It's All Me, Vol. 2
| It's All Me, Vol. 2 | ||||
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Digital cover[note 1] | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | February 24, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 21:24 | |||
| Language |
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| Label | EMI | |||
| Producer |
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| Ai chronology | ||||
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| Singles from It's All Me, Vol. 2 | ||||
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It's All Me, Vol. 2 is the second extended play by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on February 24, 2021, through EMI Records, as a follow-up to It's All Me, Vol. 1 (2020). Ai primarily collaborated with western producers and longtime collaborator Julian Le.
The lead and only single "Not So Different" was released in November 2020 with a remix release featuring Awich in December 2020. "Hope" was released in January 2021 as a promotional single.
Background and release
When I [wrote Not So Different], I hadn't decided to put this song on "Volume two" [...] At that time, the Black Lives Matter movement expanded, and [I] decided to put [it] out now. I always want[ed] to send a message like this, but often I can't put out a song unless the timing is right.
— Ai reflecting on including "Not So Different" on It's All Me, Vol. 2[1]
Celebrating her twenty-year anniversary in the music industry, Ai released a greatest hits album, Kansha!!!!! – Thank You for 20 Years New and Best in November 2019 and an extended play, It's All Me, Vol. 1 in July 2020.
The EP's first single, "Not So Different" was released on November 25, 2020, with its music video premiering on the same day.[2] In December 2020, Ai partnered with One Young World and released a special music video of the song in support of the project.[3] A remix of "Not So Different" featuring Japanese rapper Awich was released on December 11, 2020, as a promotional single.[2] The second single, "Hope" was released on January 30, 2021 with its music video premiering the same day. Ai partnered with deleteC, a non-profit organization in Japan aiming to support cancer treatment.[4] A music video of the "Not So Different" remix was released on February 20, 2021, a few days prior to the EP's release on February 24.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Not So Different" |
|
| 3:41 |
| 2. | "Jump" | Uemura |
| 3:56 |
| 3. | "Off You" |
| Blaq Tuxedo | 2:55 |
| 4. | "Expectations" |
| Bernard "Harv" Harvey | 3:05 |
| 5. | "Hope" | Uemura |
| 4:05 |
| 6. | "Not So Different" (Remix featuring Awich) |
|
| 3:42 |
| Total length: | 21:24 | |||
| No. | Title | Director(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Not So Different" | Kensaku Kakimoto | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Not So Different" (Behind the Scenes) | Kakimoto | |
| 3. | "Gift" | Kakimoto | 3:38 |
| 4. | "Gift" (Behind the Scenes) | Kakimoto | |
| 5. | "Kokoro" (featuring Jenn Morel and Joelii) (lyric video) | Hideyuki Ishii | 3:18 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Tidal.[5][6]
Musicians
- Ai Carina Uemura – lead vocals, songwriting, production
- Julian Le – production
- Felisha "Fury" King – songwriting
- Fallon King – songwriting
- Bernard "Harv" Harvey – production
- Scott Storch – production, songwriting
- Blaq Tuxedo – production, songwriting
- Avedon – production, songwriting, remixing
- Rachel West – songwriting
- Akiko Urasaki – songwriting, featured artist
- Matt Cab – production
- Toma – production
Technical
- D.O.I – mixing
- Mark Parfitt – vocal engineering
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Keisuke Fujimaki – vocal engineering
- Kesiuke Suwa – vocal engineering
- Shiori Maruoka – vocal engineering
- Yuki Arai – executive producer
- Naoshi Fujikura – executive producer
Visuals and imagery
- Ran Tondabayahsi – art director
- Yousuke Tsuchida – designer
- Hiroki Watanabe – photographer
- Moemi Odo – retouching
- Akemi Ono – hair, makeup artist
- Noriko Gota – stylist
- Akio Kawabata – design coordination
- Shuma Saito – design coordination
Chart performance
It's All Me, Vol. 2 debuted and peaked at number 47 on the Japan Oricon weekly albums chart, charting for two weeks.[7]
| Chart (2021) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[7] | 47 |
| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[8] | 50 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[9] | 52 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | February 24, 2021 | Standard | [1] | ||
| Japan | CD | [10] | |||
|
Limited | [11] |
Notes
- ^ On physical releases, the catalog number is present below the title of the EP.
References
- ^ a b "AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "AI、新曲「Not So Different」MV公開＆新作ミニアルバムのリリースを発表 | Daily News". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "AI、青年版ダボス会議「One Young World Japan」初のオフィシャル・アーティストに就任". CDJournal News (in Japanese). October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "みんなの力で、がんを治せる病気にするプロジェクト". Yahoo!ネット募金 (in Japanese). Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ It's All Me, Vol. 2 (CD). Ai. EMI Records/Universal/Def Jam Recordings. 2021. UPCH-29383
- ^ "Credits / It's All Me, Vol. 2 / Ai". Tidal. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2(初回限定盤) | AI". Oricon. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "AIのデジタルアルバム売上作品". Oricon. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: Week of March 8, 2021 2021". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "It's All Me - Vol.2 [Regular Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "It's All Me - Vol.2 [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved May 11, 2022.