Julia Michaels is done playing behind the curtain. For years, her words have shaped the soundtrack of modern pop — from Justin Bieber on “Sorry” to Selena Gomez on “Lose You to Love Me.” But writing the hits was never the same as owning them.
Now, with her upcoming EP Second Self, out May 23 via her own newly launched label GFY Records, Julia Michaels is reclaiming her voice, and using it to roar. The six-track project, featuring “Heaven II,” “Scissors,” “Try Your Luck,” “F.O.O.L.,” “GFY,” and “Time”, marks a bold departure from the sidelines to center stage. It’s the sound of a prolific songwriter finally giving herself the spotlight she’s long deserved.
Rather than climb the traditional ladder of pop stardom, Julia Michaels flips the script. She’s not chasing industry approval, trending charts or studio-sanctioned, algorithm-friendly hits. Instead, she’ has opted for total control, everything from writing, producing, and releasing on her own terms. And that’s not just a move, it’s a message and creative power play.
“I’ve spent so much of my life helping other people tell their stories,” Michaels says. “This time, it’s just me. These songs are mine. This project is mine. And that’s the most liberating feeling I’ve ever had.”
The forthcoming EP, Second Self, isn’t just an EP title — it’s a turning point, signaling a clear break from the polished, rule-bound pop world Michaels once operated in. With tracks like “F.O.O.L.” and “GFY”, she leans into raw emotionality and surgical honesty, pulling no punches. With nail-biting lyrics and full creative control, Michaels confronts love, loss, and liberation head-on, wielding the same pen that once helped define the voices of pop’s biggest names, including Niall Hora, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, P!NK, Britney Spears, Keith Urban, Janelle Monáe, and more.
This time, that voice is unmistakably hers.
Pre-save/add Second Self now and witness Julia Michaels at her most unfiltered!
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