Lyra (singer)
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{short description|Irish singer-songwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lyra
| birth_name = Laura McNamara
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Bandon, County Cork
| genre = Electropop
| years_active = 2016–present
}}
Laura McNamara, known professionally as Lyra, is an Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Early life and musical development
Lyra grew up in County Cork, Ireland. In an interview with the Irish Independent, she told of her early love of singing and performing.{{Cite web |title=Beyonce with a Cork accent... Could Lyra be Cork's next musical superstar? |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/beyonce-with-a-cork-accent-could-lyra-be-corks-next-musical-superstar-38063773.html |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}} She has also said that her experiences singing in her church choir, and in speech and drama lessons were formational in the development of her singing.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Lauren |date=6 December 2019 |title=Is she Ireland's next big pop star? |url=https://www.redbull.com/ie-en/cork-musician-lyra-interview |access-date=14 June 2020 |website=Red Bull}} She has highlighted her love of Irish "luminaries" Enya and Sinéad O'Connor,{{Cite web |last=McGoran |first=Peter |title=HOT FOR 2017: We meet rising Cork artist Lyra |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/hot-for-2017-we-meet-rising-cork-artist-lyra-19488070 |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=Hotpress}} artists whom critics, among others such as Kate Bush and Florence and the Machine, have subsequently likened her music to.{{Cite web |title=Cork Independent – Lyra shines bright |url=https://www.corkindependent.com/setlist/topics/articles/2017/02/02/4134153-lyra-shines-bright/ |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=CorkIndependent.ie |language=en-gb}} Although she wishes to maintain a degree of mystery,{{Cite web |date=2017-05-09 |title=Lyra is excited about her return to Cork |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/lyra-is-excited-about-her-return-to-cork-449702.html |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |language=en}} she has confirmed that 'Lyra' is one of her given names.
Career
Lyra released her first EP W.I.L.D on 15 July 2016, but gained most of her recognition following the featuring of "Emerald" on the second episode of the RTÉ drama Striking Out, and the subsequent featuring of her music. The same year, "Emerald" was also used in Teen Wolf, The X Factor and The Only Way Is Essex, and helped to gain her exposure.{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Katie |date=2019-05-05 |title=Singer Lyra says her career blew up after appearing on RTE's Striking Out |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/singer-lyra-says-career-blew-15002585 |access-date=2020-06-15 |website=irishmirror}}
She appeared on the 30th anniversary rework of U2's The Joshua Tree alongside other Irish artists Imelda May, Gavin James and Kodaline.{{Cite web |title=Who is Lyra? 5 Things you Need to Know - Universal Music Ireland |url=https://umusic.ie/feature/who-is-lyra-5-things-you-need-to-know |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=Umusic Ireland |language=en}}
In 2017, Lyra signed a label deal with Polydor Records and Universal Music.{{Cite web |title="lyra" AND "polydor" - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=%22lyra%22+AND+%22polydor%22 |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.google.com}}
She has appeared at such festivals as the Great Escape, Music Cork, Latitude, and Electric Picnic.
Lyra has appeared as a guest performer on Dancing with the Stars{{Cite web |date=2017-05-09 |title=Lyra is excited about her return to Cork |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/lyra-is-excited-about-her-return-to-cork-449702..html |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |language=en}} and Ireland's Got Talent.{{Cite web |title=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc3xjloRQ6s |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.youtube.com}} Her song "Falling" was featured in the midseason finale of Season 16 of Grey's Anatomy, and on ITV's Love Island.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
In 2020, her song New Day (a cover of an old Jackie Lomax song) was released as a single, after it was used in various TV-commercials in the UK (Sky Sports) and the Netherlands (bicycle manufacturer VanMoof).{{Citation |title=Time to ride the future |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMpqVfnuyII |access-date=2021-10-03 |publisher=VanMoof |language=en}}
In 2021, Lyra was announced as one of the judges on the Virgin Media One talent show, The Big Deal, joining Boy George, Aston Merrygold, Deirdre O'Kane and Jedward on the panel.{{Cite web |title=Boy George, Jedward, Aston Merrygold, Deirdre O'Kane and Lyra join new entertainment show The Big Deal |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/boy-george-jedward-aston-merrygold-deirdre-okane-and-lyra-join-new-entertainment-show-the-big-deal-22856906 |access-date=2021-06-20 |website=Hotpress}}
Her single "29 Box" was released on 7 October 2022 and was played on LM/FM on 3 October 2022. She followed this with the single "You" on 10 March 2023.
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/20240419/ie7502|title=Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=19 April 2024|access-date=20 April 2024}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Lyra
|
| 1 |
= Singles =
{{Singles discography | all_albums=yes
| title1 = Rabbit in the Headlights | album1 = W.I.L.D | albumspan1 = 4 | year1 = 2016 | yearspan1 = 4
| title2 = Emerald
| title3 = Broken Down
| title4 = Whitelady
| title5 = Falling | album5 = {{noitalic|Non-album singles}} | albumspan5 = 4 | year5 = 2019
| title6 = Never Let Go | year6 = 2019 | yearspan6 = 2
| title7 = Mother
| title8 = New Day | year8 = 2020
| title9 = The Magic of Christmas | album9 = The Magic of Christmas | albumspan9 = 4 | year9 = 2020 | yearspan9 = 4
| title10 = Stay Another Day
| title11 = Walking in the Air
| title12 = Merry Christmas Everyone - Live
| title13 = 29 Box | year13 = 2022 | album13 = {{noitalic|Non-album single}}
| title14 = You | year14 = 2023 | album14 = Lyra
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:21st-century Irish musicians
Category:Musicians from County Cork
Category:21st-century Irish women singers
Category:Irish women pop singers