Two of my favorite musical elements are dark, chilled out synths and strong, female vocalists. Combine the pair and you get the intoxicating sounds of electropop queens like Tove Lo, Banks and Halsey. Now you can add newcomer Zealyn to that list.

In an interview for the release of her debut EP, Limbic System, Zealyn said, “After three years of being a pop artist, I was craving more creativity in my music. I wanted to experiment more and create a sound of my own.”

I’m here to confirm that she succeeded in reinventing her sound and identity; after a little digging, I had the revelation that Zealyn is actually the recently acquired stage name of Angie Miller, the third place finisher on American Idol Season 12. My mind was blown, as she was someone I paid extra attention to for being a native of Beverly, Massachusetts, just an hour from my hometown.

Zealyn — A Pop Star Transformed

Almost unrecognizable, Miller has traded in her curly strawberry blonde hair and youthful pop sounds for straight, dark locks and hypnotic synths. The new album showcases a more mature, experimental sound, and marks Zealyn’s rebirth as an artist. - Shelagh Dolan