In July 2015, Steinfeld and singer Shawn Mendes released an acoustic version of Mendes' single, "Stitches". The following month, Steinfeld released her certified platinum debut single, "Love Myself", with Republic Records. The song garnered media attention for its empowering message as well as suggestive lyrics that led media outlets to dub the song an "ode to masturbation".
Steinfeld's debut EP, HAIZ (a nickname used by her fans), was released in November 2015. HAIZ was produced by Mattman & Robin and features co-writers Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter. The EP was released to generally positive reviews. In February 2016, Steinfeld released a remixed version of "Rock Bottom", as the second single featuring American funk pop band DNCE. Steinfeld's next single, "Starving", was released in July 2016 to critical acclaim. The song is a collaboration with Grey featuring Zedd and became her biggest hit to date going platinum in Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, while also going double platinum in Australia and triple platinum in Canada.
In September 2016, Steinfeld played the lead role in The Edge of Seventeen, a coming-of-age comedy co-starring Blake Jenner, Woody Harrelson, and Kyra Sedgwick, and written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The film was released on November 18, 2016, to positive reviews; Steinfeld's performance was praised and earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
In early 2017, Steinfeld was featured on two songs: "Show You Love" and "Digital Love". In March, Steinfeld was featured on American rapper Machine Gun Kelly's single "At My Best" taken from his third studio album Bloom. A month later, Steinfeld released her next single "Most Girls". The song received positive reviews and peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Steinfeld performed the song live for the first time at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards on April 29. A music video was released and received praise for its message of embracing individuality but also drew some criticism for its lack of diversity. Steinfeld also reprised her role as Emily Junk in Pitch Perfect 3. In September 2017, Steinfeld released the single "Let Me Go", a collaboration with Swedish record producer Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line and Andrew Watt, which reached number 14 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. That same month she featured on the remix of "Plot Twist" by Marc E. Bassy.
On January 12, 2018, Steinfeld released "Capital Letters" for the soundtrack to the film Fifty Shades Freed. The song was received with positive reviews and peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. In March 2018, Steinfeld revealed that she is "wrapping up" work on her debut studio album. She performed at Indonesian Choice Awards in Jakarta, Indonesia the next month. Steinfeld then featured the song "Colour" with MNEK on June 1. In September, she was featured on Logic's album, YSIV, on the song "Ordinary Day" and on Chic's album, It's About Time on the song "Dance with Me".
In late 2018, Steinfeld starred in the Transformers spin-off film Bumblebee and provided the voice of Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman in the Academy Award-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. In November, her song "Back to Life" was released as a single from the Bumblebee soundtrack. This marked the first time Steinfeld released a song for a film she starred in, save her work in Pitch Perfect. That same month, hosted and performed at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards in Bilbao, Spain.
Steinfeld received a Peabody Award for her work in Dickinson. In January 2019, Steinfeld was featured on the remix of "Woke Up Late" by Drax Project. In August 2019, Steinfeld was featured in the music video for Benny Blanco and Juice Wrld's single "Graduation". She also appeared in a cameo as one of the recruited Angels in the 2019 film Charlie's Angels and also made an appearance on Between Two Ferns: The Movie.
In December 2018, Steinfeld was cast to star as Emily Dickinson in the Apple TV+ period comedy series Dickinson. The show aired on November 1, 2019. To promote the show, Steinfeld released "Afterlife" which featured on the show's first season finale. The show went on for three seasons. In 2020, Steinfeld won a Peabody Award, making Dickinson the first show from Apple TV+ to win the prestigious honor.
Steinfeld released two singles in 2020, "Wrong Direction" and "I Love You's". The tracks acted as the first and second singles, respectively, from her EP Half Written Story, which was released on May 8, 2020. The EP received mixed reviews with critics praising Steinfeld's vocals, confidence, and vulnerability but panning the music. On May 28, 2020, Steinfeld released a single with Taiwanese singer, Chen Linong, titled "Masterpiece".
In December 2020, Steinfeld was cast as Kate Bishop / Hawkeye in the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe series Hawkeye. The show premiered on November 24, 2021, and consisted of six episodes. Her role received positive reviews from critics. Steinfeld is set to reprise the role in future films, noting that she has signed a multi-project deal. Steinfeld also voiced Violet "Vi" in the adult animated show Arcane which was released on November 20, 2021. The show is set in the League of Legends universe.
In April 2022, Steinfeld teased a song titled "Coast". Marking two years since she last released music, "Coast" was released on July 28, 2022, and was a "euphoric, guitar-and-percussion-driven single", featuring American rapper Anderson Paak. A music video premiered on Facebook on November 9, 2022. An acoustic version was released on December 7, 2022. In March 2023, Steinfeld released "SunKissing" which Rolling Stone described as a "vibey, electric guitar-backed pop earworm".
Steinfeld has cited Madonna and Rihanna as her biggest musical influences. Other artists Steinfeld has cited as influences include Britney Spears, Tori Kelly, Selena Gomez, Bruno Mars, and Justin Timberlake. Steinfeld noted their "strength, courage, and their ability to go out and express themselves". She has also said that she grew up listening to Boyz II Men and Luther Vandross due to her mother's love for them.
In 2011, Steinfeld was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2010 film True Grit, making her one of the youngest actresses to be nominated in the category. She also received nominations for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, a SAG Award, and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same film. In 2016, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for The Edge of Seventeen.
Steinfeld has also won awards for her music, including a 2017 Billboard Music Award for Top Covered Artist for her song "Most Girls". Her 2015 single "Love Myself" debuted on the Billboard Pop Songs chart at number 27 (later peaking at 15), marking the highest debut for a solo female artist on the chart in 17 years, since Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" in 1998. The song went on to be certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2020, "Most Girls" and Steinfeld's collaboration, with Grey and Zedd titled "Starving", were certified two and four times platinum, respectively, by the RIAA.
Outside of her projects in the acting and music industry, Steinfeld has embarked on other ventures. She has been involved in marketing initiatives throughout her career and endorsed numerous brands including Prada, Balmain, and Louis Vuitton. In 2017, Steinfeld began to represent Reef Footwear and MISSION Activewear. In 2018, her line of eyewear called Privé Revaux was launched. In 2022, Steinfeld released "Coast" which coincided with the promotion of her newest role as a brand ambassador for CORE Hydration, promoting the company's "Find Your Core" campaign.
In summer 2023, Steinfeld reprised her role as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman in the sequel to 2017's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse titled Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The film gained much acclaim and is currently considered one of the best in the comic book movie genre. Steinfeld's performance was heavily praised. In 2024, Steinfeld is set to reprise her voice role as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. A second season of Arcane was also announced.
Flashlight
Hailee Steinfeld Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be on my own
Feeling frightened of
The things that I don't know
When tomorrow comes
Tomorrow comes
Tomorrow comes
I look up to the sky
Darkness all around
I wish that I could fly
And I sing along, I sing along
And I sing along
I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're getting me, getting me through the night
Can't stop my heart when you shinin' in my eyes
Can't lie, it's a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're getting me, getting me through the night
I see the shadows long beneath the mountain top
I'm not afraid when the rain won't stop
'Cause you light the way
You light the way, you light the way
I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're getting me, getting me through the night
Can't stop my heart when you shinin' in my eyes
I can't lie, it's a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're getting me, getting me through the night
Light light light
You're my flashlight, light, light
And you can't deny
It's a sweet life, life, oh
I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're getting me, getting me through the night
Can't stop my heart when you shinin' in my eyes
I can't lie, it's a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
(You're my flashlight)
You're getting me, getting me through the night
You're my flashlight
Light light
You're my flashlight
Light light ye-yeah
You're my flashlight
The lyrics of "Flashlight" by Hailee Steinfeld is about relying on someone to guide you through the darkness and fear of the unknown. The first verse talks about the fear of facing the future and not knowing what's going to happen. The chorus speaks of the singer's appreciation for a particular person who serves as their guide, providing the light needed to navigate through the darkness. The second verse mentions the fear of even the environment itself, but the person they appreciate provides assurance and support.
The bridge of the song talks about how the person they appreciate is always there to help light the way, and that they are now able to navigate even the most challenging situations with ease because that person provides the light. The chorus then repeats the message of the bridge, emphasizing how important the person they appreciate is to them, and how they serve as a guiding light that helps them lead a happy life.
The lyrics of "Flashlight" are an excellent message of support and dependability, and it's a good reminder that we need each other to succeed in life.
Line by Line Meaning
When tomorrow comes
Hailee Steinfeld is looking to the future with concern.
I'll be on my own
She feels like she will have to face this future alone.
Feeling frightened of
She's scared about
The things that I don't know
all the unknowns that the future holds.
Tomorrow comes
The future will arrive regardless of how she feels about it.
And though the road is long
The path ahead won't be an easy one.
I look up to the sky
Hailee searches for hope looking up above.
Darkness all around
There is no escape from the shadows that seem to surround her.
I wish that I could fly
She wishes she could escape all of her problems.
And I sing along, I sing along
She finds solace in singing.
I got all I need when I got you and I
Hailee believes that the love of someone important is all that she needs.
I look around me, and see a sweet life
She takes a moment to appreciate everything that is good in her life.
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
She feels like other people's love and support is the only source of light she has when things are gloomy.
You're getting me, getting me through the night
The people who love and support her are the ones who keep her going.
Can't stop my heart when you shinin' in my eyes
The love and support she receives is so strong that it fills her completely.
Can't lie, it's a sweet life
Despite the hardships she's facing, she knows that she has a good life.
I see the shadows long beneath the mountain top
She acknowledges the depth of her problems.
I'm not afraid when the rain won't stop
She's becoming braver in the face of adversity.
Cause you light the way
Love and support lead her through the dark times.
I got all I need when I got you and I
Hailee believes all she needs is the love of the people who care about her.
Light light light
She's creating her own version of a lullaby.
And you can't deny
Everyone deserves a happy life.
It's a sweet life
There are times when everything falls into place.
You're my flashlight
Love and support are the only things that light up the darkness she's going through.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mario Mejia, Sia Furler, Jason Moore, Samuel Frederick Smith, Christian Nicolas Guzman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind