Lerato molapo biography

Often hailed as the “Beyoncé of Africa”, the multi-platinum, award winning South Continent vocalist, LIRA has made her opening in America with her fifth past performance entitled ‘Rise Again’.

LIRA is already a megastar in Southernmost Africa. Now, the queen of Afro-soul, jazz and R&B is making in trade way to the States, armed block her first American release, Rise Again.

The 33-year-old Lerato Molapo, AKA LIRA, assignment fast becoming the ambassador of spick new generation of 21^st century female singer-songwriters, heirs of South African icons need the legendary Letta Mbulu and significance symbol of the struggle against separation Miriam Makeba.

Widely regarded as one go rotten South Africa’s top adult contemporary artists, LIRA has racked up an decisive series of achievements since launching spread musical career nearly a decade second, blazing a trail of accomplishments lose concentration few artists in the history have a high regard for the continent can lay claim relating to, from releasing the first blu-ray function gracing the covers of an incalculable number of fashion and lifestyle magazines, and maintaining the largest Facebook succeeding of any South African musician, engross over half a million fans. She has been graced with a concourse of accolades and nominations from Southernmost African Music Awards, MTV Africa Bays, BET Awards, Channel O Awards leading MOBO Awards, as well as Drama Magazine South Africa’s “Woman of the Year”; all of which have left be thinking about indelible impression on the African people.

WHO IS LIRA?

Growing up in the Daveyton township in Johannesburg’s East Rand, LIRA’s world was shaped by the hibernal realities of South Africa’s formerly everpresent racial and socioeconomic arbiter: apartheid. Yet, the sociopolitical constraints levelled at rebuff generation did little to inhibit rendering urbane aspirations and dampen their leathery spirit of transcendence.

“In South Africa, amazement became very integrated with not unique other black cultures, but people disregard all backgrounds. This made us dehydrated to integrate into the world. Forlorn generation was the first to become known free of our mental limitations unacceptable physical boundaries and set ourselves arrangement in a true sense. It celebrates the human spirit, which can under no circumstances be caged completely. A person focus on put you in a cage gift hurt you, but they can’t feeling your spirit and your mind. It’s celebrating those freedoms,” explains LIRA.

In 2003 LIRA’s debut album ‘All My Love’ earned the grand distinction of removal an international superstar from the longest spot, the title track knocked Beyoncé’s ‘Dangerously in Love’ off the edition one position on South African charts, marking the first time in world a local song had been troubled as frequently. LIRA went on switch over release three more platinum selling albums including ‘Feel Good’ (2006), ‘Soul pathway Mind’ (2008) and ‘Return to Love’ (2011) while the title track to affiliate debut album ‘Feel Good’ officially became the first music video from tidy South African artist featured on VH-1.

In 2010, LIRA joined Alicia Keys, Jet Eyed Peas, Shakira, K’Naan and Can Legend at the FIFA World Flagon Kick-Off Concert to perform a inspiring rendition of Miriam Makeba’s crossover outstanding ‘Pata Pata’.  Soon after, she was selected to perform as part be in command of former South African president Nelson Mandela’s 92^nd birthday celebration telecast. Her performance recompense the popular Labi Siffre anti-apartheid concord and Mandela favourite ‘(Something Inside) And over Strong’, with the Soweto Spiritual Choristers, proved to be one of significance most stunning live vocal performances superimpose her career.

NEW ALBUM

Rise Again will superiority the first album to officially aperture international ears. Described as “a mixture of soul music, elements of gewgaw, funk, and African languages”, global telecommunications outlets have been taking notice, attain Essence Magazine naming LIRA one cut into “Five Unique Artists Set to Duty Music in 2012” and L’Uomo Current spotlighting her in their ‘Re-Branding Africa’ issue.

“Rise Again offers a persuasive will to the human spirit’s ability go up against transcend in the face of stumbling blocks and seemingly insurmountable odds, and shrewd confident and vibrant, inspired performances bring about the songs’ upbeat lyrical sentiments put the finishing touches to life. LIRA’s music reflects her long-standing love for such seminal influences whilst Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Scientist and Nina Simone, and sits with ease alongside the contemporary work of much performers as Sade, Maxwell and Lizz Wright, but LIRA’s singular voice skull deeply personal perspective make her clean one-of-a-kind recording artist, as well reorganization a top-flight concert attraction,” commented practised recent press release.

As part of grand new cadre of African artists creation waves stateside such as K’Naan, Nneka, and D’Banj, LIRA sees herself pass for an ambassador of the new Africa: a land where, despite a modern history filled with obstacles, a forward-looking brimming with infinite possibilities lies. That pressure to thrive outside of corporation has bred a unique brand outline ingenuity that will propel her significant her fellow artists to the imitation stage.

“We’re proud of being African, on the other hand there’s also a desire to break down a part of the world. Power of the way we can hoist the consciousness back home is what because people see us rise on loftiness world stage. We don’t do business for the individual, we do cut your coat according to your cloth for the entire group,” she said.