Hailee Steinfeld on ‘Haiz,’ Hair Tricks & Teachings from Taylor Swift
Hailee Steinfeld. Photo: Courtesy Dani Brubaker
In Taylor Swift’s megawatt Bad Blood video, Hailee Steinfeld appears as The Trinity, a superhero (super heroine?) who’s literally three girls in one. But though the 18-year-old is a singular entity IRL, she’s not that different from her VMA alter ego: In the past year, Steinfeld has become not just a movie star, but a fashion maven and a pop music princess, too.
To that end, the Oscar nominee’s first EP HAIZ launches today (but thanks to Instagrams from Kylie Jenner and Elizabeth Banks, you probably already knew that). Its offerings include the current hit Love Myself, the new party anthem Rock Bottom, and a song called You’re Such A… that seems destined to become a gossip machine—it must be about someone in Hollywood, right?
We phoned Steinfeld—now in Vancouver filming Besties with Woody Harrelson—to find out the perks, and the problems, that come with becoming a pop star.
Yahoo Style: You’re an Oscar-nominated actress who’s got an album launching. Is being a pop star like playing a role for you?
Hailee Steinfeld: Like Hannah Montana?
Exactly.
No. I really do feel like the girl who performs my music onstage and in studios is me, not someone I’m pretending to be. It is me. Thats why I’ve come so far with my music. It’s the one opportunity I have where I can really be myself, dance around on the stage, be with people, have fun with them, and express myself through what’s a universal language.
So your inner truth is a pop star?
Come on, that part’s always crazy! It’s insane to be onstage and wear something amazing and have a microphone with crystals all over it. But the songs and the performing—it’s my opportunity to go out there and have the best time.
The whole world knows that Taylor Swift is your friend. But is she also your teacher? Has she taught you anything concretely about going up onstage and performing? Even something so small, like, “Hailee, don’t wear that kind of heel on a stadium stage, you’ll fall?”
I mean, I don’t know that there’s a shoe that Taylor can’t work it in! For me, again obviously just watching her is so major. She’s an incredible artist and performer. One of my favorite things to do is go to her concerts and just watch. You learn a lot from that. And being on the Bad Blood video was so much fun, but I guess it was instructive, too, because I’ve seen her in her shows performing live, but I’ve never been on set with her before. I felt like our worlds were colliding.
The cover of Hailee Steinfeld’s new EP, Haiz. Photo: Courtesy
The songs on Haiz reminded us of Taylor’s because they’re intensely personal but also universal. Also, they’re so much fun to dance to!
Thanks! That’s awesome. That’s exactly what I want.
So how do you write a pop song? By yourself in your bedroom, or with people in a studio?
Both? You know, it’s amazing, because how it’s been happening is, ever since I started working with [music producers] Justin [Tranter] and Julia Michaels, it’s happened organically. These experiences have come out during sessions—what inspires us, what were going through, what we can write about. And since I started working with them, I’ve become more aware of what’s happening in my life, in terms of whatever I’m going through possibly leading to [a song]. That’s how it’s been happening.
You told Entertainment Weekly you wrote a song after going to a bad party.
And the song Hell No’s and Headphones happened. That’s exactly the way it went!
Besides acting and singing, you’ve also modeled for Miu Miu and you were Prabal Gurung’s Met Ball date. So what clothes are you into now?
I’m on set, so I’m wearing more casual things lately. I love Rag & Bone. Their jeans are so good. Their boots are so good. And have you been to & Other Stories? I’m obsessed with them. Actually, I just looked down at my outfit, and everything I’m wearing is from them right now. I’m head-to-toe.
Would you ever do your own clothing line?
Are you kidding?
Too busy?
No, I meant, “Are you kidding,” like of course I would do my own clothing line. I would make time for something like that. Or a collaboration. Maybe with… no. I don’t want to jinx it! [Laughing.] But yes, definitely, I would do it!
You also post some amazing beauty looks on your Instagram. Are you secretly a braid expert?
I wish. Anytime there’s a really good braid on my Instagram, it’s probably by Sarah Potempa. Do you know her yet? She has the most incredible line of hair tools and products called Beachwaver. She’s the only reason why I know how to curl my own hair. She’s going to be huge.
You and Lena Dunham met during Bad Blood, and appeared together on the 1989 tour. Now Vogue.com is hinting you, and / or your music, might be on Girls.
Are you kidding me? This is the first I’ve heard of that. If anything like that happened, I would freak out. Okay. After I hang up the phone with you, I’m going to call Lena. Hang on, I’m going to text her right now…
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
