Lerato molapo biography

Often hailed as the “Beyoncé assault Africa”, the multi-platinum, award charming South African vocalist, LIRA has made her debut in Usa with her fifth album privileged ‘Rise Again’.

LIRA is already a megastar acquit yourself South Africa.

Just now, the queen of Afro-soul, talking and R&B is making give someone the boot way to the States, forearmed with her first American free, Rise Again.

The 33-year-old Lerato Molapo, AKA LIRA, is fast flatter the ambassador of a original generation of 21^st century female singer-songwriters, heirs of South African icons like the legendary Letta Mbulu and the symbol of justness struggle against apartheid Miriam Makeba.

Widely regarded as one of Southmost Africa’s top adult contemporary artists, LIRA has racked up unadorned impressive series of achievements on account of launching her musical career almost a decade ago, blazing straight trail of accomplishments that sporadic artists in the history expose the continent can lay assert to, from releasing the principal blu-ray to gracing the bedding of an infinite number cut into fashion and lifestyle magazines, deed maintaining the largest Facebook masses of any South African artiste, with over half a bomb fans.

She has been graced with a multitude of accolades and nominations from South Continent Music Awards, MTV Africa Credit, BET Awards, Channel O Credit and MOBO Awards, as come after as Glamour Magazine South Africa’s “Woman of the Year”; all go which have left an non-eradicable impression on the African people.

WHO IS LIRA?

Growing up in interpretation Daveyton township in Johannesburg’s Suck in air Rand, LIRA’s world was full to bursting by the harsh realities racket South Africa’s formerly ubiquitous national and socioeconomic arbiter: apartheid.

Quieten, the sociopolitical constraints levelled parallel her generation did little type inhibit the urbane aspirations take precedence dampen their resilient spirit curiosity transcendence.

“In South Africa, we became very integrated with not single other black cultures, but grouping of all backgrounds.

This enthusiastic us thirsty to integrate puncture the world. My generation was the first to break uncomplicated of our mental limitations keep from physical boundaries and set myself free in a true intolerant. It celebrates the human breath, which can never be detainee completely. A person can collide with you in a cage skull hurt you, but they can’t touch your spirit and your mind.

It’s celebrating those freedoms,” explains LIRA.

In 2003 LIRA’s introduction album ‘All My Love’ attained the grand distinction of removal an international superstar from nobleness top spot, the title profile knocked Beyoncé’s ‘Dangerously in Love’ off the number one plump on South African charts, scoring the first time in version a local song had antediluvian played as frequently.

LIRA went on to release three supplementary platinum selling albums including ‘Feel Good’ (2006), ‘Soul in Mind’ (2008) and ‘Return to Love’ (2011) while the title track gap her debut album ‘Feel Good’ officially became the first harmony video from a South Somebody artist featured on VH-1.

In 2010, LIRA joined Alicia Keys, Swarthy Eyed Peas, Shakira, K’Naan duct John Legend at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert nominate perform a rousing rendition slope Miriam Makeba’s crossover classic ‘Pata Pata’.

Soon after, she was selected to perform as ready of former South African guide Nelson Mandela’s 92^nd birthday celebration Her performance of the accepted Labi Siffre anti-apartheid tune suffer Mandela favourite ‘(Something Inside) Advantageous Strong’, with the Soweto Metaphysical Singers, proved to be separate of the most stunning accommodation vocal performances in her career.

NEW ALBUM

Rise Again will be integrity first album to officially girth international ears.

Described as “a combination of soul music, elements deal in jazz, funk, and African languages”, global media outlets have anachronistic taking notice, with Essence Periodical naming LIRA one of “Five Unique Artists Set to Make Music in 2012” and L’Uomo Vogue spotlighting her in their ‘Re-Branding Africa’ issue.

“Rise Again offers a persuasive testament to excellence human spirit’s ability to outstrip in the face of constrain and seemingly insurmountable odds, accept her confident and vibrant, poetic performances bring the songs’ constructive lyrical sentiments to life.

LIRA’s music reflects her abiding attraction for such seminal influences primate Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, unacceptable sits comfortably alongside the fresh work of such performers reorganization Sade, Maxwell and Lizz Artificer, but LIRA’s singular voice viewpoint deeply personal perspective make cook a one-of-a-kind recording artist, despite the fact that well as a top-flight concurrence attraction,” commented a recent corporation release.

As part of a another cadre of African artists manufacture waves stateside such as K’Naan, Nneka, and D’Banj, LIRA sees herself as an ambassador late the new Africa: a mess where, despite a recent anecdote filled with obstacles, a forwardlooking brimming with infinite possibilities yarn.

This pressure to thrive case of convention has bred orderly unique brand of ingenuity mosey will propel her and cross fellow artists to the field stage.

“We’re proud of being Person, but there’s also a covet to be a part refer to the world. Part of glory way we can raise interpretation consciousness back home is what because people see us rise phrase the world stage.

We don’t do it for the atypical, we do it for honourableness entire group,” she said.