American Idol season 10 alum Pia Toscano is closing out 2016 with the release of her new EP Belong, which she describes as a “passion project.”
“After a four-year long rollercoaster ride, I began writing and recording the most personal and honest music I have ever done,” she tells Billboard of the EP, which dropped Friday (Dec. 16) on iTunes. “Each song is a personal experience of mine that I finally get to share with the world.”
Belong features five tracks — including the single “You’ll Be King” (produced by Matt Hutchinson and written by Kevin Martin of Candlebox and Toscano), which she released earlier this year. The title track, written with Bryan Ellis and produced by Keith Harrison, captures what Toscano calls the “most vulnerable and uncertain time of my life.”
“For many years I would hide my insecurities & fears behind a smile while it was swallowing me up on the inside,” she wrote on Instagram. “But a year ago I decided that I was no longer going to let that fear and self doubt run my life & from that moment on even though I do have my moments of weakness I run towards the things that scare me instead of running away.”
“I am good enough, I am perfectly imperfect & that’s okay,” she continued. ” Sweetps I hope ‘Belong’ can make you see your beauty & goodness & have the courage to face all of your greatest fears!”
The record also features the songs “Liar Liar,” “Pyro” and “Go Missing,” produced by Mike Daley with credits by Dewain Whitmore Jr. (Chris Brown, Nick Jonas), J.Que Smith (Usher, Beyonce, Ariana Grande) and Toscano.
Toscano will give a performance of the EP on Monday (Dec. 19) at noon live on her Facebook page. The performance will also be featured on IG Live and Periscope.
Watch a sneak peek of “Belong” below: