Halle Bailey – one half of R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle – returns solo with “Braveface,” a soulful new song that doubles as an exercise in self-healing. Co-written by British pop sensation RAYE (who also makes a cameo in the music video), “Braveface” finds Halle opening up about her struggles with postpartum depression, self-image, and learning to love herself again after becoming a mother. Over gentle guitar strums and minimalist R&B production, the 25-year-old delivers some of her most vulnerable lyrics yet. “Sittin’ on the floor, curled up in a ball / Lookin’ in the mirror and I feel so f-ckin’ small,” Halle sings in the opening verse, later lamenting that her “self-esteem is on the ground.”
Despite its heavy subject matter, “Braveface” ultimately carries an empowering message about reclaiming one’s identity and confidence. By the song’s end, Halle symbolically puts on her “brave face,” standing taller and more self-assured than before. The single follows her Valentine’s Day-themed debut solo track “Back & Forth” and a recent collaboration with R&B artist Leon Thomas, further building anticipation for her forthcoming solo album. With RAYE by her side in the video and Halle’s raw emotion on full display, “Braveface” is resonating as an anthem of resilience for anyone grappling with self-doubt.
