Fresh from releasing powerful new single ‘YOU’ this week, Cork’s finest new singer-songwriter LYRA is gearing up to head out on her headline tour this April, following mammoth arena shows supporting Westlife. We had a chat with her ahead of her Notts show…
Hey LYRA! We’re buzzing to have you here at The Bodega, how are you feeling ahead of the tour?
I’m so so so excited. I’m so delighted to get to do my own tour in the UK and get to meet some new fans. Performing live means the world to me so I can’t wait to share this journey with you all.
You’ve recently finished touring with Westlife, what a tour that must’ve been! How did you find hitting such huge venues. We imagine your tracks would have resonated really well in that environment.
It was an eye opener and very inspiring. It made me more determined to work even harder to get that level of show. It’s a massive production and something an artist can only dream of. The Westlife fans are one in a million – so supportive, positive and a joy to perform for.
Tell us a bit more about your stunning song ’29 Box’ that was released last year?
I wrote this song at home on my own in my pyjamas, after giving myself a very hard time comparing myself to things I was seeing on social media. I didn’t feel good enough – somedays in my music, somedays in my looks – and I thought it was time for me to share this vulnerable side with my fans. Most people see me on stage and think I am oozing with confidence but some days that’s not true, just like everyone else I have my insecurities.
I wanted to send the message that not everything you see online is real and we all need to start accepting ourselves for who we really are; “be kind to yourself”. The reaction to that has been beautiful and I’m so glad I can give some words of encouragement to people who face the same feelings.
‘YOU’ has just come out this week too! How has the reaction to that been?
I was performing my newest single ‘YOU’ last year before I released it and I was bombarded with messages about it so I knew it was time to come out. Writing that one, I was out on a night out, young happy, free and falling in love so I wanted to capture that night out feeling, hence why it has that dance feel.
What was it like musically growing up in Cork, do you think your early experiences of music their has shaped the artist you are today?
Yes 100%. Living in nature influenced my cinematic love for music and the ambient sound I love to incorporate into my music.
How do you think that translates into your music now? Has it been a natural progression or was there a conscious decision to move into more pop/dance orientated tracks?
I have grown a lot at an artist and with that comes a development in songwriting. I like the lyrics, melody and production to all play a part in making it translate the emotion I was feeling while writing. For me it’s not a conscious decision to move into more pop/dance orientated tracks it’s just creating a body of work that fits my story.
We had to ask it… how did your cover of ‘Edge Of Seventeen’ come about? We’ve been loving it in the office!
So this one came about through John Gibbons. He asked me to try out the vocal so when I had a few hours spare I did and turns out everyone loved it so we said feck it let’s bring it out!
We hope you have a great show but before you go, what can we expect to see from LYRA this year?
Loads more music and shows. This is what my heart is set on this year and I’m going to throw myself into it 100%.
LYRA will play The Bodega on Friday 21st April 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
Interview by Fin Heighton-Jupp.
