As a songwriter, pop music really is a love and a joy and a

"As a songwriter, pop music really is a love and a joy and a science, and I feel like a lot of people look at pop music with a very formulaic perspective in numbers and patterns, but an outsider would think that the process is very natural." These words spoken by the artist Halsey encapsulate a profound truth about the art of creating pop music—a truth that reaches beyond mere technicality and into the realm of creativity, emotion, and human expression. In her statement, Halsey touches upon the delicate balance that all artists walk between the science of their craft and the organic flow of their creative process. Pop music, often reduced to its formulas and patterns, is, at its heart, an act of deep love and connection—a process that, to the artist, feels as natural as breathing.

Consider the ancient Greek philosophers who sought to understand the mysteries of life through both reason and emotion. They believed that art, whether in music, poetry, or sculpture, was a perfect fusion of the rational and the emotional—a harmony that spoke to the deepest parts of the human soul. Music, they would say, was a reflection of the cosmos, a balance between structure and chaos. In the same way, pop music exists at the crossroads of order and freedom, where melodies and rhythms are built upon formulas, yet the soul of the song is free to fly. This is the art Halsey speaks of—a blend of science and love, where technical mastery and intuitive creation coexist.

In the creation of any piece of music, there exists a delicate tension. There are those who view the world of pop music through the lens of numbers and patterns, reducing it to nothing more than a set of mathematical formulas. Song structures are dissected, melodies analyzed, and the marketability of a song is often more important than its emotional depth. Yet, to the artist, there is something far greater than the sum of its parts. The process is not one of cold calculation, but of spontaneous creation, a feeling that flows from deep within. Just as ancient poets composed their verses under the influence of inspiration, so too does the songwriter craft their song from the raw materials of feeling, experience, and intuition.

Consider the legendary Beethoven, whose Symphony No. 9 transcended the boundaries of his time. To the observer, the music may appear to follow certain established patterns and structures—those that come from the careful study of theory. But to Beethoven, the music was not merely an exercise in technique. It was an expression of his deepest emotions, a message to the world that music could both elevate and transform the human spirit. His genius lay not in simply following the rules of composition, but in breaking them, allowing his heart to guide him toward something more sublime. In this sense, pop music, like classical music, transcends its structure to become something far more profound—a voice of the human soul.

Halsey’s quote challenges us to see the true essence of pop music for what it is: not just a commercial product or a formulaic design, but a medium for expression. The rules and formulas that are often associated with pop music are not the confines of creation, but rather the tools through which the artist channels their innermost truths. The science of the craft provides the framework, but it is the artist’s heart, their emotions, and their vision that bring the music to life. In this, we see a great lesson—that the most powerful creations are born not from the mind alone, but from the union of mind and heart.

The message of Halsey’s words extends beyond the realm of pop music into every creative endeavor. Whether we are poets, painters, or entrepreneurs, there is always a balance to be struck between the technical and the intuitive. The greatest creators of history, from Leonardo da Vinci to Steve Jobs, did not simply rely on formulas and rules; they allowed passion and vision to lead them. It is not enough to follow the path laid out before us; we must also be willing to forge new paths, to trust our instincts and let our hearts guide us. It is in this freedom, this willingness to blend science with love, that true innovation is born.

Thus, we must ask ourselves: How can we, in our own lives, embrace this balance of love and science? How can we find the space to create not only with our minds, but also with our hearts? The true lesson of Halsey’s words is that creativity is not a process confined to patterns and rules. It is an act of freedom, a dance between structure and intuition. Let us take up the challenge to embrace both sides of this equation in our own work, knowing that the best creations are not born from restriction, but from the union of reason and emotion, of science and love.