Fans certainly can’t get enough ofHalsey, but with their latest song, they’veissued some simple instructionsfor when they need a breather. On Thursday, February 27, Halsey shared “safeword,” a new single and their first proper music release since their2024 albumThe Great Impersonator. As the song’s title suggests, “safeword” exploresHalsey’s kinky sideand features them showcasing musical stylings in ways they haven’t before.
Halsey is never afraid to play with different sounds, but “safeword”dials up the heatto a whole new level. On the steamy song, Halsey channelsthe pure rockstar soundsofJoan Jettas theylay down the laws of the game. “I’m not a criminal, I’m just a wild child / I’m not a bad girl, I just like it wild style / I’m tough, I’m mean, I’m rough / Just say the safe word when you’ve had enough,” Halsey shouts on the song’s hook, over a punchy, thrashing instrumental track.
Halsey’s NSFW Music Video For ‘safeword’
“Safeword” is accompanied by a music video directed byLana Jay Lackey, who has previously creative directed visuals and photoshoots forBillie Eilish,North West, andTeyana Taylor. To say the video is NSFW might potentially be an understatement.
In the video, Halsey taps into their dominatrix energy. Though the visual clocks in at two minutes and 30 seconds, almostno kink is left overlooked. We seeHalseydressed in leather as they’re serving as thehandler for a pup, ordering someone to bring them snacks, andstepping on a masked man’s face in high heels. While they appear to be the dominant one in these scenarios, viewers do also see Halsey on the receiving end of somespanking and bondage. The video even has Halsey’s fiancéAvan Jogia’s stamp of approval. In fact, days before the video’s release, Jogia teased thathe actuallyisin the video— probably as one of the masked figures.
“Safeword” precedes Halsey’s upcomingFor My Last Trick Tour, which accompaniesThe Great Impersonator. They willkick off the tour in May in Concord, California, with dates that willrun through July, wrapping in Highland, California. Joining them on tour for select dates areDel Water Gap,The Warning,Alvvays,Hope Tala,Sir Chloe,Royel Otis,Flowerovlove,Magdalena Bay,Alemeda, andEvanescence— the lattermost, they cited asone of the inspirationsforThe Great Impersonator.
