Hailee Steinfeld talks to Attitude: ‘I knew what Love Myself was about from the start’

Fresh from her standout musical performance in Pitch Perfect 2, in August starlet Hailee Steinfeld dropped her properly brilliant debut single, Love Myself. With lyrics like “I’m gonna put my body first/And love me so hard ’til it hurts” and “I’m gonna touch the pain away/I know how to scream my own name”, it didn’t take long for fans to realise: this inspiring self-empowerment anthem doubles as an ode to the joys of a good ol’ wank. Steinfeld, you minx. 

Sitting down with Steinfeld in a London hotel the day before she performed the track to a rapturous reception at GAY – we found the 18-year-old in fine form, embracing her new vocation as a pop star with gusto… 

Love Myself sounds like such a smash-in-waiting. Was it always going to be the first single?

There was no question. This song came about and it was: this is it. I’ve since learned that that’s not really the norm, but there weren’t too many songs that came before it. There was just no question whether this would’ve been anything other than the first single.

That must’ve been an exciting feeling.

Oh, it’s crazy. When I signed to the label, they told me it’ll take a year to two years to develop myself and my sound as an artist, and I was in no rush; I wanted to take my time. Within six months, they were like ‘This is it,’ and I was like ‘Oh my god, wait, no – I’m not ready! Gimme a year!’

Love Myself has six co-writers. What’s the process for a pop song like this – is it all six of you in a room, or does it get worked on in different places with different people?

Well Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, and Mattman & Robin, have been working with me in LA on the record. I’ll go in there and just talk about experiences, feelings and thoughts of mine with them. It’s never a matter of me feeling like I have to give up information – I’ve developed a relationship with them where I can talk about my life and they have this uncanny ability to take what I’ve said and turn it into these amazing pop songs.

Lyrically, Love Myself is an interesting one – it’s been dubbed a ‘masturbation anthem’. Were you in on the joke from day one?

Oh, I was definitely aware of that from the start. Could you imagine? [Feigning shock] ‘I had no idea! What are you talking about?’ There was a sophistication and edge to the song that I loved. With both meanings, or however many meanings you might think there are, they all mean the same thing: having self-love and that ability to provide for yourself. In that, there’s so much power. It’s a message I tend to forget very easily, so this song has been a constant reminder of that for me.

And for other people?

Oh, I’ve been hearing that a lot. ‘I’ve been going through a break-up and this song made me feel like I could get through it,’ or ‘I’m on my way to work and this song made me feel like I’m going to have a great day’. Those are two completely different situations, but it shows the song can make you feel something. That’s what I love about music.

The LGBT community has a certain affection for self-empowering songs – maybe we need them a little more sometimes. Have you noticed that with Love Myself?

It’s so funny, one of my really good family friends wrote me – he lives in New York – and said ‘My friends are calling it a new gay anthem! Isn’t that amazing?’ I was like, ‘Yes! Just what I wanted!’ I have felt the response from [LGBT audiences] and it’s been really great, because for a minute, people were like ‘This is a great feminist song, it’s good for young girls.’ It is, it absolutely is, but I really feel like it’s something for everyone: guys and girls, gay and straight.

You were fab in Pitch Perfect 2. How much confidence did that give you to cross over into the pop world?

That didn’t really kick in until we shot the finale of the movie. We shot [the final, open-air concert scene] over five days and for the first few days we shot it with about 500 extras – it was a controlled environment, with enough people that you could physically see. The last two days, people had won contests and flown in from all over the world to see us perform. It was my first experience of doing anything live, really. It was in that moment I realised, ‘This is contagious and amazing’. I don’t know that I was like ‘I’m ready to take over the world!’, but… it definitely gave me a taste for it.

You were nominated for an Oscar at 14 years old [for True Grit] – ‘child star’ seems an apt term. At 18, how have you kept your head screwed on? 

I think my parents have a lot to do with it – my family in general. They’ve always been involved and supportive. My first movie I ever made, True Grit – I was 13. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was from the actors who’d been doing this job their whole lives. They’d come to set every day, be kind to everyone, do their work, give it their all and go home to their families. It’s not about anything but the work for them – it’s not the red carpet, blah blah blah, it’s the art that they’ve made. Even though I enjoy every aspect of this life, I enjoy myself best when I’m just actually doing the work.

You’re pals with Taylor Swift – has she given you any advice about this move into music?

It’s hard to track her down when she’s on a world tour! One thing about Taylor though, without it ever being a matter of asking for or giving advice, just watching her as an artist and a human being – she’s been a great example for me and millions of others. I could consider her a mentor even if I didn’t know her.

Could you be a surprise guest on her tour? A Love Myself duet, perhaps? 

Oh my gosh. If you’re listening, Taylor… That is a question for her, not for me!

info: Love Myself is out now.