What's Up with American Idol's Ayla Brown?

The music thing used to be a part-time gig. She recorded and independently released harmless, generic pop singles like "I'm So Happy" and "Sugah" during breaks and summer vacation. (User reviews on iTunes range from "You are very talented" to "These are some of the worst songs I've ever heard.") But since graduating in May, Ayla's entire focus has been her singing career. Now she logs up to 70 hours a week writing, networking, tweeting, making appearances, and performing live shows wherever she can get them: at malls, fairs, festivals, games. She spent the summer touring New England to promote Circles, her latest self-released EP; signing CDs; and selling Ayla Brown T-shirts, posters, and other merchandise. All those $5 laminated backstage passes add up. She's been able to buy her own condo (though she rents it out and, like a good girl, continues to live at her parents' house in Wrentham).