Actress-and-singer Hailee Steinfeld felt inspired to write a song after refusing to follow the crowd.
The 19-year-old star demonstrated her vocals in Pitch Perfect 2 but has only recently branched out into recording and releasing her own music. One track is called Hell Nos and Headphones, which Hailee penned after realising she doesn't have to be ‘normal’ to fit in.
"I found myself in a situation that I was completely uncomfortable in, and worked up the courage to leave and not feel like I had to conform to a certain behaviour to be cool or be something that I’m not," she recalled to Refinery29. "I think there are times, often, where I am walking around in the world trying to figure out where I belong, and something that’s so important is noticing that it's OK not to feel like you have to do or say anything to do or be anything that you’re not. That's basically what Hell Nos and Headphones is to me, is just saying, 'No, I'm going to walk away and I'm going to stick with what I love and stick with what I know, and in this case, it's make music.'"
The track is from her debut album, Haiz, which also includes song Love Myself. Many have been quick to assume the track is about masturbation and Hailee insists she was aware of the double meaning, but it doesn't bother her. She feels the tune is one of empowerment and hopes young people listening to it will realise they're capable of anything.
Supporting her on her growing journey to stardom are famous friends including Taylor Swift and Lorde. The clan have spoken about their group dynamic, with Hailee praising the girls for all their help.
“I’m so lucky to be able to call some of my favourite artists and human beings my friends," she gushed. "It’s so amazing that I’ve been able to make friends around the world and stay in touch with them and be inspired by them."
