The AMAs performance will be a special one for Hailee, as it will be the first time she performs the song live, let alone with her “Let Me Go” teammates all on the same stage. It also marks the start of a very busy season for the singer and actress, who is gearing up to promote the new Transformers movie, Bumblebee, as well as Pitch Perfect 3. So how does she balance two headline-making careers simultaneously? And what is she most looking forward to at the AMAs? Teen Vogue caught up with her ahead of the show, airing November 19 on ABC, to find out.
First of all, how are rehearsals going for your AMAs performance? How is performing it going to differ from hearing it on the radio?
I’m excited. This’ll be the first time I perform this song live and it’ll be insane to have everyone from the record on the stage performing this song for the first time. That’s something I’m really looking forward to. It’s been so incredible to watch this song grow. Being away and making a movie is always complicated when you have a record out and you want to spend time with it and perform it and travel. But it’s been doing its own thing and I can’t thank my fans enough for truly embracing it and embracing me and showing so much love and support.
You’ve done a few collaborations now. How do you decide which artists to work with each time?
I guess a lot of it has to do with timing. For me, with this track, working with Florida Georgia Line and Alesso… They are three artists that I happen to be very big fans of. I met Alesso a while back and we worked on a couple of different records together. I have listened to Florida Georgia Line for a long time … And Watt of course, he’s on the record as well; he’s a really good friend of mine. It just came together. I heard [the song] and I knew that this was so special; Florida Georgia Line heard it and they loved it. Wejust sort of, in the midst of an award show, made the decision to jump on this record and we did and I couldn’t be happier.
That feels like a full-circle moment, then, given that the AMAs is also an award show. Do you have a favorite AMAs memory or your own?
The AMAs never disappoint. There is always something wild that happens that is worth talking about at the end of the day and there are so many incredible performances. I feel like people truly go all out for the AMAs. I’ve been there as a fan, I’ve been there as a presenter, and now I’m going to be there as a performer and I really can’t even comprehend that.
What does the message of “Let Me Go” mean to you?
More than ever in the last couple months in my life, I’ve experienced what it’s like to try and maintain a relationship while working. And I think that goes for everyone — whether they are working or in school or wherever they are and whoever it is they’re doing it with, a significant other or a best friend — you realize that when you love someone so much and you can’t give them the time, and the energy that they deserve, it’s heartbreaking. People have said “Let Me Go” feels like a breakup song but it really is a love song and it’s about loving that person so much that all you want to do is see them happy and see them with somebody that makes them happy.
This song is also following “Most Girls,” which was a huge success. Is there more solo music on the way?
Absolutely. I am so looking forward to the new year with new music in my back pocket ready to go. I’ve been working on it for a very long time now and as well as juggling the acting side of things. I, again, am looking forward to putting out more music — more solo music and some more collaborations that are right around the corner.
How do you balance both your acting career and your singing career?
You know what, it’s a daily challenge. And I don’t know that I necessarily have an answer. It’s something I try and figure out every day. It’s definitely not easy. But I feel so lucky that I get to do both. I have an incredible label and an incredible team on my acting side that really work together in helping me be able to do both.
Speaking of doing both, we’re right around the corner from Pitch Perfect 3. Is there anything about the movie you’re most looking forward to?
Oh man, well, I don’t want to give too much away but I guess I can say that this movie is everything the fans want and more. This movie truly is about… at some point when you’re a part of a group, that group has its time where they move on and they get to explore who they are and what their place is in this world, and that is where you find the [Barden] Bellas. They’re trying to see what their life is beyond the Bellas and they realize that, “You know what, there is nothing wrong with going back to what makes you happy.” And this movie is that. It’s them on a journey together.
What else does 2018 have in store for you?
I just wrapped Bumblebee, the spin-off of Transformers, which will be out next year. And of course Pitch Perfect is coming out, which I’m very excited about. The new music is really what I’m so excited about, even though there isn’t a date on that yet. It is coming very soon and I’m really looking forward to that.
Does that include a full-length album to follow your EP?
That’s what I’m working on, yeah. That’s the hope.