JoLivi’s songs are laced with the girl-power messages that make pop so delicious, and Katy Perry comparisons aren’t all that far off. Born with the real name Leihoku in Hawaii, JoLivi first made waves on her 2013 debut, Trouble With You Gone. On her new EP Just for You (out April 29 but premiering today on Myspace), JoLivi explores an on-and-off, three-year relationship over the span of six songs. "I want to be a strong voice for other women who go through what I went through, like how Alanis Morissette and Gwen Stefani were for me. I want to show it's okay to be vulnerable, to be heart-broken, to make the wrong choices, to lose yourself and to ultimately know when it's time to move on. That's what this new EP is about," she says. JoLivi also talks to Myspace about discovering the limelight at 5 years old, what Hawaii means to her and discovering Adele.

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Homebase: Los Angeles, CA

You were born Leihoku, which is such a pretty name. Why did you change it to JoLivi? What does it mean?

I’ll always be Leihoku! JoLivi extends from my middle name Johanna. My aunts and my uncles used to call me Joey or Hokujo when I was younger. JoLivi is a name that has always been with me!

Describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before.

I’d describe my sound as alternative R&B. A little bit of Tove Lo, Banks-type feel. I want my music to make people get up and move, but I also want them to feel the emotion and tug at the heart strings.

What inspired the creation of your EP, Just For You?

My EP is generally based around a relationship that I was in and out of for three years. The trials and tribulations that I had gone through and how I got myself out of it.

What's your favorite song from the EP?

My favorite song is probably "Don't Matter!" Melodically it brings me to tears, and lyrically it is some of my best work.

What is your songwriting process like?

When I feel a huge wave of inspiration, I get out my keyboard and just start dabbling with different chords. Sometimes I write about what I see my friends go through and what I personally go through.

Are you from a musically inclined family? Is that how you got started?

My grandfather was a Hawaiian singer so i was surrounded by music since birth!! My mother and her sisters are also very musically inclined.

Talk about the first time you realized you wanted to sing and perform for others.

[Laughs] That’s a funny story. When I was little, around 5 years old, and my family would have parties, I’d walk around the party with my karaoke kit and sing. I’d get a good applause and I’d say, "Oh you liked that…I’ll sing it again!" I was always a performer, always loved the spotlight, and I had pipes at a young age!

What's the first song you ever wrote, do you remember?

I didn't exactly write songs at a young age, mostly poetry. I wanted to write songs like Alanis Morrisette. To have such a strong vocabulary was something i always strived for.

Who are your musical heroes and why do they inspire you?

There are so many artists i look up to and so many that have influenced my music. Sara Bareilles was a big influence on the way that I write! I’d listen to her songs and feel almost like she wrote them just for me. At the time, going through such heartbreak, it helped to know that no matter your status in life—rich , poor, famous—everyone feels a certain way at some point, and the ONLY healer is time.

How did you end up in Los Angeles after growing up in Hawaii?

I graduated from Colorado State University and then went back home to Hawaii for a few months. After being home for a while I made the decision to start my career in LA.

How did living in both places influence your songwriting style?

Hawaii is such a magical place for me. My heart will forever be locked down by the beautiful blue tides and the breathtaking mountains. When I feel heartbreak and when I feel like giving up, I just remember how home makes me feel and I instantly can breathe again!

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#TuxedoTshirt—I’m formal but I love to have a good time.

Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?

I remember back in 2006 or 2007 I came across a demo from an unknown singer with an unbelievable voice from the UK…also known as Adele.