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Interview with
LYRA

(24th October 2024)

Interview with Dave Bruce

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Cork-born, Brighton-based artist LYRA has established herself as an artist to watch, having gained significant momentum following the release of her debut, self-titled album. 2024 saw the dark pop artist skyrocket to number one in the Irish album charts, outselling Beyonce by 50% more sales! Her incredible achievements are just the first chapter in a story that’s only just beginning to unfold.

Lyra is now unveiling her new single, “The Ending,” a stunning track which details the moment she chose to let go of her past relationship. The songwriter confides, “I finally decided to stop letting thoughts like ‘What if I had changed? What if I had said something different? What if I had waited? What if I hadn’t booked that flight home? What if he finds someone else?’ consume my life.”

The raw and vulnerable track shows Lyra stripping away her rose-tinted glasses, confronting the reality of the relationship in the unforgiving light of day. She continues, “It was time to call it for what it was and put an end to my romantic mind wishing it was something else.” 

Produced by Phil Cook (Lewis Capaldi, Calum Scott, YUNGBLUD, Ellie Goulding), “The Ending” enters with a throbbing beat and glistening synths, as it gradually builds into a foot-stomping, empowering release, where Lyra’s vocals demand attention as she chants, “You called it love, I called it a lesson.” The anthemic track serves as a reminder to always stand up for yourself and never compromise your true self to please someone else.

Lyra has had notable musical appearances on shows like Ireland’s Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars (see below), The Tommy Tiernan show, numerous Late Late Show appearances and The Main Stage with Mark Fehily. Her talent extends to TV also: in 2021, she joined Boy George, Jedward and Aston Merrygold on the judging panel for Virgin Media Ireland talent show The Big Deal, and Lyra has also taken part in Ireland’s Celebrity Gogglebox. Her music has also been featured on hit TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Love Island.

Supporting the likes of Pink, Westlife, Blondie and Sting, her sell-out live appearances prove that while Lyra’s music is laden with intensity and drama, her bright personality is irrepressible. Her most recent Irish album tour purveyed her musical artistry alongside striking fashion statements, and followed previous festival appearances at Wilderness, Leeds and Reading, Isle of Wight, Latitude, Lollapalooza in Berlin, the main stage at Electric Picnic, and Brighton Pride. Garnering acclaim from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, Earmilk, The Times, Clash and many more, Lyra continues to forge ahead, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences with her unmistakable style and sound.

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Photo Credit: Evan Doherty

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Have you always wanted to be an artist?
Yes since I can remember I loved to sing. I was always the entertainer at every family occasion (even if they didn’t want it haha)

When did you get the song writing bug?
It actually started when my mum and dad got separated. He would leave on Sunday for the week and my sister and I would make up songs and record them on his Dictaphone to keep him company on his journey away for work.

Briefly describe your journey to date.
A lot of ups and downs, a lot of people wanting to change who I was and what I sounded like, but with a lot of dedication and hard work and the right team it turned into a dream come true.

How would you describe your sound?
Story telling, dark elements sprinkled with synths and beats.

Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
I feel like a lot of my fans shared similar life events as I have, so it makes them able to identify with my songs and relate to the music.

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Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Beyoncé’s stage performance always inspires me, the amount of effort she puts into every single tiny detail is mind blowing for an artist to experience.
I feel like she really gives back to the fans when they show up to see her perform, and that for me is very important as an artist.
Sinéad O’Connor has also been an inspiration for me growing up. She inspired me to have the confidence to sing in my authentic Irish accent, and also to be myself at any cost.

Your latest single ‘The Ending’ has just been released! What’s it all about?
It is the juiciest closure anthem I have ever written and the most satisfying full stop I have ever put down on paper. It is this song that marks me finally getting over my ex relationship and not wanting to write about him anymore.

Describe its origin and evolution.
It actually started as a sad song which at the beginning was very much about his side of the story. After living with it for a while, I decided this song was going to be about me, the raw truth and how I really felt about the way he made me feel in our relationship. I was sick of making excuses for him, so I decided to re-write the song, telling people how it really went down.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Of course, there is, new music is always in the making.

What tours and events are coming up?
I’m currently getting ready for a tour around Ireland and planning some exciting events and shows for the new year.

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What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I have a new song coming out early next year, which I am very very excited about. I think my fans will be happily surprised by this juicy track which could be my favourites to date.

You have performed with some iconic artists – Pink, Westlife, Blondie and Sting – to name a few. What were those experiences like?
I have, and it was an honour to open for such amazing acts. It also makes you realise how big a scale your career can go, so it filled me with a lot of determination coming off those big stages.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
I would love to perform with Freddie Mercury, everything about him was iconic from the song writing,the lyrics ,the vocal ability, the performance. He was an icon.

What are your long-term aspirations as a music artist and how are you progressing towards them?
I am very excited to get album two out as I feel like at the end of the day Music is what really matters in this industry. I’m constantly writing from voice notes on the train to writing on napkins in McDonald’s.
I also would love to head to America to perform some shows, just experience what the music industry is like there and see the reaction to a small town Irish girl.

With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out?
Stay true to you because trying to be someone else will break you.

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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
Being able to have that live interaction with your fans is magical. Seeing them dance to your music, hearing them sing along with you is something that words will never be able to describe.

What’s been the career highlight so far? 
My debut album going to number one. The juiciest moment of my life.

Here are three personal questions your fans will find interesting about you:
1. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?  one on the highest Aqua loop slide in a thong bikini! (It didn’t last long – the bikini that is)
2. What is the one topic you can talk about for hours? True crime documentaries.
3. What is the thing you like most about yourself? My heart.  I’m a lover not a fighter.

Finally, just a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Hounds of Love Kate Bush
Artist – Kate Bush
Movie – Nightcrawler
Place to visit – Nashville
Venue to play – 3Olympia, Dublin
Food – Vietnamese
Drink – cup of tea
Person in History – Marilyn Monroe
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t have one but I would get a green heart.

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Follow LYRA
Tik Tok – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

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AMNPLIFY – DB