Twenty year old indie pop artist Ashley Frangipane, known by her stage name Halsey, has already taken the alternative world by storm. Her 2014 EP Room 93 and single “Ghost” landed her spots on both the charts and multiple “Artists to Watch in 2015” lists. Halsey’s debut album Badlands, poetic and captivating, will further her success even more.

With hits like “Hurricane” declaring “Don’t belong to no city / Don’t belong to no man,” Halsey writes haunting lyrics accompanied by a heavy electronic beat that’s guaranteed to linger in your mind long after you listen.

“Castle” opens the album, fittingly speaking of her quick rise to fame (“I’m headed straight for the castle / They wanna make me their queen”). The electro pop jam transitions into “Hold Me Down,” a song that, when performed live, literally brings Halsey to her knees while she belts out the lyrics. Definitely one of my favorite songs on the album, the tune is emotional and upbeat with bold, cutting lyrics (“Knock me out, knock me out / Saying that I want more, this is what I live for”).

Even though I blasted the album on my speakers when it came out, slow jams like “Drive” provided an ethereal experience when transitioning from one headphone to another. Halsey’s smooth voice singing into my ears accompanied by the added sound effects of a car ignition and tires squealing on the pavement sent chills down my spine.

Even if her music doesn’t enchant you like it did me, you should still care about Halsey. As a mixed race bisexual woman in a male-dominated industry, she boldly utilizes her platform on social media to call out the injustices she sees and experiences. The thousands of young female fans following Halsey’s every move have a role model who is unafraid to use her voice to relay what she believes. Her catchy riffs and talented vocals shape the album, but the vulnerability Halsey pours into her lyrics is the driving force behind the alternative record.