EJAE<\/a> is about to step into what she calls \u201cunknown territory.\u201d Having spent most of her time behind the scenes as a songwriter, EJAE has just released her first single, \u201cIn Another World,\u201d accompanied by a music video. <\/p>\n\n\tEJAE soared to global success with \u201cKPop Demon Hunters,\u201d where she served as the singing voice of Rumi. Huntr\/X, the fictional girl group from the Netflix animated film, scored four Billboard Top 10 songs. <\/p>\n
\n\tEJAE has also been named one of Variety<\/em>\u2019s 10 Artisans to Watch in Songwriting. As \u201cDemon Hunters\u201d continues to break records, EJAE is excited for people to discover a new side of her as she flexes this very different creative muscle. The song was co-written by EJAE, Ted Andreville and Breagh Isabel, who also produced alongside Vitals and Daniel Rojas.<\/p>\n\n\tSpeaking with Variety,<\/em> EJAE says, \u201cI\u2019ve always been a songwriter, and that was always the first thing. I guess the only difference between a songwriter and artist, for me at least, is that I\u2019m having people hear all my demos. But now, it\u2019s not a demo; it\u2019s the final form.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\tWhile she\u2019s excited, she\u2019s also feeling scared. \u201cBehind the scenes, I\u2019m hiding. But when you\u2019re bringing your whole self to it, you\u2019re allowing people to judge you. So I think that\u2019s the scary part.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\tHere, EJAE discusses the songwriting process behind \u201cIn Another World\u201d and the filming of its music video.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\u2018In Another World\u2019 has such beautiful lyrics, and we\u2019ve always known about your songwriting skills. But what does it mean to be on this new journey, releasing the single?\t<\/h5>\n \n\tSongwriting is what defines my artistry. The song was personal to me and my fellow co-writers. I personally wish that the song receives more attention than me, and that\u2019s the main goal. As a songwriter, I\u2019m not trying to bring attention to myself or my personal life. I\u2019m trying to bring attention to the lyrics and the melody so people can feel what I felt when I was listening to music. Music helped me get through a hard time. Adele\u2019s \u201cSomeone Like You\u201d helped me get through a really difficult period, and I wish that\u2019s what this song brings to other people as well.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWith so much happening due to the success of \u201cKPop Demon Hunters,\u201d can you talk about the timing of the single and what made now feel like the right time?\t<\/h5>\n \n\tI feel like people have already been hearing my lyrics and message. It was just through a different messenger, right? Whether it be \u201cPsycho\u201d for Red Velvet or something else, the difference is that I\u2019m the one now who\u2019s actually singing it. I think the timing of it all is just quite organic. It was more because of \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d that people were finding out about my singing voice, and people were being so nice \u2014 they wanted to hear more. I was like, \u201cI\u2019m down if you guys are willing.\u201d As an artist, I don\u2019t want myself to be boxed into being a \u201cK-pop\u201d artist because I don\u2019t really view myself as a K-pop artist or a pop artist. I view myself as a songwriter of every genre.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tLet\u2019s talk about \u201cIn Another World.\u201d What\u2019s the meaning behind the lyrics?\t<\/h5>\n \n\tI wrote this two years ago during a songwriting camp in Canada. Every time I hear it, there\u2019s a different meaning, and that\u2019s what I love about this song. But we were all going through something. I was going through this personal relationship thing with my fianc\u00e9. It was an important time, and things weren\u2019t working out. We had a break, and it was an important decision-making time for me. I think it inspired this idea of, what if we met at a time when I didn\u2019t have my baggage? What would that be like? And if we decided not to be together, what\u2019s a way for me to be OK with that decision to let it go?<\/p>\n
\n\tThat mindset helped me. Maybe in another world, we would have been perfect, and I\u2019m leaning on that parallel world with no jealousy. I have no insecurity issues that I brought into the relationship, and it would have been perfect. It very much feels like a \u201cSliding Doors\u201d situation because that\u2019s something we all do \u2014 where we wonder, \u201cWhat if?\u201d The lyrics helped me accept reality in a way, but at the same time, be OK with it by knowing to just be real with yourself. I chose this song because it felt exactly how I felt with Rumi and the movie. Accepting your demons, then accepting that part of yourself \u2014 that is when true growth happens.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018In Another World\u2019 artwork<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\tYou wrote this a few years ago. Is there going to be more music in the future?\t<\/h5>\n \n\tYes, absolutely. It\u2019s just about picking and choosing what is right for me, what I want to speak on, and what I feel people can relate to. It doesn\u2019t always have to be a sad song. It could be anything.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tYou also filmed the music video. What\u2019s the story behind the video?\t<\/h5>\n \n\t\u201cIn Another World\u201d can mean so many different things. It was initially about the relationship, but it evolved into this thing where, as a kid, in another world, I chose a different path. I had different paths I could have taken. So, it\u2019s a love letter to my younger self. You see me back and forth playing the piano as a kid and as an adult, and what it means to me now. It\u2019s about those two worlds colliding.<\/p>\n
\n\tListen to the single here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tThis interview has been edited and condensed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWatch the video below.<\/p>\n\n