Halsey Details Near-Death Experience on New Album The Great Impersonator

Halsey is making art out of their struggles.

Months after declaring they felt “lucky to be alive” amid their lupus and bone marrow disorder diagnoses, the “Without Me” singer—whose real name is Ashley Frangipane—appeared to address the emotional health journey throughout their fifth studio album, The Great Impersonator, released Oct. 25.

On “Panic Attack,” the pop star—who is engaged to actor Avon Jogia—sang about a love interest having an impact on their physical well-being.

“My spirit has been broken / My optimism's getting sore,” the lyrics read. “And I would love to love you / But my body's keepin' score.”

But elsewhere, the album’s lyrics were far less abstract. A trio of songs titled “Letter to God” interpolated the same chorus with slightly different lyrics, each tackling the ordeal of fighting an illness.

“Please, God, I don't wanna be sick,” Halsey sang on “Letter to God (1983).” “And I don't wanna hurt, so get it over with quick.”

One of the most vulnerable tracks, “Life of the Spider” seemingly began with a devastating memory from Halsey’s health battle.

“It's four in the morning and I'm layin' with my head against the toilet seat / For several days now I've been livin' here, too tired to sleep, too sick to eat,” the song started. “I feel like a monster and it doesn't help that you will treat me like / I've got the venom in my teeth.”

Meanwhile, on the ballad “Darwinism,” the 30-year-old reckoned with the concept of death itself.

“What if I’m just cosmic dust / Put me in a metal box that’s bound to rust,” they pondered. “Shoot me into space and leave me to combust / Return to earth and just dissolve into its crust.”

Halsey—who shares 3-year-old son Ender with ex Alev Aydin—first disclosed their health struggles in June, shortly after releasing the song, “The End.”

“In 2022, I was first diagnosed with Lupus SLE and then a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder,” Halsey wrote on Instagram at the time. “Both of which are currently being managed or in remission; and both of which I will likely have for the duration of my life.”

Lupus SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue, according to the National Institutes of Health. As for T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, the organization says it relates to bone marrow cell production, and is rare, but occurs in immunocompromised individuals. 

Fortunately, Halsey noted that they’re managing the diseases, adding, “After a rocky start, I slowly got everything under control with the help of amazing doctors. After 2 years, I’m feeling better and I’m more grateful than ever to have music to turn to.”

After all, the Grammy nominee added on X, “When I started writing it, I thought it might be the last album I ever got the chance to make."

The Great Impersonator is out now.

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