Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So she headed straight from the summer tour into the recording studio with the intent of putting the first songs she’d ever recorded on a debut release.

But as the project progressed, she says she felt a sense of uneasiness. She wound up with a new manager and a completely different timetable.

Four years later, she has released “Beautifully Made.” Known for her reggae, African dance and R&B influences on Idol, her new music features seven tracks of pick-me-up pop with a soulful touch.

She’s released an accompanying video for the title track, which is the first single. Other standouts on the release including “Winning” and “Contender.”

Naima co-wrote and co-produced all seven songs.

“It all started coming together for me personally and artistically,” Naima says on her website. “It was enlightening. I felt like my soul was being fed for the first time and I was performing and writing songs that represented what I was about. This new music is part of the fabric of who I am.”

Now 31, Naima finished in the Top 11 on Season 10, the year then-teens Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina squared off for the Idol crown.

You can check out Naima’s brand new website here. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter, where she’s @Naima_Adedapo.