Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for iHeartMediaLast year, Fifth Harmony‘s Lauren Jauregui came out as bisexual in an open letter she penned for Billboard, and this year, she recorded a love song with Halsey called “Strangers.” But Lauren says you probably won’t hear her singing songs about girl/girl romance on Fifth Harmony’s next album: according to her, that’s what solo projects are for.
Speaking to Billboard for its Fifth Harmony cover story, Lauren says she’s not sure she’d feel comfortable singing about a relationship with a woman with the group “because it has to do with me personally.” She explains, “It doesn’t speak for everyone in the group, which is its own entity as an artist. That’s the whole reason for doing your own thing.”
“Last year, we all learned a lesson about mental health and making sure you step away from something,” Lauren adds. “It just makes this stronger.”
Her band mate Normani Kordei, who stepped out solo to compete on Dancing with the Stars, agrees, adding, “Fifth Harmony is the home base where we always come back.”
As for what what message Lauren wanted to send by duetting with Halsey, who also identifies as bisexual, she tells ABC Radio, “It was just representation [of the community], and just having that out there. It really is just the intention of a love song and normalizing the fact that it happened to be between two girls, you know?”
Fifth Harmony is currently out with “Down,” the first single from their third album, which will be their first as a quartet. They’re also up for several Teen Choice Awards, including Choice Summer Group.
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
