LYRA was recently presented an IMRO Award in recognition of her self-titled album LYRA.
The IMRO Number 1 Award was introduced to acknowledge IMRO members who reach number 1 in the album charts here in Ireland.
The debut album is a comprehensive reflection of the Irish pop- dance sensation today. Consisting of 14 tracks, the album conveys the broad range of her musicality, journeying from the dark and sultry ‘Chess’ to the pulsating dance anthem ‘Lovers’ to the empowering latest single ‘Queen’.
It is hard to believe that this is Lyra’s debut album, it has been long-awaited and has positioned the Irish popstar at the pinnacle of Irish Music. With her commanding voice that effortlessly plays ‘wavers between lightness and depth, and fragility and strength’, which immediately enriches the emotions in her words.
The album opens with ‘America’, (produced by BURNS, Lady Ga Ga, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding) a carefree pop anthem about a holiday romance, which draws the listener into Lyra’s sultry sound. Moving to the second single, written about a night of debauchery ‘Drink Me Up’ (co-written with Nicki Adamsson who previously wrote with Charlie XCX, Zara Larsson).
Singles including You, Falling and chart topper Edge of Seventeen displaying Lyra’s raw and powerful vocals, are put to exacting use; lyrically the album offers snapshots of past relationships – specifically one turbulent end and its liberating aftermath.
A ballad ‘Someone New’ is also featured on the album. While new song ‘Naked’ displays Lyra’s alter ego coming out.
Lyra explains “The first ballad I ever wrote was ‘Someone New’, and it took me a lot of heartbreak and learning to get there,” “But the album also documents when I embraced my single life and went a bit carefree and wild”.
Tracks such as ‘All Over Now’, display the heartbreak but from an upbeat, pop- dance perspective, while ‘I’ll Always Be The One’ showcases the synth-led tempo, but darker emotions are layered within the lyrics.
Finally the two remaining songs ‘Love Me’ (co-written with Grammy-nominated American songwriter and producer Drew Pearson Kesha, Kygo, The Goo Goo Dolls) which was written in LA and displays Lyra’s big ballad vocals and an example of what she does best, pour her heart out into her lyrics. ‘Loved By You’, which enchants the listener and exhibits a softer side to Lyra. “The album was complete when I wrote this song”, explains Lyra, “I couldn’t stop listening to it, so I made space for it.”
