If you’re a Halsey fan like me, you’ve probably been waiting since her debut EP for her first solo concert in Singapore. And believe me, it was certainly something not to be missed.

Before the concert even started, Kiran and I were greeted with the powerful vocals of rising Indonesian R&B artist NIKI, with her songs I Like U, Vintage and See U Never. Definitely now a fan of hers.After a stunning set from NIKI, it was time for Halsey to grace the stage. She opened with a spoken word prologue and Eyes Closed from behind a curtain. As the curtain lifted, revealing Halsey in a black and turquoise-ombré wig that she had chosen to don for the Asian leg of the tour, she continued with Gasoline, a song from her previous album. From the audience’s reaction it was clear that they were surprised but delighted by the throwback addition to the set list.Next, she performed a fan-favourite track, Strangers, originally sung as a duet with Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui. She dedicated the song to the LGBT community, with rainbow hued lights above her to match. Other songs she performed included Now or Never, Walls Could Talk and Drive, just to name a few.

Halsey’s live vocals gave a much more soulful and emotional take to her songs, especially after her talk segment in the middle of the concert. As she sat in the centre of the stage, she shared her fears of getting older and facing challenges that come along with it, a topic that many members of the audience could relate to. The conversation, though one-sided, felt intimate and personal, like she was speaking to an old friend. She also admitted to having difficulty singing Sorry, due to recent events in her life, and asked for the audience to sing along. In that moment, the gap between the artiste and the listener was bridged. Halsey and the audience audibly sang every word with her, as she chose to sing with little instrumental back-up, and showcased her raw vocals.

She ended her official set list on a high note with Young God, but promised to return for an encore, and she definitely did not disappoint, returning for 3 more full songs: Hold Me Down, 100 Letters and my personal favourite, Bad at Love. It was a surreal experience, hearing the songs I listened to through my earpieces be sung in real life with so much intent behind every word of the lyrics. Her high energy and sheer passion for performing could be felt, even from rows away.

Thank you to Hype Records for this unforgettable opportunity!

Written by: Cheyenne Jewel

Edited by: Raymond Teoh