Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed, and multi-talented singer-songwriter Julia Michaels is feeling her “sexiest,” “pettiest,” and most open in her newest comeback.

You may know Michaels for her groundbreaking 2019 EP, Inner Monologue Part 1, or her work for internationally renowned stars like Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and more, but her latest release, “Heaven II,” marks the first in her fresh chapter as an independent artist. The song is a standout piece among her discography — it’s cheeky, it’s fun, it’s undeniably sensual, and unapologetically raw.

The singer-songwriter has experienced many different phases in her career, kicking off her early 20s as she cowrote smash hits like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself,” and more. In 2018, as well, she received two Grammy nominations for her chart-breaking debut single “Issues” and received a nod for Best New Artist. Until today, she continues to make chart-topping hits; her work on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short & Sweet has also garnered critical acclaim, along with yet another Grammy nomination.

As Michaels shifts into this new period of her songwriting and craft, Billboard Philippines held an exclusive interview with the artist, speaking on all things from producing music for the Pixar film Wish, writing for other artists in contrast to writing for herself, and more.

Billboard Philippines: On behalf of Billboard Philippines, we’d like to congratulate you on your newest single as an independent artist. Listening to the song, we can really tell that you’ve come into your own with this new release. The lyricism is really upfront and bold. What’s it like taking this kind of direction to your songwriting?

Julia Michaels: It feels so good. I truly feel the most comfortable in my skin that I ever have, and I really wanted to be able to portray that in my music this time around, I am independent for the first time, which is so liberating and freeing, and I just want to encapsulate that as much as I can in my music, and whether that’s me feeling my sexiest, whether that’s me feeling my pettiest, my happiest, my most heartbroken. Like, I just want to I want to be able to feel it all and express it all.

You’re really quite well known in your songwriting for encapsulating so many different feelings into your songwriting. I want to ask, how are you able to sum up all of those kinds of feelings experiences into a matter of three minutes, maybe, per song?

Some songs are definitely easier than others. Some songs I feel like could be 20 minutes long, with the the way that I feel about certain topics, but the beauty of, you know, creating is you always can, you know. I’m so grateful to be able to have this outlet, to be able to be self-expressive, and be able to tell a short story in through music, and then I can make a whole album about the same thing, if I want to.

I love how you’re also able to express that even more in your new, independent era. You also recently worked on the theme of the Pixar film Wish, after having provided background vocals before for the iconic “Let It Go.” So, as a self-proclaimed Disney kid yourself, can you describe what it’s like to have your work be some of the defining music for generations to grow up with?

It’s definitely a lot of pressure, you know. I’m walking in the footsteps of Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Lin Manuel Miranda, and all of these just incredible songwriters that have come before me and that are so musically inclined. So that really adds a lot of pressure, but I was truly so honored. I have been a Disney fan since I was a kid, and listened to these songs my entire life. And you know, I really love Asha as a character, because she is so bold and cares so deeply about people and wanting good for the people in her life, and I can resonate with that so much. And if that’s the message of the movie that I get to help make music for, I’m so happy about that.

Apart from that, you get to create those experiences for little girls as well, you get to be a part of this bigger picture. Along with working with Disney, you’ve also worked with the talents of the biggest stars in music today, producing hit after hit, and your ability to mesh with different genres is beyond compare. In your perspective, what was the most unexpected collaboration you worked on

Most unexpected collaboration I’ve worked on? Honestly, it would probably be Fred again.. — he’s just an incredible musician. We did a song together, and that song spawned from a video of me talking out my lyrics to another song. And something about the way that I spoke my lyrics resonated with him enough to want to put it in a song. So, when I had got the email that this artist wanted to put out a song with me, I was like, “What song? I didn’t write with this person.” And I heard it, and I was like, “This is so, so cool.” That was probably the most unexpected [experience], because I truly did not expect it.

Fred again.. just picks out random samples from different spaces. I think that’s pure artistry right there.

Absolutely.

Can you describe an experience that really pushed you out of your comfort zone?

I think performing live just still to this day in any capacity. You know, the first time that I really performed live was with Kygo at the closing ceremony of the Olympics in 2016. I had never really had a lot of prior experience to that, so that was pretty shocking and pretty scary, but [I’m] so glad that I did it. You know, now I get to say that I got to be a part of that moment with with Kygo, who I just adore.

I can imagine how intimidating that must be performing, not only for like, one of your first really big shows, and it’s the 2016 Olympics.

Yeah, it was terrifying.

You pulled it off with finesse, and that’s what matters.

Thanks, girl!

So I want to delve more into your song writing. So, what are some stark differences you encounter in writing music for yourself, especially in this new era, this independent era, in contrast to writing for other artists?

I think the difference is, when I write with other artists, it’s their narrative. You know, I can sort of insert bits and pieces of myself, but at the end of the day, writing with other people is an act of service. I am there for them in whatever way they need me to be there for them that day, versus when it’s just me, it’s me. It’s whatever I want to say, my thoughts and feelings and in whatever unapologetic way I want to say it and sonically, whatever way I want to, I want to create it in.

Is it a bit more intimidating to be writing for yourself because you’re revealing more parts of yourself?

It definitely can be, because if people don’t gravitate to it or they have something negative to say about it, they’re basically saying that there’s something about you that they don’t like, and that can be pretty gut-punching. But I’m really grateful to the ones that have stuck with me and stayed with me and supported me through through all of it, and even now I feel like, as an independent artist, I can feel them, my fans just sort of rallying around me even more because they know how much more it means to me now.

I love that. I love how your fans have also made it feel a bit more warm to come into this new era.

They are truly incredible.

As you continue to work towards this new chapter in your songwriting and storytelling, who is the Julia Michaels you want your fans and your listeners to envision?

I mean, I’m definitely in my era of feeling fun and free and sexy and sometimes really petty. Yeah, I think that I don’t want to put myself in a box, you know? I don’t want to be typecasted as someone that just only writes songs that are vulnerable and heartfelt, because that is me, that is a big part of me, but it makes me sound so one-dimensional, and I’m not one-dimensional.

I love how you’re really reinforcing your new image, but is it a scary experience to be redefining your production after your past work being received so well?

Not at all! Like I said, right now, I just feel the most me I ever have, and the most settled into my skin, and I really want to convey that as much as I can right now.

Listen to “Heaven II” here: