Julia Michaels’ liberating chapter begins

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Julia Michaels, the highly sought-after singer-songwriter of this generation, has released her latest EP, “Second Self.” The Grammy-nominated artist is behind the hits “Issues,” “Heaven,” and “All Your Exes” and has previously collaborated with Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez and Sabrina Carpenter.

With her newfound role as the founder of GFY Records, her independent music label, the musician embarks on a significantly empowering chapter in her career.

“Second Self” reflects the musician’s rising sense of confidence and liberty as an artist.

“I’m able to be more open and free about other parts of myself, and I’m looking forward to people hearing that strength and that next step in my life,” she stated.

This EP shifts the spotlight to Michaels’ brilliant artistry, highlighting her distinct voice and gift of articulately expressing emotions while keeping it personally authentic. In particular, “Try Your Luck” reveals a rare, playful side of her artistry.

Singer-songwriter Julia Michaels. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/DAVID OD

She acknowledged that stepping away from her usual emotionally vulnerable songwriting could feel inauthentic. Nonetheless, she pursued a lighthearted approach to the track co-written with her friends.

Since launching her independent label, she no longer has to navigate through multiple opinions and can focus on writing primarily for herself. At the same time, she was candid about the challenges of being signed to a label, explaining how the system can pressure artists to conform to stereotypes that don’t reflect their identity.

“Having my own label and being independent to put out music — and visually put it out the way that I want to has been so important to me.”

Despite writing songs at an early age, she admitted still feeling excited about the idea of writing a song even after 15 years.

Additionally, the multifaceted singer-songwriter revealed she draws inspiration from her surroundings, including everyday conversations and poetry.

“Inspiration is everywhere. As songwriters, we have trained our brains to constantly listen because there’s always a song around the corner,” she said, adding that Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, and Alanis Morissette, the musicians she grew up listening to, are her musical influences.

For Michaels, music is a personal creative outlet through which she channels her thoughts and feelings. Moreover, she expressed how fulfilling it is to form meaningful connections with fans globally, appreciating the moments with her supporters who come to her shows and sing along to her songs.

After years of collaborating with numerous artists, Michaels acknowledged that it can be challenging to balance colla­borative projects while staying true to her artistic vision. Now, she intentionally sets aside time for her music while remaining open to working with others.

“When someone I love is working on their album, and they call me, I want to be there for them.”

The artist also admitted that there are songs she has written for others that she wished she had kept for herself. Despite this, she takes comfort in knowing that collaborators will cherish the songs as well.

“If it’s going to find a home somewhere else and they’re going to sing it and love it as much as I did, then sing it, please, give it a beautiful home.”

If there’s anything Michaels hopes listeners take from the project, it’s the emotional range that each track explores. “I hope that people can find a mix of themselves in these songs — there’s a song for each feeling, a song for each kind of season, too.”

Michaels also offered this advice to fellow creatives, “You have to be true to yourself and be open.”

Finally, she took a moment to express heartfelt appreciation for her Filipino fans, stating, “Thank you for listening all these years. I’m so grateful for you, and I hope to meet you soon.”