Afterlife (Hailee Steinfeld song)

"Afterlife", alternatively titled, "Afterlife (Dickinson)",^[3] is a song by American singer-songwriter Hailee Steinfeld, being released as a single in promotion of the Apple TV+ original series Dickinson, also starring Steinfeld in the lead role.^[4][5] It was released on September 19, 2019, by Republic Records.^[6]

"Afterlife"
Single by Hailee Steinfeld
Released	September 19, 2019 (2019-09-19)
Genre	Synth-pop trap [1][2]
Length	3:28
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	Hailee Steinfeld Kennedi Lykken Mikkel Eriksen Stephen Kozmeniuk Tor Erik Hermansen
Producer(s)	Stargate Koz Tim Blacksmith (exec.) Danny D (exec.)
Hailee Steinfeld singles chronology
"Woke Up Late" (2019) "Afterlife" (2019) "Wrong Direction" (2020)
Music video
"Afterlife" on YouTube

Background

The song was released on September 19, 2019. It serves as a single from the soundtrack of the Apple TV series Dickinson, which also stars Steinfeld as renowned poet Emily Dickinson. Steinfeld announced the song via her social media accounts on September 14, 2019.^{[7][non-primary source needed]}

"This record has become one of my favorite songs I’ve worked on and sonically, it’s indicative of the direction I’m exploring with my new music. There’s a line in the song that says ‘immortality is bliss’ and its reminiscent of a lot of Emily’s poems, She lived during a time where women were forbidden from voicing their opinions and restricted in many ways, including how they dressed. I wanted the single art to reflect this idea too so the corset has an exaggerated cinch to represent how Emily in particular felt constricted and stifled."

— Steinfeld discussing the song, ^[8]

Music videos

The Hannah Lux Davis-directed music video premiered on Steinfeld's YouTube channel on September 30, 2019, via YouTube premiere.^[9] Another video titled "For Your Consideration", featuring the cast of Dickinson and creator Alena Smith, was released on July 1, 2020.^[10]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[11]

• Hailee Steinfeld – vocals, backing vocals, songwriting
• Stargate – production
• Koz – production, songwriting, bass, drums, engineering, studio personnel, synthesizer programming
• Tim Blacksmith – executive production
• Danny D – executive production
• Kennedi Lykken – songwriting
• Mikkel Eriksen – songwriting, engineering, studio personnel
• Tor Erik Hermansen – songwriting
• Ira Grylack – engineering, studio personnel
• Thomas Warren – engineering, studio personnel
• Matty Green – mixing, studio personnel

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Canada Digital Songs Sales (Billboard)[12]	48
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13]	7
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[14]	43
US Pop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15]	20

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	September 19, 2019	Digital download, streaming	Republic	[16]

References

1. Zemler, Emily (September 19, 2019). "Hear Hailee Steinfeld Reflect on Mortality in 'Afterlife (Dickinson)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
2. Casteel, Beth (September 19, 2019). "Hailee Steinfeld ponders the 'afterlife' with new song". Substream Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
3. Afterlife (Dickinson), retrieved September 29, 2019
4. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (September 14, 2019). "Hailee Steinfeld Sets New Single Tied to Apple TV Plus' 'Dickinson'". Variety. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
5. "Apple TV+ premieres at Tribeca with series about Emily Dickinson". Windsor Star. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
6. Hayes, Dade (September 14, 2019). "'Dickinson' Tribeca Premiere Lifts Veil on Apple TV+ As Star Hailee Steinfeld Touts New Single "Afterlife"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
7. Steinfeld, Hailee [@HaileeSteinfeld] (September 14, 2019). "I am SO excited to share that my new song "Afterlife" from @dickinson will be out this Thursday" (Tweet). Retrieved September 16, 2019 – via Twitter.
8. "Hailee Steinfeld Drops New Song From Apple TV Plus' 'Dickinson'". Variety. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
9. Hailee Steinfeld – Afterlife (Dickinson), retrieved September 30, 2019
10. "Check Out Latest English Official Music Video Song 'Afterlife' Sung By Hailee Steinfeld". Entertainment Times. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
11. "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
12. "Hailee Steinfeld Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
13. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 30, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
14. "Hailee Steinfeld Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
15. "Hailee Steinfeld Chart History (Pop Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
16. "Breakthrough". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved September 30, 2019.