“(…) I’m a badass bitch, and I will make it happen no matter what (…)” That’s the bold statement driving Cute and Deadly, the debut EP by Amanda Barise following her standout run on Season 23 of American Idol. Just weeks after placing in the Top 14, the New York-based singer delivers three autobiographical tracks packed with confidence, honesty, and reinvention.
Cute and Deadly, the title of the EP, isn’t random. It’s a label others have used to define Amanda, but instead of rejecting it, she’s embraced it, transforming it into a bold expression of her power and presence. The lead single is a direct response to past doubts, internal insecurities, and the people who didn’t believe she could make it. With an alternative R&B and soul production co-signed by Grammy-winning engineer Max Faigen, the song delivers her message with laser precision: nothing’s going to stop her.
The second track, 26, is the EP’s most introspective moment, a reflective ballad that captures exactly where Amanda is in life. The lyrics are simple yet effective, speaking to the importance of staying present, letting go of the past, and embracing the now.
The EP closes with “Girl Like Me,” a sensual and vulnerable moment where Amanda sings to herself, acknowledging everything she’s overcome to get here. She calls it a “self-call to action,” and it feels like just that: a personal reminder to keep pushing, to believe in her strength. The arrangement is sleek and intimate, allowing her voice to shine as it effortlessly moves between softness and power.
On Cute and Deadly, Amanda Barise proves not only that she has technical talent but also that she has a clear sense of who she is and where she’s going. Her sound, a blend of alternative R&B and contemporary soul, marks a new phase in her career: freer, bolder, and more personal.
With just three songs, Amanda confirms what many suspected after Idol: she doesn’t need permission to shine. She’s no longer waiting for validation. She’s singing from a new place, where being “cute” doesn’t weaken her power, and being “deadly” doesn’t mean losing emotional depth.
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