Second Self (EP)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox EP
| name = Second Self
| type = EP
| artist = Julia Michaels
| cover = Second Self by Julia Michaels.jpg
| released = {{Start date|2025|05|23}}
| length = {{Duration|m=16|s=47}}
| label = {{hlist|GFY|Stem}}
| producer = {{hlist|Pete Nappi|Tenroc|Carlo Colasacco|Jon Bellion|John Ryan|The Monsters & Strangerz|Mattman & Robin|Ojivolta|Emmit Fenn}}
| prev_title = Not in Chronological Order
| prev_year = 2021
| year = 2025
| chronology = Julia Michaels
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Second Self
| type = ep
| single1 = Heaven II
| single1date = November 8, 2024https://music.apple.com/us/album/heaven-ii-single/1774273229
| single2 = Scissors
| single2date = January 10, 2025https://music.apple.com/us/album/scissors-single/1784268160
| single3 = GFY
| single3date = March 7, 2025https://music.apple.com/us/album/gfy-single/1797582623
| single4 = Try Your Luck
| single4date = May 23, 2025https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/try-your-luck/1814908736
}}
}}
Second Self is the sixth extended play by American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels. It was released through GFY Records under exclusive distribution licensing to Stem Distribution on May 23, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2025-05-06 |title=Julia Michaels Says EP 'Second Self' Is Made Up of 'Raw, Unfiltered' Storytelling |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/julia-michaels-second-self-ep-announcement-1235331712/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} It follows her 2021 debut album Not in Chronological Order, and it marks her first full-length release as an independent artist.{{Cite web |last=Gehlich |first=Clare |date=2025-05-06 |title=Julia Michaels announces sophomore EP ‘Second Self’ » // MELODIC Magazine |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2025/05/06/julia-michaels-announces-sophomore-ep-second-self/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.melodicmag.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Saenz |first=Rome |date=2024-11-25 |title=Julia Michaels Is Taking Power In Her Own Skin |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/features/julia-michaels-on-taking-power-in-her-own-skin-im-definitely-in-my-era-of-feeling-fun-and-free/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=billboardphilippines.com |language=en-US}} The EP features six songs, including a collaboration with country pop singer-songwriter Maren Morris.{{Cite web |title=Julia Michaels talks new single, 'Scissors' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/GMA3/video/julia-michaels-talks-new-single-scissors-117520715 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=ABC News |language=en}}
Background and release
After almost a decade as an artist signed under Republic Records,{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Katie |date=2016-10-25 |title=Julia Michaels, Songwriter for Justin Bieber & More, Signs With Republic for Solo Debut |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/julia-michaels-songwriter-republic-records-solo-deal/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} Michaels officially left the label in 2023, to form her own GFY Records.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=GFY Records Archives |url=https://femmusic.com/tag/gfy-records/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=FEMMUSIC Magazine |language=en-US}} Her first release on her own record label was "Heaven II" in 2024, which was set to be part of an upcoming project.{{Cite web |last=Hervoix |first=Lex |date=2025-05-07 |title=Julia Michaels Announces 'Second Self' EP |url=https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/julia-michaels-announces-second-half-ep/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Stage Right Secrets |language=en-US}} In early May 2025, Michaels announced the release of her upcoming sixth extended play titled, Second Self, featuring "Heaven II", her two next releases "Scissors" and "GFY", alongside three new songs on May 23.{{Cite web |last=Iahn |first=Buddy |date=2025-05-06 |title=Julia Michaels announces 'Second Self' EP |url=https://themusicuniverse.com/julia-michaels-announces-second-self-ep/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=The Music Universe |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=The best new albums out May 23 |url=https://www.knkx.org/2025-05-22/the-best-new-albums-out-may-23 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=KNKX Public Radio |language=en}} For the visuals of the project Michaels worked with Blythe Thomas. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Michaels said about the content of the EP:
{{Blockquote|text="These songs are raw, unfiltered, and some are way too specific. Some are fun and lighthearted and some are a bit more in your face, I’ve loved these songs for months, years and [they] have held such a special place in my heart. I’m excited to be able to share them with my fans. It’s [songs] they can dance to or scream at an ex to."|author=Julia Michaels|title=to Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/julia-michaels-second-self-ep-announcement-1235331712/}}
Promotion
To promote the EP, four songs have been released as singles: "Heaven II" was released as the extended play lead single on November 8, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Julia Michaels Talks "Heaven II" - PAPER Magazine |url=https://www.papermag.com/heaven-julia-michaels |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.papermag.com |language=en}} it marked Michaels' first release as an independent artist.{{Cite web |last=Rise |first=High |date=2024-11-12 |title=Julia Michaels Begins New Era With 'Heaven II' |url=https://www.antimusic.com/p/24/1112julia_michaels_begins_new_era_with_heaven_ii.shtml |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.antimusic.com |language=en}} "Scissors", a collaboration with singer Maren Morris served as the EP second single.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-10 |title=Julia Michaels & Maren Morris Share New Single "Scissors": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2292512/julia-michaels-scissors-feat-maren-morris/music/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} it was released alongside its music video on January 10, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2025-01-10 |title=Julia Michaels and Maren Morris Credit 'Cosmic Divinity' for Their Cheeky Collab, 'Scissors' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/julia-michaels-maren-morris-scissors-collab-1235230334/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=2025-01-12 |title=Altadena Home Where Julia Michaels & Maren Morris Filmed ‘Scissors’ Video Lost in Los Angeles Wildfires |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/julia-michaels-maren-morris-scissors-video-home-lost-altadena-wildfires-1235874517/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} "GFY" was released on March 7 as the third single, alongside it music video.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=JULIA MICHAELS IS LARGER THAN LIFE IN NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO "GFY" |url=https://imprintent.org/julia-michaels-is-larger-than-life-in-new-single-and-music-video-gfy/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=imprintent.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Okechukwu |first=Nmesoma |date=2025-03-10 |title=Julia Michaels – GFY |url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2025/03/music/tracks-julia-michaels-gfy/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=EUPHORIA. |language=en-US}} Michaels performed a medley of GFY and Scissors on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, alongside Morris.{{Cite web |title=Julia Michaels & Maren Morris Slice Up ‘Tonight Show’ With ‘GFY/Scissors’ Medley |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/julia-michaels-maren-morris-gfy-scissors-tonight-show-fallon |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=JamBase |language=en-US}} "Try Your Luck" was released alongside the entire extended play on May 23, 2025, with its own music video.{{Cite web |title=Julia Michaels "Try Your Luck" |url=https://www.wdjx.com/videos/julia-michaels-try-your-luck/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=99.7 DJX |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Malhotra |first=Khushboo |date=2025-05-07 |title=Julia Michaels Flips the Script With Bold New EP ‘Second Self’ |url=https://celebmix.com/julia-michaels-flips-the-script-with-bold-new-ep-second-self/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=CelebMix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=Julia Michaels Releases 'Second Self' EP |url=https://imprintent.org/julia-michaels-releases-second-self-ep/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=imprintent.org |language=en-US}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Second Self track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 16:47
| title1 = Heaven II
| length1 = 2:27
| writer1 = {{hlist|Julia Michaels|Pete Nappi|Jonathan Bellion|Jason Cornet|Carlo Colasacco}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Pete Nappi|Tenroc|Carlo Colasacco|Jon Bellion}}
| title2 = Scissors
| note2 = with Maren Morris
| length2 = 2:25
| writer2 = {{hlist|Michaels|John Ryan|Jordan K. Johnson|Stefan Johnson}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|John Ryan|The Monsters & Strangerz}}
| title3 = Try Your Luck
| length3 = 2:43
| writer3 = {{hlist|Michaels|Justin Tranter|Robin Fredriksson|Mattias Larsson}}
| extra3 = Mattman & Robin
| title4 = F.O.O.L.
| length4 = 3:14
| writer4 = {{hlist|Michaels|Caroline Ailin|Mark Williams|Raul Cubina}}
| extra4 = Ojivolta
| title5 = GFY
| length5 = 2:54
| writer5 = {{hlist|Michaels|Nappi}}
| extra5 = Nappi
| title6 = Time
| length6 = 3:06
| writer6 = Emmit Fenn
| extra6 = Emmit Fenn
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music.{{Citation |title=Second Self - EP by Julia Michaels on Apple Music |date=2025-05-23 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/second-self-ep/1811856920 |access-date=2025-05-25 |language=en-US}}
- Julia Michaels — vocals, songwriter, background vocals
- Maren Morris — vocals
- Pete Nappi — songwriter, producer, programming, keyboards, drums
- Jonathan Bellion — songwriter, producer
- Jason Cornet — songwriter, producer, programming, keyboards, drums, bass, guitar
- Carlo Colasacco — songwriter, producer, guitar
- John Ryan — songwriter, producer, recording engineer, programming, background vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, synthesizer
- The Monsters & Strangerz — songwriters, producers, recording engineer, percussion, synthesizer
- Justin Tranter — songwriter, background vocals,
- Mattman & Robin — songwriters, producers, percussion, drums, guitar, background vocals, keyboards, bass. guitar, horn
- Caroline Ailin — soingwriter
- Ojivolta — songwriters, producers
- Emmit Fenn — songwriter, producer
- Jeff Gunnell — recording engineer
- Matt Huber — mixing engineer
- Drew Lavyne — mastering engineer
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Second Self release history ! scope="col" |Region ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Format(s) ! scope="col" |Label ! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" |Various
|May 25, 2025 |{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |GFY Records |
|---|