After School (EP)

After School is the fourth extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez. It was released on September 25, 2020, through Atlantic Records. "The Bakery" was released as the lead single the same day. The EP was also released as the deluxe edition tracks to Martinez's second studio album, K–12. Martinez says this EP is "much more personal and steps outside of the Cry Baby character box for a moment".[1]

After School
EP by
Melanie Martinez
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
RecordedJune 2017 – February 2020
Length22:17
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Melanie Martinez chronology
K–12
(2019)		 After School
(2020)		 Portals
(2023)
Singles from After School
  1. "The Bakery"
    Released: September 25, 2020

Background

In an interview with V magazine in September 2019, Martinez stated that she[lower-alpha 1] would release songs that were in-line with her previous album, K–12, but that the songs would be "more personal and more vulnerable".[2] On January 8, 2020, Martinez announced through her Instagram stories that she would release an EP titled After School that would be attached to the K–12 era.[3] The EP was originally scheduled to be released sometime in the spring of 2020.[4][5] Martinez also previously announced that she had planned two more films, both of which would be accompanied by albums.[6]

On February 9, 2020, Martinez confirmed through her Instagram story that the EP would be out in spring, but it was pushed back to September 25, and that a song featuring "one of [her] fav [sic] artists" would be coming out "sooner than you think". The next day, February 10, she released the standalone single "Copy Cat", with American rapper and songwriter Tierra Whack.[7] The song was originally intended to be the lead single from the EP, but was cut from the final track listing.

On September 15, 2020, Martinez posted a surrealist photo on Instagram of her in a nest with two eggs, with a caption reading; "Holdin' onto these eggs till they're ready to be hatched next week", teasing that the EP would be released the next week.[8] In an interview with Idolator, Martinez 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".[9]

Track listing
Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Notebook"
  • Melanie Martinez
  • Michael Keenan
Michael Keenan2:31
2."Test Me"
  • Martinez
  • Keenan
Keenan2:55
3."Brain & Heart"
Keenan3:23
4."Numbers"
  • Martinez
  • Keenan
Keenan4:39
5."Glued"
  • Martinez
  • Keenan
Keenan3:13
6."Field Trip"
  • Martinez
  • Keenan
Keenan3:01
7."The Bakery"
Slatkin2:34
Total length:22:17

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer (all tracks)
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing engineer (all tracks)

Charts
After School chart performance
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 63
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 130
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 70
US Billboard 200[16] 74
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[17] 9

Release history
Release formats for After School
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various September 25, 2020
[10]
December 18, 2020 Vinyl [18]

Notes
  1. Martinez uses she/her and they/them pronouns. This article uses she/her pronouns for consistency.

References
  1. "Get Set for Something Special with Melanie Martinez's 'After School' EP". American Songwriter. September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. "The Second Coming of Melanie Martinez". V. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ""K-12": Melanie Martinez lançará EP com mesma temática do álbum" ["K-12": Melanie Martinez to release ep with same album theme]. Tracklist (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 8, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  4. Wass, Mike (January 8, 2020). "Melanie Martinez Teases New EP, Which Is Probably Called 'After School'". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  5. Kim, Madeline (February 16, 2020). "Melanie Martinez - After School". The Tartan. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  6. "Melanie Martinez reveals plans for two more movies after K-12". PopBuzz. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  7. "Melanie Martinez And Tierra Whack's 'Copy Cat' Is A Resonating Showcase Of Talents". UPROXX. February 10, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  8. "Holdin' onto these eggs till they're ready to be hatched next week🐣💕". Instagram. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  9. "Melanie Martinez Drops 'After School' EP Including "The Bakery"". Uproxx. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  10. "Credits / After School EP / Melanie Martinez". Tidal. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  11. "20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 1990s". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. July 23, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  12. Vincent, Peter (June 27, 2014). "Jennifer Lopez on being J.Lo: Hard times made me what I am". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  13. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 5 October 2020". The ARIA Report. No. 1596. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 5, 2020. p. 6.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Melanie Martinez – After School" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  16. "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  17. "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  18. "After School EP (Colored Vinyl)". Melanie Martinez. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
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