Return To Love | Jason Von Berg Online

Superstar Lira is back and ready to blow us all away again with her new album- coming at the end of this month. The album titled Return To Love is the multiple SAMA-winner’s fourth studio album. (2003′s ALL MY LOVE, 2006’s FEEL GOOD, 2008′s SOUL IN MIND).
Being the first South African artists to release a live music concert on DVD proves that the lovely Lira is always one step ahead, pushing the boundaries and making the unlikely seem quite easy. On this 11-track album, that is the case too says Lira, “On this album, too I didn’t want to be restrained in what sounds we included on the album so there is some funk, ragga, urban, traditional African sounds, and, of course, plenty of soul.”

I cannot wait for this album to be released. She truly is one of my favourite artists, locally and abroad. I have two fond memories of the lovely Lira. Back in 2008, I went through to Sun City for the annual South African Music Awards. On the Friday night before the big show, there were a whole host of artists performing in different areas around The Palace. In the main banquet area, jazz muso Jimmy Dludlu performed whilst people mingled, chatted, networked and were getting ready for SA’s big night in music. At one point he stopped and said he’d liked to welcome his close friend onto the stage to perform a song. He said she wasn’t aware of this but she’d do it justice and without further ado, he called on Lira to the stage. Let me tell you, for someone who wasn’t expecting to be called up to perform, she blew me away. Really what a good sport- and it was just the next night that she walked off with a few SAMAs for her cabinet. So well deserved.

My other memory of this lovely lady is when I interviewed her in 2009 for The Von Vodcast. The interview was simple, classy just like she is. At the end of the episode I asked her to perform one of the songs from the album, to which she was more than happy to oblige. I was surprised because in previous experience, other musicians have said thanks but no thanks. Not Lira, she took the bull by the horns and gave it her all. Believer is still one of my favourite tracks. Not only is her voice exquisitely beautiful, clear in it, but she performed it exclusively for me. I don’t know if I’ve ever said thank you to her, but if she sees this post, Lira. Thank you! I can’t wait to hear this new album and find out more from you in the weeks to come.