If any of you were on Tumblr circa 2015, you may remember the chokehold that the Badlands album by Halsey had on that corner of the internet. The record exploded upon its release, paving its way as one of the most influential albums in internet history. I was around ten when Badlands was released, and though I was young and didn’t truly grasp the content that Halsey was singing about, I can attest that the album went triple platinum in my flimsy corded headphones. As a child with little internet supervision, the world that Halsey’s music was attached to was enchanting to me. The grunge-mixed-with-neon, post-apocalyptic aesthetic that Badlands built was a beautiful, fantastical escape for me. Even now, every time I hit play and hear the familiar bass of the opening track, “Castle,” I’m instantly transported back to that time.
Ten years later, 2025 was a year full of nostalgia-baiting from many artists and franchises that celebrated their decade-long journeys. Though many of these anniversaries feel like poorly-attempted cash grabs, Halsey’s celebration of Badlands struck me as markedly earnest. Halsey is an artist in its truest form—they are a person who takes pride in the things they create, putting their vision above executive pressures, commercial success, and monetary gain. When it came time to honor 10 years of Badlands, Halsey went all in. They released a 35-song anthology for the record, full of remixes, demos, unreleased songs from the era, and finally brought some of the most beloved songs from her first EP to a physical copy. Halsey also revived the “Badlands Passport,” allowing people to purchase new ones or “renew” their original passport, which provides fans early entrance to a tour date of their choice, among other things.
Which brings me to the most pressing topic, the Back to Badlands tour. The tour is what sets Halsey’s 10-year celebration apart from the others, to me. In deciding to tour and celebrate the legacy of Badlands, Halsey chose venues that were the same (or similar in size) as the ones she performed in when the album first released. Even though she can now fill arenas and amphitheaters with ease, she deliberately scaled back to offer fans an intimate, authentic experience—one that feels unparalleled among artists today. The first leg of the tour, in particular, revealed her attentiveness to what her OG fans cherish most. By weaving newer releases together with fan favorites from Badlands and her debut EP, Room 93, she showcases not only her passion and creativity, but also a genuine care for the people who have supported her from the beginning.
Halsey started the second leg of the Back to Badlands tour in Toronto, and will move swiftly through a few more East Coast cities, including Detroit on January 17 and 18. I was lucky enough to snag some tickets for day one in Detroit, and I am thrilled to travel back to Badlands with her. Hopefully, some of you readers will be doing the same that weekend!