Jennie Drops 'Someone to Hold' for Netflix Film Steps

Jennie is adding a film soundtrack credit to her solo run. The BLACKPINK star has shared a snippet of "Someone to Hold," her new song written for Steps, the upcoming Netflix animated feature directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa. The track soundtracks the film's main trailer, which dropped October 15.

This is Jennie's first song written specifically for an animated film, and she sounds genuinely into it. "I love how much heart and personality the characters have," she said in a statement, "and I'm so happy I got to be a little part of their world."

What Is the Netflix Film Steps About?

Steps is a Cinderella retelling with a twist. Instead of following Cinderella herself, the story centers on her "evil" stepsisters Lilith (voiced by Ali Wong) and Margot (Stephanie Hsu), who steal the Fairy Godmother's magic wand and crash the Royal Ball. A scheming villain named Priscilla (Nikki Glaser) then swoops in and takes the throne, forcing Lilith to team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fix the mess.

The voice cast also includes Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, Peter Dinklage, and Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother. Amy Poehler produces through Paper Kite Productions alongside Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing.

Who Made the Steps Soundtrack and Why It Matters

The full companion soundtrack, set for release November 20 alongside the film, was overseen by Justin Tranter, the prolific songwriter and producer behind hits across pop, K-pop, and everything in between. Tranter wrote and produced four original songs for the project: Jennie's "Someone to Hold," which he describes as "pure danceable joy inspired by vintage organic dance pop"; "The Understudy" for Atlantic Records-signed Chinese-American alt-pop artist Emei, framed as "an underdog anthem hidden in a French electro house Trojan horse"; "Meet Me on the Dance Floor" for U.K. pop artist Rose Gray, a "modern electro dance pop" track Tranter says could work at a 3AM warehouse rave; and "Smile and a Song" for Amanda Seyfried, a more traditional musical theater piece about trying to heal others before yourself.

The score comes from Kris Bowers, the Academy Award-winning composer behind Bridgerton. That is a serious production pedigree for an animated film, and it signals Netflix is treating Steps as a genuine theatrical release rather than a filler drop.

For Jennie specifically, this arrival comes off a strong stretch as a solo artist. Her guest appearance on Tame Impala's "Dracula" remix peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart. Her debut solo album "Ruby" released earlier this year, and she performed at Coachella 2025 in April. A Netflix-adjacent soundtrack placement keeps her name in rotation across a different audience segment entirely, which is a smart move.

For the other artists on this soundtrack, the platform exposure is significant. Emei and Rose Gray both represent emerging voices in pop with real craft behind them, and a Netflix global release is a meaningful visibility moment.

What This Means for Artists Watching the Sync Space

The Steps soundtrack is a good case study in how streaming platforms are approaching music in 2025. Netflix is not just licensing catalog. They are commissioning original songs from current, charting artists and building full soundtrack ecosystems with film scores, original songs, and companion album releases. Tranter's involvement as a central creative architect, rather than a rotating list of contributors, gives the project a coherent sonic identity that most animated soundtracks skip.

For independent artists and producers paying attention, this is the model worth studying. The sync market has always been competitive, but the scale and promotional weight Netflix puts behind a project like this changes the math. A placement here is not just a licensing check. It is a global trailer, a companion album release, and press coverage across entertainment and music media simultaneously.

Steps and its companion soundtrack both drop November 20 on Netflix. If you are tracking where the K-pop and global pop worlds are intersecting with mainstream American entertainment right now, this is a project to keep an eye on.