Last year Zoe Ko was on the cover of Spotify’s “Young & Free” playlist, and the feature could not be more apt. The LA-based pop newcomer’s explosive, unfiltered anthems radiate confidence and a playful youthfulness that doesn’t have time for musical wallflowers.

Inspired by indie sleaze and pop sensations of the 2000s, Ko turns to danceable beats, slashes of guitar riffs, and lots of attitude to make songs that are always ready for a night out, and she’s only getting started.

Ko’s sophomore EP not ur girlfriend drops on March 21, and it’s a damn good time… as expected. Off the heels of releasing the EP’s self-assured single “furr,” about feeling fabulous no matter what, the playful New York native gives insight into how her personality is reflected in her music and how not ur girlfriend represents who she is at this moment.

Culture Flux: Was singing your first creative passion that you discovered as a kid? 

Zoe Ko: Yes, absolutely! Banging on pots and running around the house singing was my absolute favorite thing to do. I had a little baby fake guitar for a while too as a kid. 

How has your music taste changed since you started making music? 

OMG girl, I’ve been all over the place. I really do love every kind of music out there, so I just fluctuate from different genres all the time and every day. I’ve always been most in love with mainstream hits and pop but every genre has affected me in some way. Ever since my late teen years though I’ve been most influenced and inspired by solo female artists, especially our divas of the 2000s! 

Your music has explored a lot of different sounds since you first started releasing music in 2022. Is there a correlation between you changing as a person as the sound evolves?

My music reflects me and my energy and life when I make it. So I feel like when I’m more introspective or sad my music becomes more indie alt pop and when I’m feeling excited, powerful and hot it becomes more rock or 2000s-inspired pop. It fluctuates with me always. It’s also just been a journey trying to find “my sound” and I think I’m really close to doing that! At least the sound I’ll stick with for the next few years. 

You’ve said that your life changed shortly after the release of Baby Teeth when you moved to LA and you became more independent. How did that change manifest itself in the music?

My music became more fun, free, sexy, hot, dancy, and confident, because I was. My first EP got me through a really tough time. And the entire time I was making not ur girlfriend I was finally feeling free and confident and sexy and learning what the best version of me there could be. 

You’ve said that “life is inherently camp.” Considering you mention your style in “furr,” what role does fashion and your overall aesthetic play in how you feel about yourself and express yourself as an artist? 

Fashion was always something I gravitated towards to boost my confidence, to fake it ’til I made it. I had a big collection of fur coats in high school and college and I started wearing them when I was getting bullied at school. It was my armor. The fur coats and loud clothing made me feel untouchable and one step closer to living the life I wanted. Still, clothing is an outlet and armor for me in life. I doubt that’ll ever change! 

There’s a carefree, party girl attitude to your new EP not your girlfriend, but it also exudes confidence. Do you feel like you’ve become more empowered through your music to fully express who you are? 

It’s been really hard to capture exactly who I am in my songs. I just wanted people to hear the fun and silly happiness in the songs. My songs have made me take risks and put myself out there and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. Now when I make music I try and capture all the parts of me because it makes me want to fully express who I am. 

From pop to indie sleaze, early 2000s music inspired your new EP. What is it about that era of music that you gravitate towards? 

It was so carefree and young and hot! I love all the combinations of instruments, sounds, and genres they all combine. Those two genres are so unapologetic and definitely don’t give a fuck what you think. These genres feel like a place I could be accepted and thrive in. 

Your personality really shines through in your vocal delivery. Is it challenging to figure out how to approach the vocals since it’s so different for each song? 

Ugh, yes! I’m always trying to figure out what kind of character or inflections suit each lyric and part. Sometimes I sing in a slight British accent. Sometimes I channel my inner annoyed valley girl. Sometimes I’m doing gang vocals with a low boy-screaming-in-a-club voice. It’s constantly shifting. But that’s the fun in it! I try and embody the feelings the lyrics and melody give me.