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After School EP

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After School EP, sometimes referred to as exclusively After School, is the fourth official extended play by Melanie Martinez. It was released on September 25, 2020, by Atlantic Records through digital download, vinyl, and CD. The extended play is also featured on streaming platforms as a deluxe edition of Melanie's second album K-12.

On December 17, 2020, Melanie performed six tracks, excluding "Notebook", from After School during the virtual concert CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M OUT OF K-12.

Background[]

In an interview with V Magazine published on September 14, 2019, Melanie stated that she would release songs that were in-line with K-12, but were "more personal and more vulnerable."

When the K-12 Tour began, fans began to speculate that Melanie would be releasing an extended play because the image displayed on the video screen during Melanie's performance of "Fire Drill" showed a pink composition notebook with "After School" written on the front.[1]

During the K-12 Tour at the show at O2 City Hall in Newcastle, England on December 6, 2019, Melanie announced that "Fire Drill" would be officially released at some point in 2020. It was later confirmed through Melanie's Instagram story that the song would be a track on After School.

On January 20, and January 21, 2020, fans reported hearing Melanie rehearsing unknown songs, now confirmed to be "Test Me" and "Numbers". However, she did not perform either of these songs during her concerts.[2][3][4]

On February 6, 2020, an interview was released where Melanie stated that she intended to release "Fire Drill" by the end of the month. The song's release was later pushed to June 26, 2020, because of the popularity of "Play Date" on TikTok. She also scrapped one track from the extended play,[5] although she later confirmed in a Beats 1 interview that the extended play would remain with seven tracks.[6]

On February 9, 2020, Melanie confirmed through her Instagram story that the extended play would be out in spring, but it was later pushed back, and that a song featuring "one of [her] favorite artists" would be coming out "sooner than you think".[7] The next day, on February 10, she released "Copy Cat" featuring Tierra Whack.

On August 31, 2020, Melanie posted on Instagram and liked a comment theorizing the release being sometime during Libra season, which goes from September 23 to October 22. This had lead fans to theorize whether she is hinting at a release around that time. [8]

Then, on September 15, 2020, Melanie posted a surrealist photo of her in a giant nest with two eggs on Instagram, with a caption reading, "Holdin’ onto these eggs till they're ready to be hatched next week.", causing fans to believe that the extended play would be released the following week.[9]

On September 22, 2020, Melanie posted a snippet of "The Bakery" on her TikTok. She later announced that the music video for "The Bakery" would be out at 12AM EST on September 25, 2020.[10]

The EP was officially released on September 25, 2020, along with the music video for "The Bakery".

In an interview with Idolator, Melanie expressed interest in making a music video for "Test Me", saying that she wrote a video treatment and that "it all depends on how much people connect with it/stream [the song]." However, she later confirmed on her Instagram livestream that she didn't have enough budget to film the music video. She also stated she wanted to spend more time working on her second feature film and third studio album.

Theme[]

According to Melanie, the EP follows the story elements that are present in her sophomore album, K-12; however, the songs are more personal to Melanie rather than relating to her character, Cry Baby.

Track list[]

There are 7 tracks on the EP, that also serve as 7 additional tracks on the deluxe version of K-12. There are currently 21 songs that were intended for After School EP, but only some of them made the final cut (12 tracks are unreleased, 9 tracks are released).

  • 🅴 indicates the song is explicit
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Notebook 🅴"  Melanie Martinez • Michael KeenanKeenan 2:30
2. "Test Me"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 2:54
3. "Brain & Heart"  Martinez • Keenan • Fred Jerkins III • Jennifer Lopez • LaShawn Deniels • Mark Rooney • Rodney JerkinsKeenan 3:23
4. "Numbers 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 4:39
5. "Glued 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:13
6. "Field Trip 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:02
7. "The Bakery 🅴"  Martinez • Blake SlatkinSlatkin 2:35
Total length:
 22:17
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Notebook 🅴"  Melanie Martinez • Michael KeenanKeenan 2:30
2. "Test Me"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 2:54
3. "Brain & Heart"  Martinez • Keenan • Fred Jerkins III • Jennifer Lopez • LaShawn Deniels • Mark Rooney • Rodney JerkinsKeenan 3:23
4. "Numbers 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 4:39
5. "Glued 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:13
6. "Field Trip 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:02
7. "The Bakery 🅴"  Martinez • Blake SlatkinSlatkin 2:35
Total length:
 22:17

Draft track listing[]

Originally the track list differed from the final release. According to the original files of the early mix of the EP, the early version included "Field Trip" as the fifth track, while "Glued" was listed as the sixth track on the album at that time. In the final release, these two songs swapped positions. It was also confirmed by Melanie that a version of the EP with "Fire Drill" and "Copy Cat" existed, however the actual track list where these songs were present has yet to leak.

Early drafts of the EP included the tracks "History" and "Lost & Found". However, their intended positions in the track list and the songs that ultimately replaced them in the final release remain unclear.[leaked]

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Notebook 🅴"  Melanie Martinez • Michael KeenanKeenan 2:31
2. "Test Me"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 2:55
3. "Brain & Heart"  Martinez • Keenan • Fred Jerkins III • Jennifer Lopez • LaShawn Deniels • Mark Rooney • Rodney JerkinsKeenan 3:24
4. "Numbers 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 4:40
5. "Field Trip 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:01
6. "Glued 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:13
7. "The Bakery 🅴"  Martinez • Blake SlatkinSlatkin 2:33
Total length:
 22:17
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Notebook 🅴"  Melanie Martinez • Michael KeenanKeenan 2:31
2. "Test Me"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 2:55
3. "Brain & Heart"  Martinez • Keenan • Fred Jerkins III • Jennifer Lopez • LaShawn Deniels • Mark Rooney • Rodney JerkinsKeenan 3:24
4. "Numbers 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 4:40
5. "Field Trip 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:01
6. "Glued 🅴"  Martinez • KeenanKeenan 3:13
7. "The Bakery 🅴"  Martinez • Blake SlatkinSlatkin 2:33
Total length:
 22:17

Cut songs[]

Main article: List of unreleased songs

Key[]

  • Bold typing indicates that the song has been fully leaked online or officially released.
  • Italic typing indicates that the song was never released and has yet to fully leak online.

List[]

  1. "Absorb"
  2. "Clockwork"
  3. "Copy Cat" (released as a stand-alone single)
  4. "Erase Her"
  5. "Fire Drill" (released as a stand-alone single)
  6. "Function"
  7. "History"
  8. "Lost & Found"
  9. "Paper Cut"
  10. "Spin The Bottle"
  11. "Trophy"
  12. "Under The Desk"

Unconfirmed songs[]

During the recording sessions for the After School EP, several unreleased tracks were written and recorded; however, it remains unclear whether they were ever intended for inclusion on the project.

  1. "Chrysalis" (recorded during the sessions for After School EP, but is speculated to have been for PORTALS)
  2. "Maze" (recorded during the sessions for After School EP, but is speculated to have been for PORTALS)
  3. "The Tunnel" (recorded during the sessions for After School EP, but is speculated to have been for PORTALS)

Music videos[]

Release history[]

Digital[]

Release name Format Release date Edition Tracks
After School EP Digital download • streaming September 25, 2020 Standard 7
K-12 (After School - Deluxe Edition)[note 1] Digital download • streaming September 25, 2020 Deluxe 20

Physical[]

Release variant Region Release date Edition Additional notes
Baby Blue 12" EP USA December 18, 2020 Standard -
Forest Green w/ Grape Marble 12" EP Europe, USA December 15, 2023 Standard -
Orchid Splatter 12" EP USA January 5, 2024 Standard Limited indie record store exclusive, 5000 copies only
Clear w/ Silver Splatter 12" EP USA April 26, 2024 Standard Limited Urban Outfitters exclusive, 3000 copies only
CDs
Standard CD Canada, UK & Brazil September 25, 2020 Standard -

Gallery[]

To view the gallery of After School EP, click here.

Trivia[]

  • "Notebook" is the only song from the EP that has never been performed live.
  • "Glued" and "Field Trip" were almost cut before Melanie decided to keep them.[citation needed]
  • Originally, Melanie scrapped a song, likely either "Copy Cat" or "Fire Drill," leaving the extended play with six tracks, as she thought seven tracks were "too much for an EP."[5] However, she later stated in an interview with Beats 1 that the extended play would have seven tracks again, as she wrote a new song on February 24, 2020, which replaced the removed song.[6]
    • The new song was later confirmed to be "The Bakery".
  • Originally, Melanie was going to make a music video for the song "Play Date" as a result of the song's rising popularity on TikTok, but she chose to create a music video for "The Bakery" instead.
    • Melanie also confirmed in an interview with Idolator that she had written a video treatment for "Test Me", which was going to be her favorite.
      • She stated that this music video's creation depends on how much people will connect with it and stream it so that she can get to make it,[11], however she did not make it in the end, as to not take from the budget for PORTALS.
  • Melanie has revealed that her favorite lyrics from the extended play are from "Brain & Heart".[12]
  • "Notebook" is the shortest track on After School EP, being 2:31 and "Numbers" is the longest track on After School EP, being 4:40.
  • The extended play debuted at #74 on Billboard Hot 200.
  • In an interview with The Knockturnal, Melanie revealed the meaning behind the cover.
    • The bubblegum is a symbolic ode to the end scene of K-12 where Cry Baby and Ben blow spit bubbles.
    • She wanted to be sitting at a desk because she feels like After School EP is more so about the real-life lessons she has learned and been applying to her life. So she wanted it to feel like she was sitting at a desk, absorbing what life had to teach her.
    • Her cut off head is symbolic for what it feels like when you are learning such challenging things in life. "You feel like a chicken with your head cut off scrambling to find the solutions to the issues at hand."
  • "History" was the first scrapped song to be leaked from the extended play. This song was present in an early After School draft, it's unknown why it was removed from the EP.
  • "The Bakery" does not have a Spotify animation canvas as it features the music video.
  • The back cover and the promotional photo shoot was shot at Los Angeles Color Space Studio.
  • On September 2, 2020, Melanie posted an Instagram story saying she shot 8 looks for the EP, that could be an indication for the EP's promotional photo shoot.[14]
    • Each photo in the photo shoot is supposed to represent a song on the extended play, as the outfits and hairstyles match the ones featured on Spotify's canvas.
  • Out of all of the songs on the EP, "Brain & Heart" is the song that has the most writers.
    • This is because the song contains an interpolation of "If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez and the writers for the song were credited.
      • Due to this, Brain & Heart is tied with Pity Party for having the most writers as Pity Party contains an interpolation of "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore and the writers for that song were also credited.

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Though not technically an After School EP release, the deluxe edition of K-12 includes a separate disc featuring all 7 tracks of the EP.

References[]

  1. ↑ File:After School EP.png
  2. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jlAz_FX2s/?igshid=1o7k3avxrakk5
  3. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jnrXEFaFT/?igshid=5qlpkx6byqoy
  4. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7lx1J6Ffe_/?igshid=1n5r7cnj0uo2m
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://twitter.com/lunchboxfriend/status/1225559721643577344
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://twitter.com/beats1/status/1265053529674309632?s=21
  7. ↑ File:83682722_638673300215580_7090900590978019342_n.jpg
  8. ↑ File:Story.from.2020.afterschool.Libra.png
  9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CFKncxRDuNP/?utm_medium=copy_link
  10. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CFh30NSDAPg/?utm_medium=copy_link
  11. ↑ https://www.idolator.com/7914846/interview-melanie-martinez-talks-after-school-ep?ios=1&safari=1&Exc_TM_LessThanPoint001_p1=1&andro=1&chrome=1
  12. ↑ https://twitter.com/martinezmcharts/status/1283632684900724736
  13. ↑ File:Myfavsongontheep.png
  14. ↑ https://youtu.be/HVTtN1V9zjs

Navigation[]

v • e
Featured tracks Notebook • Test Me • Brain & Heart • Numbers • Glued • Field Trip • The Bakery
Scrapped tracks Absorb • Chrysalis • Clockwork • Copy Cat (ft. Tierra Whack) • Erase Her • Fire Drill • Function • History • Lost & Found • Maze • Paper Cut • Spin The Bottle • The Tunnel • Trophy • Under The Desk
Characters Abuelita • Bunnies
Producers Blake Slatkin • Melanie Martinez (exec.) • Michael Keenan
Extra K-12 • CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M OUT OF K-12 • All Hallow's Eve • Merchandise
v • e
Featured tracks Wheels On the Bus • Class Fight • The Principal • Show & Tell • Nurse's Office • Drama Club • Strawberry Shortcake • Lunchbox Friends • Orange Juice • Detention • Teacher's Pet • High School Sweethearts • Recess
Bonus tracks Film • Notebook • Test Me • Brain & Heart • Numbers • Glued • Field Trip • The Bakery
Scrapped tracks Eraser • Glue Stick • Papercut
Related tracks Angels Song • AK-47 (with HYDDE) • Fire Drill • Night Mime • I Scream (with Snow Tha Product)
Characters Cry Baby • Angelita • Celeste • Magnolia • Fleur • Lilith • Ben • Leo • Kelly • K-12 students • Chloe • Lucy • Holly • Rachel • Brandon • The Principal • School staff • Nurses • Ms. Daphne • Mr. Cornwell • Ms. Harper • Ms. Penelope • Biology Teacher • Counselor • Miss Victoria • Phillipe • Ghosts • Bakery workers • Abuelita
Producers Michael Keenan • One Love • Melanie Martinez (exec.) (deluxe) • Blake Slatkin (deluxe)
Tour K-12 Tour • K-12 Summer Tour (cancelled) • CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M OUT OF K-12 • The Trilogy Tour
Locations K-12 Sleepaway School • Cry Baby's house
Extras Merchandise • Assignments • Promotional photo shoot • Early concept photo shoot • After School EP
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