Amanda Barise Proves She’s the One to Watch Post-American Idol

Photos by Christian Sabo

Just weeks after captivating millions of viewers on American Idol Season 23, Top 14 standout Amanda Barise is wasting no time staking her claim in the music industry. Dubbed "perfection" by Carrie Underwood after a powerhouse vocal performance, the New Jersey native dropped her debut EP, Cute & Deadly. It is a bold, defiant statement from an artist ready to make serious noise on her terms.

The three-track EP is a sonic snapshot of Amanda's evolution: emotionally honest, confidently unapologetic, and soaked in alternative R&B and neo-soul. Entirely written by Amanda and co-produced alongside Grammy-winning engineer Max Faigen, Cute and Deadly introduces a new sound that sits somewhere between SZA's emotional grit, Janelle Monáe's flair, and Jazmine Sullivan's raw vocal power. Yet it remains distinctly Amanda through and through.

The title track, which dropped on May 14, is a bold anthem of self-realization, capturing the duality Amanda has become known for: soft yet firm, graceful yet unfiltered. It is followed by the sensual, smooth "Girl Like Me," a confident self-call to action that turns inward without losing fire. Rounding out the set is "26," a vulnerable ballad that reflects on life, timing, and the importance of seizing the moment, even when it doesn't go to plan.

"Cute and Deadly is a reminder that I've always been that girl," Amanda explains. "I've had to fight through depression, self-doubt, and years of people in the industry telling me I needed to change to fit in. But through Idol and this music, I rediscovered myself. I'm not waiting for permission anymore. I'm not afraid to take up space."

Barise's journey has been anything but linear. A graduate of The New School, where she earned a BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music and a BA in Culture and Media, Amanda was never just a singer. She's a student of her craft, with roots grounded in both performance and academic understanding. Her Idol run provided a national stage for her powerhouse vocals, featuring emotional renditions of Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys, as well as theatrical showstoppers like "Defying Gravity." Still, as compelling as her covers are, it is her original work that reveals who Amanda truly is. She's not just cute. She's not just deadly. She's both. And that duality is her power.

With lyrics like "They thought I wouldn't make it / But now I am the one," Amanda is reclaiming the narrative, responding to critics, doubters, and anyone who underestimated her with clarity and class. She also isn't afraid to discuss tough topics. Being an artist in a social media-saturated world, facing the pressure to succeed as a woman in the industry, and navigating the vulnerability of healing publicly after private battles are all themes she addresses without flinching.

"I used to think I had to earn being myself," Amanda says. "Now I know I just had to be brave enough to share her."

If "Cute and Deadly" is her opening chapter after Idol, then we are witnessing the rise of an artist who is not only aware of her worth but is fully prepared to show the world exactly what she is made of. Barise is no longer asking to be seen. She is commanding it. And from the sound of this EP, she is not going anywhere.

What inspired the title Cute & Deadly, and when did you first hear someone call you that?

Cute and Deadly was inspired by exactly how I was feeling at the moment I wrote it. As a woman in the music industry, I've often felt pressure to soften my image to be perceived as a little "cuter" to be heard or to avoid being seen as difficult when I have a strong opinion. The title is my response to that: yes, I might look sweet, but I'm serious about what I do, and I know how to command space. It's also a nod to all the people who didn't believe in me, who maybe said I wouldn't make it, and now I see them watching my every move. It's a little wink, a little warning.

You've been incredibly open about your battle with depression. How has that shaped your artistry?

My struggles with depression and anxiety have always been deeply tied to my music. Writing and performing are how I process those feelings; it's how I honestly survive them. Music has been my outlet, my healer, and my connection to people going through their battles. If I didn't have that emotional depth, I don't think I'd be able to write the songs I do.

How different is Amanda Barise today compared to the one who auditioned for Idol?

Amanda today is more grounded and more sure of who I am as an artist. Before Idol, I worried that my sound was too different or too specific for people to connect with. However, I now realize that being different is exactly what makes it powerful. I don't need to mold myself into something more palatable. My sound will find the people it's meant to reach.

What was it like working with Max Faigen on this project?

Working with Max (who's also my partner) is such a gift. He gives me the space to be an artist fully. When I hit a creative wall or need a fresh perspective, he steps in so naturally and helps elevate the work. He has contributed so much to this EP, both musically and emotionally. I truly couldn't have finished this project without him.

What message do you hope fans take away from this EP?

I hope listeners walk away feeling seen in all their stages of growth and development. You are never too much, too quiet, too emotional, too anything… you are exactly who you're meant to be. This EP is about owning every version of yourself, even the ones you're still healing from. The people who are meant for you will find you, no matter what you've been through. It's okay to evolve and rewrite your narrative; that's what I'm doing, too.