Zoe Ko, a Los Angeles-based pop/alt-rock musician, confidently dives into all things female empowerment on her new EP, not ur girlfriend, out March 21.
Ko’s seven-track EP features singles like “DIRT,” “Kiss My (AH)”, “lucky,” “drop the man” and “furr,” all reflective of her life and experiences as a young woman in her 20s—a time of self-discovery and growing confidence. She wanted this project to embody the coming-of-age theme, capturing her current state of feeling powerful and more comfortable in her skin than ever.
While each track stands out individually—whether offering advice to “drop the man” or celebrating the unstoppable energy a fur coat and makeup can bring—they collectively paint a vivid picture of womanhood and femininity: “I definitely, in general, have always wanted to talk about the female experience and what that means and the experience of growing up as a woman in America,” Ko said. “So I feel like that always was the theme for me.”
While writing these songs, Ko imagined speaking to a younger version of herself, hoping to help young girls on their journey to confidence and self-love—a path she also traveled while creating this EP.
“I always forget that I do have influence and impact to be honest. I also feel like I’m literally just a girl, whatever,” Ko said. “And so I do take it seriously at the end of the day, when I’m really finishing up a song. I do want to say something important or just be a positive influence in some way.”
In her songwriting process, Ko lets words and stories flow naturally, avoiding overthinking or self-restriction to keep her music honest and raw. She admits that “lucky” was written after a night out where she felt frustrated by a guy hitting on her too much, to which she channeled those fresh emotions into her writing. “I feel like it’s less thinking about what I even want to say,” Ko said. “It’s more just like talking about what’s going on in my head that day or what I was journaling about.”
Though not ur girlfriend carries a strong 2000s pop influence with a clubby sound, Ko’s music initially followed a singer-songwriter indie-pop style when she first started releasing music in 2022. She attributes this tonal shift to the hardships she experienced during the COVID pandemic, which left her in a dark songwriter headspace.
However, once she revisited some of the 2000s pop artists she listened to before the pandemic like Lady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Rihanna, she reconnected with the version of herself that had been temporarily lost. As she transitioned from the acoustic guitar to new production resources, Ko said this evolution felt natural because it had always been inside her.
“I feel like I just kind of rediscovered who I was before the pandemic and let it come out again,” Ko said. “I felt confident, I felt free in my life, and finally independent now and moved away from home, and all these things.”
Growing up, Ko listened to all kinds of music but was particularly drawn to powerful solo female artists. When she made “Lovesick in Public” and “DIRT”—both deeply inspired by 2000s pop—she felt the most like herself, channeling the admirable energy of the female artists at that time. “I always have been really, really influenced and interested and so curious about really strong and culturally influential solo women artists,” Ko said. “I feel like I’ve always gravitated towards them in whatever form or whatever lane.”
Reimagining a genre from decades ago while crafting a unique sound can be a challenge, but Ko believes she’s done it successfully—especially on “furr,” which blends the 2000s pop sound with her own fun, edgy twist.
“I think it’s always a challenge,” Ko said. “There’s a little bit of an edgy element that makes it feel like me and the topics and lyrics that I’m saying and singing always just come from me.”
Having grown up in New York, Ko attributes her confidence and bold music style to the city’s expressive culture and party scene. From drawing inspiration from New Yorkers’ fashion choices to the confidence required to get into high school parties, the city played a role in shaping her identity and artistry. “I feel like trying to constantly be the most unapologetic and crazy version of yourself is really my mantra in life,” Ko said.
Ko is set to hit the road with Geordie Kieffer in early June and will make her festival debut at Chicago’s iconic Lollapalooza in late July—where she’s ready to go all out and “be extra as fuck.” To match the high energy of her music, she’s planning to incorporate choreography and storytelling into her performances to create an immersive, confidence-boosting experience.
With the resurgence of 2000s pop—evidenced by Lady Gaga’s newest album release and a cultural shift toward embracing bold, carefree energy—Ko is excited to bring her own take on the era to life.
“I feel like we’re all ready for that energy and excited about it, and it’s time for it to come back,” Zoe Ko said. “And so I think we’ve all been waiting.”
Listen to Zoe Ko’s new EP not ur girlfriend out now!
