| Lonely Is the Muse | |
| Cover: | Lonely is the Muse Halsey single.png |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Halsey |
| Length: | 4:01 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Prev Title: | Lucky |
| Prev Year: | 2024 |
"Lonely Is the Muse" is a song by the American singer Halsey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 15, 2024, as the second single from the singer's upcoming fifth studio album.
On August 8, 2024, the singer headlined Budepest's Sziget Festival, where she played a snippet of "Lonely Is the Muse". Halsey has also previewed the song at Helsinki's Flow Festival and a secret club show at London's Koko. On August 15, the singer posted a one-minute snippet of "Lonely Is the Muse" and announced that it would be released the following day.[1]
"Lonely Is the Muse" is a rock,[2] [3] hard-rock,[4] and alternative rock track.[2] The song was written by Halsey and Stuart Price, and produced by Austin Corona, Wyatt Bernard and Brandon Buttne. Many critics described the track as a return to "the grinding, industrial-inspired sound" of the singer's fourth studio album, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power, which was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.[5] [2] [6]
Lyrically, the song show the singer "question[ing] her worth and how past lovers have treated her and forgotten her".[3] The first verse describes "a scenario of years spent 'becoming cool', only to have someone 'make a decade of my efforts disappear' in the snap of a finger".[5] In the second verse, Halsey deals with "those who would reduce their success and artistry to the sum of their body parts" and reminds that "others have banked successes off of [the singer's] artistry".[5]