Marlisa releases new album Brave

Pop singer Marlisa Punzalan has done a lot of growing up since winning The X-Factor Australia as a 15-year-old.

Marlisa Punzalan has released a new album. Pictures: Angelo Velardo

• Glenwood teen becomes a published author
• Anthology written entirely by female authors

Pop singer Marlisa Punzalan has done a lot of growing up since winning The X-Factor Australia as a 15-year-old.

The “crazy rollercoaster” of the The X-Factor experience saw the Glendenning’s singer's first single peak at number two on the ARIA charts followed by her self-titled album at number six.

Now 19, Marlisa said she “still can’t believe” that she won the talent contest.

Marlisa said it’s “great to be back” performing in her hometown.

“It’s a dream come true and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment that I won because it’s a milestone, and I’m just really grateful that Australia helped me get there,” she said.

The X-Factor experience was “very fun” and the years that followed helped Marlisa learn about the music industry and develop as a songwriter.

Growing up in the spotlight had its challenges though, including having to forgo the teenage experiences that most take for granted.

“I took a different route from most teenagers and I had to go through homeschooling, so I didn’t have a normal way of life compared to others,” she said.

Constant travel and a busy schedule has also impacted her relationships with friends and family, although she keeps in touch as much as possible through video chats and social media.

Overcoming these challenges formed the foundations of Marlisa’s new album, Brave, which was released last month.

Marlisa said she hoped her fans would “get to know me a bit more” through listening to Brave.

“And I hope they are also able to relate to the music that I’m putting out, and hopefully it’ll benefit them in some way,” she said.

Some of the tracks on the album, which were penned over a year, were co-written by her older brother, Martin.

The pair have been performing alongside each other since they were toddlers, Martin on the piano and Marlisa on vocals.

“We bring out really good ideas together,” Marlisa said.

“Sometimes we clash but at the end of the day we work really well together.”

Local fans can hear the new album live at a concert at Blacktown Worker’s Club on August 17.

“I haven’t been performing in Sydney for awhile, so it’s great to be back here and performing in my hometown,” Marlisa said.

“It’s really comfortable, and a great experience to perform where all my family is.”