's been incredible. The day that song came out, I was in New York and the label put together a last minute fan meet-and-greet. The song had only been out for hours and already there were people coming in who knew every word. It was just the most surreal thing that in a matter of hours they'd listened to something, connected with it and let it affect them in the best way possible. And since then, I've heard from so many people on social media, people from all over the world, who are telling me they've listened to the song and embraced it.
On the aforementioned song:
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I think it's because the idea of self-love and self-empowerment is so important, but at the same time, it's so easy to forget the importance of. I think having this song as a reminder is what struck with people… I hope so, anyway! In a way, this song can suit any situation in your life - be it a break-up, or just going to work in the morning - because the core message is how much power there is in being able to provide for yourself.
On Hell Nos and Headphones:
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It's a song about feeling out of place and feeling like an outsider. Hell Nos and Headphones is really about being in a situation where you don't feel comfortable, but realising this and allowing yourself to leave and not feel ashamed about leaving. It's about not feeling like you have to conform to a certain behaviour just because it's what everyone else is doing or because it's cool. It's about being able to say, hell no, I'm gonna walk away and do what I love, and for me that's making music.
On You're Such A...:
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For me, You're Such A… is the ultimate revenge fantasy where I can actually say, "You had your chance and you blew it, and now I'm done, I'm moving on." I mean, everyone wants to be in that position, right? It's based on the idea that everyone has someone in their life that they really wish they could tell, "You're such a..." and then say whatever's on their mind. This song captures whoever that person is in your life. That person who really is a difficult little devil.
On a full album:
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Absolutely [want to follow up the EP]. I don't want to stop making music. Being in the studio and just losing track of time is my favourite thing. I love experiencing the endless possibilities of where a song could go. So yeah, an album is definitely in the works.
Dream collaborations:
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Oh my God, there are just so many. But I would really love to work with Diplo or Skrillex. I love everything everything that they've done with Justin Bieber recently, but I'm a huge fan of everything they've done before that, too. So yeah, that would be one dream collaboration for sure.
Music affecting her approach to acting:
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I think so, because being in a studio recording a song just really opens me up. Here's an example: I was on set the other day and I played Hell Nos and Headphones for someone. Obviously that song is based on multiple experiences I've had in my life, and when I played it, those experiences came back to me and I kind of used them when I went into filming. It was like, this feeling the character is experiencing is something I've felt before, it's something real. So I really do feel like music and acting tie into each other, which is obviously great.
Don't think this was ever posted.
Queen! Absolutely love love love her. So humble and so sweet
HAIZ EP out now on iTunes! And don't forget to stream Love Myself and her newest single, You're Such A...... on Spotify.
