Jolianne Explores Stories Of Life, Love, And Heartbreak In Debut EP ‘Plain Girl’
The new set of songs from the rising Cebuano R&B singer-songwriter was preceded by three singles: “I’ll Be Somebody You Want,” “Plain Girl,” and “Afterthought.”
Jolianne: courtesy of @joliannesalvado, photographed by Andrea Beldua
Jolianne: courtesy of @joliannesalvado, photographed by Andrea Beldua
Jolianne just dropped her long-awaited debut EP.
On January 31, 2025 (Friday), the rising R&B/pop singer-songwriter released her long-awaited debut EP, entitled Plain Girl, out now via Careless Music and Sony Music Entertainment. “My first EP ever! can’t believe I’m even typing this,” she stated in a post last January 23, 2025 (Thursday), announcing its release. The new collection of songs contains a total of six tracks. This includes the three previously released singles, including the title track, “I’ll Be Somebody You Want,” and “Afterthought.”
The EP’s lead single, “Let Me Down Easy,” is described as a “soulful piano-driven ballad” that was inspired by “the emotional complexity of an unfulfilled relationship,” capturing “the feeling of witnessing a relationship fade while grappling with the uncertainty of where things stand.” A live oerformance video of the song is set to premiere at 8:00 PM tonight (January 31, 2025) via Jolianne’s official Youtube channel.
In a press statement, it was revealed that the “coming-of-age record” was written when Jolianne was 16 to 20 years old and navigates “the transformative period of a young woman navigating the complexities of teenage life, embracing both the charm and chaos of self-discovery.” In addition, it also tackles “the trials, triumphs, and messiness of stepping into adulthood while confronting the uncertainties of love, identity, and independence.” According to Jolianne herself, Plain Girl is “a story of growth, self-discovery, and the beauty of experiencing the unknown, all through the eyes of someone who is just starting to find her place in it all.”
“It’s about a girl who has lived in her own bubble, untouched by the complexities of life and love, suddenly finding herself on the brink of
transformation, Jolianne further reveals, noting how, through the six-track release, she “wanted to capture the innocence and uncertainty of taking those first steps into a bigger, more complicated world” as she began “opening her heart to love, embracing vulnerability, and navigating emotions she’s never felt before.”
Plain Girl notably features a number of producers and collaborators who helped Jolianne bring it to life. Namely, this includes Greg for “Maybe I’m Yours” and “Afterthought,” RJ Pineda for “Plain Girl” and “I’ll Be Somebody You Want,” jonahbru for “Plain Girl,” De’La for “Let Me Down Easy,” and Isagani Palabyab for “Are You Happy Now (Take One).”
“Thankfully, they all made sure to put my artistic identity at the forefront, and because I had worked with them previously, they already had a strong
understanding of my vision,” reveals the “Halfway There” hitmaker, noting how her team “successfully maintained a cohesive artistic vision throughout the record.” “Collaborating with such a diverse group of producers was refreshing. Each brought their unique takes to the table, and it was so inspiring to dive into their creative worlds, pick their brains, and witness their process in real time.”
In other news, Jolianne is set to share the stage with Kehlani, Jenevieve, RINI, Raveena, James Reid, and mrld at the first Manila iteration of PLUS63 Festival this February 2025. Find out how to get tickets here. Billboard Philippines also recently chose her to be part of our ’10 Filipino Artists To Look Out For This 2025′ list, where we highlighted “her fusion of smooth R&B and laid-back pop” that can be “distinguished by the dreamy timbre of her voice.”
Listen to Jolianne’s Plain Girl below: