JENNIE is bringing new music to Netflix’s animated comedy adventure Steps.
🎬 Watch the Trailer
The BLACKPINK star’s “Someone to Hold” soundtracks the film’s main trailer, arriving Oct. 15. The preview offers the first listen to an original song from the forthcoming movie and marks JENNIE’s first time recording a track for an animated film.
“I am so excited to join the Steps family and it was really fun making my first song for an animated film,” JENNIE said in a statement. “I love how much heart and personality the characters have, and I’m so happy I got to be a little part of their world.”
“Someone to Hold” was written and produced by Justin Tranter, who contributed three additional original songs to the official soundtrack. Those tracks are performed by Steps co-star Amanda Seyfried, U.K. pop artist Rose Gray and Atlantic Records-signed Chinese-American alt-pop singer-songwriter Emei.
The film’s score comes from Academy Award winner Kris Bowers, whose credits include Bridgerton.
A Cinderella Story With a New Villain
Directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, Steps takes the Cinderella story in a different direction by placing the stepsisters at the center of the action.
Lilith, voiced by Ali Wong, steals the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and disrupts the Royal Ball alongside Margot, played by Stephanie Hsu. But their actions open the door for Priscilla, a schemer voiced by Nikki Glaser, to seize the throne and wreck the story’s happily-ever-after ending.
After recognizing the consequences of her decision, Lilith must team up with Cinderella, voiced by Seyfried, for a major quest featuring battles and new friendships.
The wider voice cast includes Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, Peter Dinklage and Bette Midler, who plays the Fairy Godmother.
Dance Music Drives the Soundtrack
Tranter said the movie’s story allows its music to move through an assortment of voices and sounds, with dance music serving as the soundtrack’s central thread.
He described JENNIE’s “Someone to Hold” as “pure danceable joy inspired by vintage organic dance pop.” Emei’s contribution, “The Understudy,” is characterized by Tranter as an underdog anthem delivered through French electro house, while Gray’s “Meet Me on the Dance Floor” is a modern electro-dance-pop villain song with the energy of a late-night warehouse rave.
Seyfried’s “Smile and a Song” stands apart from that dance-focused approach. Tranter described the number as an old-school musical-theater song about a character attempting to heal everyone else while needing healing herself.
JENNIE said she hopes audiences enjoy both the film and her contribution to its music. “I hope you enjoy Steps and ‘Someone to Hold’ as much as I do, and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it,” she said.
The song follows JENNIE’s guest appearance on the remix of Tame Impala’s “Dracula.” That track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, giving her the biggest hit of her solo career to date.
Steps is produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing. Poehler and Lessing are producing for Paper Kite Productions.
ShowBiz Take
JENNIE’s involvement gives Steps a significant musical introduction before the animated film reaches Netflix. Rather than unveiling the soundtrack with a traditional musical-theater number, the movie is leading with a dance-pop track from the BLACKPINK singer—and one that also represents a first in her career.
The soundtrack’s range is equally central to the project. Tranter’s four original songs move between dance pop, French electro house, villain-driven club music and old-school musical theater, matching a story that reshapes familiar Cinderella characters and shifts the focus toward Lilith’s mistake and attempted redemption.
What Happens Next?
The complete companion soundtrack will arrive Nov. 20, the same day Steps begins streaming on Netflix. Along with the full version of “Someone to Hold,” the release will include original songs performed by Seyfried, Gray and Emei, as well as Bowers’ score.