JoJo Siwa Talks Viral Single ‘Karma’ and Through Her New Era (Exclusive)

JoJo Siwa he’s ready to enter his new era — and he’s unstoppable!

The former child star turns 21 next month, and is entering adulthood with a new single, “Karma,” and its provocative music video, both out Friday.

“Karma, to me, is something you do to yourself,” Siwa explained to ET’s Ash Crossan during an exclusive visit to the video set. “That might be good, that might be bad, but you’ll always get it.”

“There are actually several different meanings in the song,” he continued. “Part of it is about life and the choices you make. Part of it is about the things people have done for me. Part of it can be about the things I’ve done for people.”

Siwa, who started out as a young actress on a reality TV show Dance Momsbefore gaining millions of kid fans through her YouTube videos and Nickelodeon productions, she called the release of her new single the “beast moment” of her career so far — though she admitted it hasn’t been easy to try and mature. his image in public.

“It’s been something we’ve tried to find a better way to navigate,” he admitted. “I have young fans like this, and I have a lot of kids who watch JoJo Siwa and still follow my music from years ago. But, you know, I’m not what I was when I was 14. .”

“That can go on and people can know that person. But this is a 20-year-old, 21-year-old, here for a good time (JoJo). Let’s be real, let’s be real. Let’s make some art,” he said of his new era.

While making references before Miley Cyrus‘controversy Bangers era about the inspiration for her new, more mature look and sound, Siwa channeled different generations when she spoke to ET about her influence on “Karma.”

“Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton, Bowie — and of course, Gaga, they all get inspiration from Gaga,” he noted. “Those people, for me, that they were not afraid. Elvis was the first not to be afraid to be different, not to be afraid to be out there, and not to be afraid to take risks.”

“I mean, the sh*t Freddie Mercury was wearing on stage — you’d be like, right?” he added. “I think now, people are afraid to be different and … we’re all different. We’re all weird. We’re all f**ked up a little bit. And I think that’s okay to show that.”

Siwa, who came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community in January 2021, he has had two major public relationships with women since then. He dated his friend Kylie Prew on and off from February 2021-June 2022 before starting a relationship with influencer Avery Cyrus, which ended in December 2022.

It seems those physical ties have fueled Siwa’s new sound, as he told ET that he’s spent “the last few years really, like, getting into music.”

“I’ve been in the studio every, almost every day — every week it’s fair to say,” he shared. “There’s more than 20 songs in the bank. There’s a whole world that people will be, you know, introduced to — a whole world that I’m creating, imagining and living.”

“You are going to a deep and dark hole in my brain. I am only opening a door for you: the World of Karma,” Siwa announced.

“Karma”, of course, is just an introduction to the creations to come, and Siwa appeared for the music video, giving So You Think You Can Play season 17 winner Alexis Warr as his passion in a cool fantasy world.

“He’s amazing. He’s great,” Siwa said of Warr. “It’s actually our first time playing together, which is really crazy. He’s great. We’ve had the best time.”

Siwa was the referee for Warr’s victory SYTYCD season, and said he’s been just as “more than” involved in every other aspect of the making of “Karma,” from costumes to choreography.

“I came up with the concept a year ago, I set the whole concept… choreography, costumes. I, actually, Alexis, did her makeup beforehand!” he added. “Everything I can fit in, I have my hand in.”

“Karma” is out now.

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