Coming hot off the momentum of her breakout run on American Idol Season 23 — where none other than Carrie Underwood declared her “perfection” — Amanda Barise wastes no time carving out her own lane with “Cute and Deadly,” a stunning, self-assured EP that cements the New Jersey native as one of 2025’s most compelling new voices. Dropped on June 25th, just weeks after her Idol journey, this collection of tracks marks a powerful creative rebirth, one that embraces vulnerability, confidence, and a genre-bending spirit that feels undeniably fresh.
From the very first track, it’s obvious Barise has no intention of playing it safe. Co-produced alongside Grammy-winning engineer Max Faigen, the EP melds sleek alternative R&B grooves with shades of neo-soul, pop, and alt-pop grit. It’s a heady mix — one that spotlights her powerhouse vocals while offering the kind of daring, modern production choices that recall the boundary-pushing work of artists like H.E.R., Jorja Smith, and Fousheé. Yet for all its stylistic touchpoints, Cute and Deadly is unmistakably Amanda’s own.
