The wild backstory of 'Closer' and how Halsey became The Chainsmokers' perfect fit

Originally, the track featured Camila Cabello and was set for a grand debut at Coachella. But when the big moment arrived, Camila didn’t show — reportedly off hanging out with Taylor Swift. With no featured singer, The Chainsmokers decided to perform only Drew Taggart’s verse. To their surprise, the crowd went wild.

“We got amazing feedback online,” Pall wrote. “It felt like we had a winner.”

But then came another twist — Camila backed out of the project entirely. With only weeks left before the planned release, the duo scrambled to find a new collaborator, knowing fans were already hyped about the track. That’s when Halsey entered the picture.

“She came in at just the right time,” Pall shared. “We were already huge fans, and she brought the exact energy we needed. Looking back, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else on that track.”

The rest is pop history. 'Closer' became one of the most iconic songs of the 2010s — a chart-topping, career-defining moment for both The Chainsmokers and Halsey.

“Sometimes things fall through for a reason,” Pall wrote. “If you stay flexible and trust the process, it usually works out.”

And as for the industry grind? “The feature hustle,” he added, “is still a huge pain in the butt.”