JENNIE has released “Someone to Hold,” her first song recorded for an animated film. The bright, disco-leaning track appears in Netflix’s upcoming “Steps,” a new take on the Cinderella story told through the perspective of the stepsisters. Written and produced by Justin Tranter, the song brings a lighter, more playful sound to JENNIE’s solo work ahead of the film’s November 20 premiere.
JENNIE moves into unfamiliar territory with “Someone to Hold,” a new song created for the Netflix animated film “Steps.” The track is her first contribution to an animated movie soundtrack and arrives with a sound that differs noticeably from much of her previous solo material.
The song opens with a warm disco influence before settling into melodic dance-pop built around strings, a prominent bass line and layered vocals. Written and produced by Justin Tranter, “Someone to Hold” has been described as drawing from vintage, organic dance-pop rather than the sharper pop and hip-hop textures often associated with JENNIE.
That lighter approach fits the world of “Steps,” which reworks the Cinderella story by shifting attention away from the familiar princess and toward her stepsisters. The animated film follows Lilith and Margot, voiced by Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu, with Amanda Seyfried providing the voice of Cinderella.
In the story, Lilith grows tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow and steals the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand. Together with Margot, she disrupts the Royal Ball and sets off a chain of events that puts the kingdom in danger. The film turns characters traditionally presented as villains into the center of its adventure.
“Someone to Hold” is tied directly to the relationship between the sisters. Netflix describes the song as capturing their bond, while its placement comes during one of the film’s emotional high points. That gives the track a specific narrative purpose rather than simply using JENNIE’s name as an addition to the soundtrack.
Lyrically, the song focuses on staying connected to someone through difficult moments, changes and shared history. The theme matches a story built around sisters whose relationship sits at the center of the film, while the upbeat production keeps the track from becoming a conventional sentimental ballad.
JENNIE said she enjoyed working on her first song for an animated film and was drawn to the warmth and personalities of the characters. She also said she was happy to become a small part of their world, connecting her recording directly to the movie rather than treating it as a separate pop release.
The soundtrack extends beyond “Someone to Hold.” Rose Gray contributes “Meet Me on the Dance Floor” and co-wrote “Smile and a Song,” which is performed by Seyfried’s Cinderella, while EMEI contributes “Understudy.” Justin Tranter worked across four original songs created for the film.
Oscar-winning composer Kris Bowers created the score, recorded at Abbey Road Studios. His approach plays with the sound of a traditional fairy tale, sometimes using lush orchestral textures seriously and at other moments turning them toward the film’s comedy.
The directors are Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, with Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing among the producers. The voice cast also includes Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother and Nikki Glaser as Priscilla, the character who attempts to seize control of the kingdom after the familiar Cinderella story is thrown off course.
For JENNIE, the release arrives after a period of active solo work beyond BLACKPINK. Her first full-length solo album, “Ruby,” arrived in 2025, and she has continued releasing music since then while moving between pop collaborations and projects outside the group.
Her recent work has also included the Tame Impala collaboration “Dracula,” which remained a major chart presence during 2026. “Someone to Hold,” however, comes from a very different setting, built around an animated story and a brighter musical palette rather than a standard standalone single campaign.
The song has already received industry attention before the film’s premiere. It was nominated in the Song – Animated Film category at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, giving the track recognition before “Steps” reaches Netflix.
“Steps” is scheduled to premiere on November 20, with its full soundtrack arriving alongside the film. Until then, “Someone to Hold” offers the clearest musical introduction to its emotional side — and a chance to hear JENNIE in a style designed specifically for a story about two sisters rewriting one of the world’s most familiar fairy tales.
