Following a performance at Electric Picnic Festival and the release of her new single “29 Box”, Irish singer/songwriter Lyra heads to Cardiff International Arena to support Westlife for two dates on December 11 & 12, 2022.
Lyra’s rendition of Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” gained over 1 million streams across all platforms, hitting the Top 10 in the official UK commercial dance charts and holding 14 weeks on the Irish National airplay charts.
Here, Lyra discusses her new release and music inspirations with Andy Howells.
Tell us about your latest music release?
So ’29 Box’ is my latest single. It’s about this weird and wonderful social media world that we live in today. Yes, social media is fantastic for keeping in touch with friends and family. I personally love it for keeping up with fashion trends and makeup ideas etc but unfortunately as we all know it also has a dark side.
One day I was sitting at home feeling pretty down about myself, comparing myself to other artists online, comparing myself to these amazing lives I was seeing people living via social media, and I suddenly thought to myself this is not real life. Like all my tracks, this one was a way for me to express what I was feeling at that moment in time through writing a song. I feel like the lyrics in the song tell the story as raw and true as I could be, so it does exactly what it says on the tin.
What was the first song that made an impact on you?
So, I have two. I’m sorry if that’s going against the rule’s! (laughs).
The first one is ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac. My mum was a massive Fleetwood Mac fan and was always playing it around the house. I loved the harmonies, melody and the production of this song from a very early age. That drum sound I have referenced a lot in the studio.
The second one is Michael Jackson and ‘Thriller’. My dad was a massive Michael Jackson fan, so he was constantly listening to his albums, and I thought this song was a masterpiece, full of drama, amazing melodies and overall, an iconic sound.
What was the first single you bought?
Britney Spears ‘Oops I Did It Again’. What a banger.
What was the first album you owned?
‘Spice’ by the Spice Girls, I bought it at a car boot sale, and I was delighted with myself.
What’s your constant go to track?
It would have to be Adele ‘Rolling in The Deep’. I love the beats in that song. I love the melody in that song. I love the soaring chorus; it just always makes me want to dance around the kitchen singing into my hairbrush mic.
What’s your constant go to album?
Probably ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac, just because of my mum playing it since the day I was born, it always has a very soothing effect on me and the album shows true song writing and talent.
Who’s your latest music discovery?
Cat Burns. I recently played at a festival with her and I fell in love with her voice, so ever since then I have been blasting her tunes out on Spotify. I mean she also got a duet with Sam Smith. How cool is that?
What’s your own track that best defines you as an artist?
I think it would have to be my song ‘Falling’. I feel like it has a bit of the old me and a bit of the new me mixed together. It was really at a stage where I was developing as a songwriter and had a clear vision of my sound, more so than my self-released EP ‘W.I.L.D’. It’s dark and moody but still includes that big vocal which I really feel like defines me as an artist.
- For further details on Lyra visit her official website