Singer Melanie Amaro attends Fox’s “The X Factor” viewing party at Mixology101 & Planet Dailies on Dec. 6, 2012 in Los Angeles
*A year after winning the first U.S. season of “The X Factor,” Melanie Amaro returned to the scene of her coronation to debut her new single.
“There was much energy from the crowd and from the judges. Just being back was so much fun,” Amaro told us at an “X Factor” viewing party after Thursday’s live elimination show, where she performed her latest single “Long Distance.” [Scroll down to watch.]
The single will appear on her long-awaited 2013 debut, “Truly,” which she’s been recording for the past year with such producers as Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry), Kuk Harrell (Britney Spears, Chris Brown), C. “Tricky” Stewart (Rihanna, Mary J. Blige) and Bleu McAuley (Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez).
Since taking home last year’s $5 million contract, the 20-year-old says she’s been moving nonstop.
“It’s been a lot of working, it’s been a lot of time spent in the studio, it’s been a lot of meeting all my fans,” she said, adding that she still feels as much pressure off the show as she did when competing.
“The pressure is always on. Whether it’s voting or in general, you always gotta remember that there are eyes on you,” she said.
Below, Amaro reveals what she’s learned about herself during the whirlwind of the past year.
Below, Melanie performs “Long Distance,” the third single released from her forthcoming album, “Truly.”
