Katharine McPhee is back and ready to take on the music scene with a new sound and a sassy new haircut.

The “American Idol” alum gave an exclusive interview to PopEater, where she discussed the changes to her look and her sound.

For her new album “Unbroken” (set for release in January), McPhee says she went into discovery mode in an attempt to find herself as an artist.

“Coming off of the show that I did and making the record as fast as I did, I always just sang. I didn’t develop myself as an artist and know who I was and where I wanted to do.”

But fans are buzzing less about her sound and more about her new look after she chopped off her signature long brown locks in favor of a shorter, edgier blond cut.

Click here to see before and after photos of Katharine’s new do.

“It was a natural thing to do,” she told PopEater. “I always wanted to know what it was like to have blond hair. People get complacent and know you as the girl with the long curly brown hair … I just wanted to turn things upside down. I felt like seeing what it was like to be blond with short hair and doing something people wouldn’t expect.”

Still McPhee says she hasn’t seen more attention from the opposite sex, although she says it’s probably because only “true blondes” get it.

Click here to read more of Katharine’s interview at PopEater.

What do you think? Is Katharine better blond or brunette?