Renea (her last name is Hamilton), the ubiquitous songwriter helped pen popular classics—“Imagine” by Ariana Grande, “California King Bed” By Rihanna, “A No No” By Mariah Carey to name a few—before she would create and perform her own chart-topper. But coming up in music as a songwriter can be grueling. “When you get in the business, there are all these rules, status quo, etiquette, and [politics] on how you have to behave to not step on toes,” Muni Long tells ELLE.com over the phone while being driven through the Los Angeles canyons.

Still, writing songs for renowned artists across multiple genres elevated Long’s skill in producing her own music. With caution, she crafted her lane as an emerging artist towards a point in her career where she could call her own shots. “You take a check from somebody now, you're beholden to them and their rules and if you don't adhere to the way that they want you to be and do what they want you to do, they can snatch back your dream from you,” Long says.

As a lyric-maker and performer for over a decade, Long looked within and altered the direction of her music career. In January 2020, she launched her own music label called Supergiant Records, and then released her well-received R&B single “Hrs and Hrs” in 2021 from her EP, Public Displays of Affection. Romantic and dramatic, the song puts her gifted vocals and heartfelt writing on full display, especially with tender lyrics like “you give me a superpower.” It went viral on TikTok and achieved number one placements on Billboard’s Hot 100 R&B chart and Emerging Artists chart early this year. “I know now I am enough to not allow other people to sway me,” Long says. “I am just going to keep making great work and don't make it about the accolades. If I celebrate, it is really to acknowledge everyone else's contribution to my dream.”

Shortly after, her EP track “Time Machine” began making its rounds on social media too (it’s her second most-listened-to song on Spotify with over 6 million streams; “Hrs and Hrs” have over 70 million). This spiteful R&B melody offers another approach to Long’s song-making; one that isn’t afraid to embrace the pain. “Time Machine is an incredible song live,” Long reveals. “I can sing the intro and the way it hits. It's like all the lights go off and there's a boom. By the end of it, everybody was in their own world singing: I wish I had a time machine.”

Fresh off her viral moment, the acclaimed songwriter and rising R&B star just released a new heartache single called “Another,” which further proves her proficiency in sentimental R&B storytelling. Here, Long opens up to ELLE about a valued conversation she shared with Pharrell about creating art for the masses, how she will always choose artistic integrity over commercial success, and how learning to do her own nails has given her a sense of peace.

You’re coming out with a new single called “Another”—you’re jumping off of the romantic yet viral nature of “Hrs and Hrs”to this song about moving on. What encouraged you to write this heartbreaker song?

I think everybody has been there where someone just doesn't realize how good they have it with you. It's painful to watch someone that you took for granted. Move on. Be happy and have success without you.

I really do consider myself as a storyteller and I'm multi-dimensional, so I don't think that just because I wrote this really successful love song that the song is necessarily true for everyone. For love in general, it’s like a rollercoaster that goes up and down. Hopefully, people hear it and really feel connected. I love the perspective of this song, which just shows, that's how you want to play it. Watch how I flip this and you [really] are going to be sorry.

Do you think “Another” lets listeners in on another side of you?

I have so much music and so much more in store. I feel weird trying to define me because I have so many dimensions like I grew up on TRL [Total Request Live], where you hear NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, LFO, Christina Aguilera, and Destiny's Child. In Los Angeles, you hear Tupac and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and that's what I grew up listening to. So, that's the way I write—[music] was very much a spectrum.

When building the choruses for your greatest songs, do you go off of instinct and impulse more?

The songs that are out right now are definitely impulse. There are times when I wake up out of my sleep and I have ideas already there from my dreams. I just write them down or I'll have a melody or something that I heard in my dream but for the most part, when I go in the studio, I just allow the moment to be about channeling.

The first thing that comes to mind can pass my brain and go straight out my mouth because sometimes I'll even listen back to what I said and laugh as soon as it comes out. I don't think when I'm making music; if I ever get stuck on trying to make a lyric make sense, if it takes me more than ten minutes—I just move on.

Looking back to your early success as a songwriter to curating your own R&B records, what is the takeaway you value most from transitioning out of writing for other artists to for yourself?

Just knowing how to make a song and song structure. How to keep people's attention. How to add your candy. Stuff is really priceless.

You’re experiencing the impact of your internet virility and recently reached RIAA platinum status for “Hrs and Hrs.” How are you absorbing all of the new supporters who are discovering you right now?

Welcome! I'm very happy. There are times when it does get weird a little bit, but you know, it comes with the territory. Hopefully, I can change the way people view the impact of celebrities and bring a little humanity to it. People just kind of forget that you are a human being.

What was your first reaction like when people started showing love to you in person when your platform grew?

I did get discovered on YouTube so a lot of people would come up to me over the years. They'd be like, “Oh my God, are you Priscilla Renea?!” Yeah, that's me.

That has happened to me very frequently. I think the perks are a little different this time, though, like if I walk into a restaurant, I'll have a reservation. If they recognize me, they let me sit down immediately. That is really cool for when I am really hungry.

What golden nuggets of advice would you share for artists feeling lost who are trying to find their way and voices right now?

I would say take the time to really write down where you want to go and how you want to be represented, what you want your legacy to be and then start taking the steps toward those things. No waiting for other people. If you feel like you might need more money and more connections; you really just need the idea and the ambition and work ethic to start.

Issa Rae, who started the label Raedio, has discussed how the music industry can be abusive towards an artists’ development. I know you advocate heavily for young creatives and their dreams.

That's really been the goal. I had an amazing conversation with Pharrell, where he really solidified that for me. This business makes you feel like you are not enough. Making sure you've got to work hard but not everyone is going to be the best like Destiny’s Child.

I think the most special thing I did was just not give up by not listening to outside voices. Staying away from being discouraged by people trying to take advantage of me. This has happened many, many times. Keep pushing and don't let anybody tell you to have to behave a certain way. I had a certain amount of success as a writer and nobody would have expected me to have to go on YouTube and find the beat but I found that beat on YouTube. Yes, I've written songs with Stargate, Rodney Jerkins, Max Martin, all these people but I couldn't go to them to get a track. You know what I mean? I really had to humble myself to be able to start over.

You are going on your first tour as a solo artist this spring. The One Night Only tour will allow you to connect with so many of your online fans. Why is now the time for the world to know who Muni Long is and can be?

We live in a DIY world right now. If I didn't do it, it would feel just like I didn't try. It's less about other people knowing who I am and more about me—like giving myself a fair shot at my dream. If I left this Earth and I didn't try, I would just be the dumbest person.

What excites you most about performing live now?

Everybody was having their own moment. When I went back and looked at the footage, people were actually singing and jumping around. It's amazing because that's what you want. You want people to engage and forget about their issues and just be free.

You have a long history as a songwriter and have a background as a strong R&B vocalist. Do you have any hidden talents you are looking to explore more this year?

I'm a really good cook. I also can do my own nails. My friends keep trying to convince me to do theirs too. [Chuckles] No, I don't want you to ruin it for me because I actually enjoy doing it. I don't even know if this is a talent, but I learned how to spin fire too.

How would you describe what is necessary to create a universal hit?

I heard this quote at a USC graduation: “Whatever is most personal is most universal.” A lot of us think that we're the only ones that deal with stuff. But then when we tell our story and we share it, we realize there are hundreds of people who are going through this very same thing right now. I think the more authentic you keep your story, the more people will resonate with it. Just tell the truth and make it rhyme.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.