On his new album Thank You Camellia, Kris Allen delivers on everything his fans love him for and more. The album is a showcase for the easy, lived-in richness of Kris’ voice as well as his knack for crafting hook-filled pop melodies and writing heartfelt lyrics that explore the ups and downs of love. These talents were very much on display on Kris’ 2009 self-titled debut album, which featured the 1.7 million-selling hit single “Live Like We’re Dying” and was released a few months after the Arkansas native won the eighth season of American Idol. For Thank You Camellia, Kris has cranked everything up a notch by co-writing every song and being heavily involved throughout each stage of the writing, recording, and production process.

As an artist who is constantly on the road (he toured for a year and a half behind his debut album, playing headlining shows as well as opening for Keith Urban, Maroon 5, Barenaked Ladies, and Lifehouse), Kris put a lot of thought into how the songs would go over onstage. “I wanted them to really pop live, whether I’m performing acoustically or with a full band,” he says. “I always want people to walk away impressed. I want them to hear a song and freak out every time, not just think, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ I like the idea of people’s reaction going from ‘Who is this guy’ to ‘I love this guy!’”

Having already performed some of the album’s songs live, Kris is gratified by the early response from fans to Thank You Camellia, whose title is inspired by supportive friends he stays with in L.A. who live on a street called Camellia. “The reaction has been really good,” he says. “Even my buddy who is very honest with me said, ‘I liked your last record, but this one is even better. The songs are deeper. It feels exactly like you.’ He’s known me for ten years, so that was good to hear.”