''Inner Monologue Part 1'' is the fourth
extended play by American singer and songwriter
Julia Michaels, released on January 24, 2019, through
Republic Records
Republic Records is a New York City–based American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an ...
.
It follows her 2017 EP ''
Nervous System''. The EP features six songs, including collaborations with
Selena Gomez and
Niall Horan
Niall James Horan ( ; born 13 September 1993) is an Irish singer-songwriter. He rose to prominence as a member of the boy band One Direction, formed in 2010 on the singing competition ''The X Factor''. The group released five albums and went ...
. Michaels went on a tour in the second quarter of 2019 in support of the EP.
Music
The EP features songs with "a syncopated rhythm, a jumble of words, negative space, and
..undeniable hooks".
"Anxiety" features lyrics about mental health "over snaps and a razor-sharp guitar";
''
Paper'' magazine commented that it has "an upbeat acoustic lick and earworm of a melody" and "the dynamic duo trading cleverly arranged verses about the often-isolating experience of anxiety and depression".
Upon its release, Gomez said on
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
: "This song is really close to my heart as I've experienced anxiety and I know a lot of my friends do too."
"Into You" features "stadium echoes, booms and a strobing vibe that strikes just left of
Lorde
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), known professionally as Lorde ( ), is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. Taking inspiration from aristocracy for her stage name, she is known for her unconventional musical styles and i ...
", while third track "Happy" includes Michaels "strained-voice and desperate, break
ngout of beat to reflect on how writing lovesick songs might affect her life as a whole".
Release
Michaels released the EP a day earlier than originally planned, having first announced it would be released on January 25, 2019.
Critical reception
''Inner Monologue Part 1'' received mostly mixed to positive reviews. While many found a strong interest and strength in the opening single “Anxiety”, others found weakness in some other tracks.
Mike Nied of ''
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
'' commented that the EP "offers another glimpse into the songwriter-turned-superstar's inner workings" and that it is "bookended by a pair of must-hear duets".
Nied stated that "What a Time" "mourns the end of a relationship",
and ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' called "Anxiety" "poignant".
Promotion
The EP was promoted with the release of four music videos; "What a Time" on February 7, "Happy" on February 28 "Deep" on March 6 and "Apple" on March 13.
Michaels embarked on the Inner Monologue Tour in 2019. This is her first headlining tour. The tour started on March 4, 2019 at the House of Blues at Disney Springs in Orlando, FL.
Track listing
Credits adapted from
Tidal.
Charts
References
{{Authority control
2019 EPs
Julia Michaels albums