We’re one step closer to Halley Bailey’s debut solo album. In a new interview with Cosmopolitan, Chloe x Halle’s younger half claimed that her debut solo EP will “definitely” be published “before the end of the year.”
Bailey released her debut solo track, “Angel,” a gospel and jazz-tinged empowerment hymn, last month (Aug. 4). In her interview with Cosmo, the multitalented artist discussed how her recent life events affected the creation of her new project.
“Ariel was my college experience. She was the one to say, ‘Look, look what you have in you. You can.’ Nettie was the same type of lesson, almost in a spiritual way. These characters are speaking to me and teaching me,” she said. “It’s cool to learn things about life through their eyes. And all musical inspiration really just comes from life experiences. Love has been a really big one for me too, because that’s something I’m experiencing for the first time.”
Bailey will play Young Nettie in the upcoming film adaptation of the musical The Colour Purple, directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones. The Colour Purple will also star Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Ciara, H.E.R., Aunjanue Ellis, Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks, and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and is set to be released on Christmas Day.
Bailey’s involvement in the film will be her second in the industry this year. She appeared as Princess Ariel in Disney’s live-action rendition of The Little Mermaid a few months ago, which grossed more than $118 million over its opening weekend, which occurred around Memorial Day.
Bailey also contributed her unique voice to the film’s smash soundtrack, performing breathtaking renditions of Little Mermaid classics like “Part of Your World” and amazing new songs like “For the First Time.”
“This has been a really beautiful transformative time for me. I have all this new material to write about,” she gushed. “I was very creatively inspired, and then from there, I fell in love. And so I really just played with those themes in my music. Sound-wise, it’s a little modern R&B-ish, with all the jazz elements and hints of pop that I love.”
Both members of Chloe x Halle will have officially released separate projects by the time her EP drops later this year. Chlöe, Chloe Bailey’s older sister, released her debut solo studio album In Pieces earlier this year. In Pieces, which featured singles like “Pray It Away” and the Chris Brown-assisted “How Does It Feel,” peaked at No. 119 on the Billboard 200.
Chloe x Halle have two Billboard 200 entries: The Kids Are Alright (No. 139) in 2018 and Ungodly Hour (No. 16) in 2020. They also have one Billboard Hot 100 entry: “Do It” (No. 63), the lead song from Ungodly Hour.