This post was updated Nov. 19 at 11:23 p.m.

EJ Chen is turning raw emotion into songs that resonate.

The UCLA alumnus released his latest single, “MAKE IT QUICK,” on Oct. 25, followed by a music video Oct. 30, which he produced with longtime collaborators. Backed by soft guitars and moody lyrics, the track aimed to capture the bittersweet tension of a relationship on the verge of ending, Chen said.

“It’s one of my more cynical songs,” Chen said. “That song is just about feeling the end of a break-up before it actually happens and knowing the inevitable, but neither of you really wants to do it.”

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The single marks the latest addition to Chen’s growing discography as he aims to release one song each month. Chen said he embarked on this project to challenge himself creatively and push past his perfectionist tendencies. So far, Chen has released seven monthly singles, including a double-single, each exploring a variety of genres – from soft indie-guitar pop-jams to soulful R&B. The project reflects his efforts to consistently share his evolving artistry with listeners, Chen added.

Chen said his musical journey began in his early childhood. His love for singing took on an entrepreneurial twist when one of his classmates paid him for a song request in fourth grade, which he said turned into a mini business where classmates would pay a dollar to hear him sing their favorite tunes. He said his older brother, alumnus Cameron Chen, stepped in to help create EJ’s first cover album, which they sold at Cameron Chen’s middle school.

“It was ‘Baby’ by Justin Bieber and ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry, songs like that,” Cameron Chen said. “So I made EJ record a bunch of these songs, and we put it on these little CDs. … I was like, ‘Dang, I’m going to use him a little bit.’”

Throughout middle school, EJ Chen said he participated in different talent shows, as well as choir, where he started gaining confidence in his singing abilities. He further pursued music and theater in high school, and although he initially considered studying business or economics, his teachers encouraged him to explore the arts more seriously, ultimately influencing his decision to apply to UCLA’s musical theater program, he said.

Upon arriving at UCLA, EJ Chen said he became deeply involved in the campus music scene. As a part of the a cappella group ScatterTones, Chen said the experience of singing alongside talented individuals pushed him to refine his vocal abilities and explore complex harmonies, which he later applied to his songwriting and production. With student band Lot 3, where he served as the main vocalist, Chen said his journey from singer to songwriter took a more serious turn, as being part of the band opened him up to writing for different styles and audiences. Chen added that the collaborative songwriting sessions gave him more creative freedom in experimenting with different lyrics and composition techniques.

“We just experimented with everything,” Chen said. “So I was like, ‘Oh, whoa. I could just write really anything I want. It doesn’t have to be just acoustic singer-songwriter.’”

During his senior year at UCLA, EJ Chen said he took an audio engineering class that would prompt yet another shift – this time from a songwriter to a producer. He said learning production allowed him to take full creative control and apply his songwriting, instrumental and lyrical skills built over years of practice to produce a sound that felt authentically his. With Lot 3’s album “Spring Theory,” Chen said he began experimenting with engineering techniques, handling vocal takes and mixing, which laid the groundwork for his solo projects.

Alongside his production journey, Chen said he started collaborating closely with alumnus Anthony Reed, who co-wrote and co-produced six of Chen’s seven solo singles, and will also be featured on Chen’s upcoming single “HOW COULD I STOP NOW?” in November. Working within their monthly release schedule, the pair embraced an experimental approach that aimed to blend Chen’s storytelling with more unconventional production techniques to create a unique, evolving sound, Reed added. Chen’s background in theater, combined with his ability to craft emotionally resonant lyrics, has deepened his vulnerability as he shifts from performing to producing his own music, Reed said.

“Knowing his music … he’s getting even better at painting very vivid pictures,” Reed said. “He balances that kind of darkness and almost insecurity with hope and confidence.”

[Related: Alumnus Juliana Simone explores genres and grief in new single ‘Never Home’]

Alumnus Kay Sibal, another collaborator, said she has also noticed a marked evolution in his music as he transitions to solo work. Sibal said EJ Chen’s music serves as a vibey, comforting listen, but is also emotionally relatable and vulnerable.

Now a seasoned veteran in both songwriting and production, Chen said he aims to push his artistry even further. He said he might use a different artist persona that will explore more complex themes and different fields of media, similar to a Childish Gambino project. He envisions this project as a way to mix in his theater background, he added.

“I think all creative fields blend with each other and relate to each other … even in the music industry alone, knowing about film and acting and theater … I can really conceptualize what I want this to feel like and look like to convey this emotion properly,” Chen said.