American Idol alum Pia Toscano is busy putting the finishing touches on her forthcoming album of original material, but the singer found a minute to record covers of songs for fans to enjoy in the meantime.
The singer released two interpretations on YouTube early on Tuesday, Aug. 24 -- one of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and the other of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down.”
“'Lay Me Down,” she said, “ is a very personal song for me.”
The clip is simply directed in black and white, with Toscano seated at a table surrounded by lit candles. She begins the song softly in a sweet falsetto before reaching inward for a powerful note toward the end.
“It brings me back to my relationship with my late grandfather and how I long to have him back in my life,” she said in a release. “Performing songs like this are like therapy to me and I needed that outlet.”
Both videos are directed by Jose Omar Hernandez. "Diamonds" features the singer simply seated by guitars and an amp as she sings the song in a lower register against a simple, piano-based arrangement.
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