GFM Spotlight Interview - LIRA
GFM recently chatted with South African singing sensation LIRA. LIRA is currently preparing for her first full length US debut Feel Good which is slated to be released this year.
GFM: The musical heading Afro-Soul is incredibly intriguing, could you tell us more about the concept and how you arrived at it as the label for your music?
LIRA: My music is influenced by American Soul music like Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin. However it is also influenced by some jazz and latin based grooves and the Afro element is in the use of African languages. This results in sultry, celebratory, inspirational and music which is good the soul. Read more
LIRA - "Rise Again" Live
We wanted to take some time out today to get you familiar with and in the know about the sound of multi-platinum South African singing sensation LIRA. LIRA is currently preparing for her firs full length US debut Feel Good which is slated to be released in January 2012. Earlier this month saw the release of The LIRA EP which contains material from Lira's vast catalog and many place the sound found in this collection comparable to artists like Lizz Wright, Sade, and Maxwell. To purchase the LIRA EP go here.
Today we have a live clip of "Rise Again" the contains the Afro-Soul sound that has propelled LIRA to be the recipient of South African Music Awards (SAMAs), MTV African Awards, MOJO Awards, Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and garnered fashion and lifestyle magazine covers, platinum albums... all leaving an indelible impression on Africa-at-large.
The sound on this track is a great mix of Pop, Soul, and rhythms that are not only closely identified with Africa but the entire African Diaspora. The prominence of the guitar in the arrangement instantly brings to mind the another great South African artist Jonathan Butler. Over the coming weeks and months I'm hoping that a nice groundswell can be built for LIRA so that she can receive that support for her debut that is primed to deliver a sound that is needed sorely needed in the marketplace.
From the press releaseRead more