During her time on American Idol, Amanda Barise would show up quietly, her shy demeanor nearly camouflaging her. But the moment she stepped up to the mic, everything changed. She transformed, like someone who radiates magic from her throat and freezes time with a voice that’s both raspy and velvety, all at once.
Today, just weeks after her last appearance on the renowned television show, Amanda is back with Cute & Deadly, a three-track EP full of personal and intense songs, with which she aims to make a statement of strength, power, and independence.
Cute & Deadly, the title track, kicks off the project. This track, true to her style that fuses R&B with alternative soul, delivers a clear message of self-awareness and self-love. It stands out thanks to Amanda’s vocal quality, which takes the spotlight despite the carefully crafted production and deep instrumentation that surround it.
“Through my experiences and successful performances on Idol, I feel like I’ve rediscovered myself as a grown woman who can make it in this industry. To live in Chelsea (NYC) since 2019, paying my bills, making music, you have to be cute and a little deadly,” she shared.
With 26, the EP’s second track, the singer shows a more organic and vulnerable side, where she reflects on the years behind her, the growth she’s earned, and the resolve she now carries. The song captures that quiet confidence of someone who’s lived, learned, and decided she’s ready to step into her power as a fully realized artist.
Girl Like Me closes the experience as the most R&B-influenced track on the record. Full of nostalgic sounds, the singer wraps up the message she carefully wove through the three songs: I know my strengths, I’m going to work hard, and I’m going to succeed.
Originally from New Jersey and currently based in New York, Amanda Barise was born to make music. At just five years old, she was already singing and even recording vocals, as she revealed in one of her American Idol interviews.
It was Season 23 of the legendary show that pushed her into the spotlight, thanks to a powerful and striking voice that shone from her very first audition, earning a standing ovation from judges.
However, Amanda arrived on the scene with an impressive résumé for someone so young. In addition to holding a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music and another in Culture and Media, she contributed backing vocals to the holiday album by renowned R&B singer Joe, took part in Stupid in Love by Melt, and has worked on tracks with TimaLikesMusic.
Now with Cute & Deadly, Amanda hopes to continue carving out her place in the competitive music industry to become the new face of R&B and soul. At just three tracks and 8 minutes and 41 seconds, the EP is a glimpse into her enormous potential. One thing’s for sure: this is just the tip of the iceberg.
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