New Album: Listen to What 'American Idol' Runner-Up Jena Irene Asciutto Has Been Doing

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FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Singer/songwriter Jena Irene Asciutto, the Season 13 runner-up on “American Idol,” released her debut album, “Innocence,” on the Detroit-based Original 1265 Recordings label Friday.

If the North Farmington High School graduate thought her “Idol” fame put her on the precipice of a recording career, she was wrong.

Asciutto, now 19, got a promised single, “We Are One,” from “Idol” partner 19 Recordings, but not a contract, she told The Oakland Press. It knocked the wind out her, and she has spent the last 18 months concentrating on songwriting.

“American Idol” was a great experience, she said, “but didn’t really teach me a lot about artist development and songwriting.”

She admitted to Oakland Press music critic Gary Graff that “I basically just lost myself.”

“It took awhile for me to actually gain the confidence to walk into an office at a record label or anything like that because it’s super-intimidating after you’re just thrown into the fire of the music industry,” said Asciutto, who still lives in Farmington Hills. “I mean, I was just on a singing show, and then I had … nothing.

“It was very scary, but I learned quickly. I had to just get over it. I had to be confident in myself.”

Now Asciutto, who is recording under her surname after performing on “Idol” as Jena Irene, is back on track.

Besides her debut album, she has a 13-track album, “Cold Fame,” in the works, and is touring with her band. You cankeep up with her on Facebook.

» You can read more of Gary Graff’s interview on The Oakland Press.

Below, listen to the title track from Asciutto’s debut album.

Images and video via YouTube.