BEYOND THE NOTES
Photo by Cobrasnake
April 7, 2025 | Alexia Armstrong and Brianna Gonzalez Ulloa
LOS ANGELES, CA — MARCH 22, 2025 — With her sophomore EP, "not ur girlfriend," rising Los Angeles-based pop star Zoe Ko kicks down the door to the cool girl club—and flips it off on her way out. Across seven tracks, Ko unleashes a glitter-smeared rebellion of bratty vocals, Y2K alt-rock textures, and don't-call-me "baby" anthems that feel like the soundtrack to your most iconic breakdown (and breakthrough).
The EP opens with its namesake, "not ur girlfriend," where Ko dismantles the boyfriend industrial complex with a smirk: "I'm too hot to get / I bet you think about it." From there, listeners are led through a sonic playground of bad decisions and bold eyeliner. On "lucky," she serves playful warnings: don't mistake the flirt for promise. Meanwhile, "drop the man" turns friendship into gospel as she begs a bestie to ditch the dude and raise her standards. And we've all been there.
But this EP isn't just about boys. It's about chaos, confidence, and the messy joy of being a girl who wants it all. "DIRT" craves grim over clean-cut expectations, and "furr" is its juxtaposition, with a hazy, aching track disguised in a glamorous coat.
By the time we get to "kiss my (ah)" and "manic pixie dream girl," Ko flips the male gaze on its head, becoming a fantasy no one can quite hold onto. It's messy pop at its most self-aware—and Ko's having way too much fun to play nice.
To celebrate the release, Cherry Pop Records' visual media coordinator, Alexia Armstrong, attended Big Loud Rock's "not ur girlfriend" launch party at Tenants of the Trees in Silverlake. In collaboration with women-led collective StarGirls, it was a night tailor-made for LA's hottest, decked out in fur, fishnets, and smudged eyeliner. The venue was buzzed with that "hot girl" persona energy found all over "not ur girlfriend," as guests danced under strobe lights to Ko's EP and DJ remixes of club bangers like Charli XCX's "Von Dutch."
The scene was a glittery fever dream: a blur of mini skirts and sunglasses on the dance floor, warm lighting, and camera flashes on the patio, with photo ops on a fur-draped bench surrounded by black balloons. In true fashion, Ko took center stage in a DIY trash bag mini dress, dancing on tables.
EP-themed cocktails, "Mud Inside My Purse" and "Kick Him to the Curb," kept spirits high. At the same time, partygoers left with goodie bags stocked with a limited zine and products from event partner e.l.f. Cosmetics. By the end of the night, everyone had tapped into a shared persona: Ko's twist on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. But this was no male fantasy version. Glitter-smudged, heartbreak-powered, and entirely self-possessed. The kind of girl who dances like they own the place, steals the aux, and gives you the best compliment of your life in the bathroom line. For a few hours, everyone existed in Ko's world. And you can, too.
"not ur girlfriend" is out on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
Fishnets. Tasty cocktails. Dance hits for your delusional era. Turn it up, and don't look back.
LATEST