Ansel Elgort is probably best known for his role as Caleb in the Divergent series. He was also one of the top contenders for the young Han Solo role that eventually went to Alden Enrenreich. Although he is only 22 years old, Ansel is actually a dual-careerist. In addition to acting, Ansel has established himself as an EDM DJ named Ansolo for a couple of years. Now, he is crossing over into a proper singing career. We heard Ansel’s offerings via Snapchat before and the consensus among his fans is that he has a decent set of pipes. Apparently Island Records agrees since they just signed him.

Most might recognize Ansel Elgort from his teen heartthrob status-making turn in The Fault in Our Stars or the Divergent series – but he’s actually a respected music producer, too.

Earlier this month, the crossover star released his new electronic single, “Home Alone.” And while it’s the first song he’s released under his given name, he’s actually been recording music and playing EDM festivals including Electric Zoo under the pseudonym “Ansolo” for a couple years.

“I really respect the dance music industry. I didn’t want to come in and abuse the fact I was an actor and use my name to book gigs,” Elgort, 22, tells PEOPLE. “I’m not getting into music because I need to – I have a bunch of movies coming out. I just do this because I love it.”

As “Ansolo,” Elgort will continue to produce dance and club music. But as Ansel Elgort, he’ll produce the tracks, in addition to singing on them.

“I feel like it’s not even a transition; it’s just a growth in my life as an artist,” he says.

“Recently I decided I wanted to try and produce my own songs and write a song. And when I did that, I realized, ‘Oh, this could be really fun and really creative and really open.'”

And while he knows some might question his motives for making music, he doesn’t care.

“I think there’s always gonna be some sort of stigma, because for whatever reason, society likes to say, ‘He’s an actor, so that’s what he does, and he’s not allowed to venture outside of that,'” says Elgort. “But I just wanted to make something I loved and put it out. I don’t want the peak of my career to be when I was 19 years old and in that one movie.”

[From People]

That is a whole lot of names and careers to keep straight for one person. I am sure Ansolo was not completely anonymous when he forged his path as Ansolo but I appreciate that he tried to make it on his own merit. And I agree that there is a stigma against actors in the music industry. Most can succeed on Broadway but struggle with actual music careers… unless they are David Hasselhoff. Oddly, the same does not apply to musicians who transition into acting.

You can listen to Ansel’s new crossover song Home Alone here. I really want to end this week by being positive but I couldn’t even finish this. It’s his first effort and being young, he has many years to work on it. There, that was positive-ish, right?

This picture fills me with so much joy. I wonder if Ansel calls her “Auntie Grace”?

Photo credit: WENN Photos