Julia Michaels has never tiptoed around the truth, but on her recently released EP Second Self, she obliterates any lingering expectations. With a smirk and both middle fingers raised, Michaels demolishes the version of herself the industry thought it knew, only to emerge sharper, louder, and unapologetically her own.
Released on May 23 via her newly launched label GFY Records, Second Self marks her first release since 2021’s Not in Chronological Order, and more importantly, her debut as an independent artist. No longer confined by the machinery of major-label pop or writing hits from the sidelines for other megastars, Julia Michaels takes the reins and lets her instincts drive. What unfolds is a six-track purge: blisteringly honest, gleefully chaotic, and gloriously raw.
From the tongue-in-cheek thrill of “Try Your Luck” to the sensual autonomy of “Heaven II” and the cathartic cut-and-run duet “Scissors” with Maren Morris, Second Self plays like an open journal with messy margins and no redactions. These aren’t just songs; they’re love letters, rage texts, voice memos, late-night spirals, and impulsive confessions that never asked for permission. And this is precisely what makes them hit so hard. Packed with nail-biting lyrics, magnetic specificity, and zero pretense, Julia Michaels isn’t reinventing herself—she’s reclaiming her narrative. And in doing so, she’s never sounded more herself. Or more free.
“These songs are mine. This project is mine. And that’s the most liberating feeling I’ve ever had,” Michaels said in a statement, and that sense of liberation courses through every beat. Some tracks sting with surgical precision, while others land like inside jokes shouted through a megaphone. “Some of these songs are raw, some are fun and lighthearted, and some are very in-your-face,” she said. “They’re the kind of songs you can dance to—or scream at an ex to.”
Opening track “Heaven II” sets the mood: lush, sultry, and soaked in euphoric synths. It’s a dreamy ode to sexual and emotional freedom—slow-burning and self-possessed, backed with the production (courtesy of Jon Bellion, Pete Nappi, and Tenroc) that mirrors that boldness, feeling expansive and unfiltered.
On “Scissors,” Michaels and Maren Morris deliver a breakup duet so sharp it nearly slices through the speakers. The metaphor is literal—emotional scissors, clean cuts, no loose ends. Their chemistry is electric, and the glitter-drenched, giggle-laced music video only amplifies the chaos.
The EP’s standout moment comes in “Try Your Luck,” a hilariously unhinged kiss-off anthem that proves Michaels as pop’s most entertaining provocateur. In its self-directed music video, alongside Blythe Thomas, she plays host of a dating show from hell, lobbing red-flag dodgeballs labeled “rude to waiters,” “owns six cats,” and “MAGA.” It’s a cheeky send-up satire of modern dating and a masterclass in how to weaponize wit in a hook.
The rest of the project brims with attitude and vulnerability. “F.O.O.L.” (a self-aware acronym best left unspoiled) struts between catharsis and club energy. “GFY” leans into crunchy production and an unapologetic chorus that practically rolls its eyes. And then comes “Time”, a slower, bruised exhale that closes the EP on a note of quiet reflection amid all the bravado.
Despite its sonic range, Second Self is anchored by a singular voice: a woman done contorting herself to fit the mold. It’s not just confessional—it’s boldly confrontational, delivered with the cool confidence of an artist claiming her full space.
Where Not in Chronological Order colored inside the commercial lines, Second Self gleefully scribbles all over the page. Lyrical detours, chaotic vocal takes, and a glorious sense of “too much” are baked into its DNA. This EP isn’t glossy pop made for TikTok virality or radio hits—it’s emotional excavation for hearts that still ache and souls that still search. And in a world obsessed with perfection, that kind of raw, self-aware rebellion feels more vital than ever.
Whether you’re healing, raging, or dancing through the chaos, Second Self has a track for every version of you. Stream it now and let Julia Michaels show you what freedom sounds like.
Connect with Julia Michaels: Instagram
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