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The TVSA Interview: Lira

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Interviews on 23 Oct 2009
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lira_5The 2009 Channel O Video Music Awards arrive in Jozi next week Thursday (29 October) - at Carnival City. 

They're being hosted by KB, Lungsta and Nonhle Thema and will be broadcast on Sunday 8 November at 21h00 - with a half-hour Red Carpet build-up before.

To get into the vibe for them I caught up with Lira for us, whose video for Wa Mpaleha has been nominated in three categories: Best Female Video, Best R&B Video; and Best African Southern.

Of course I had to ask more-more than whether she thinks she's going to win because she recently married producer Robin Kohln, which happened secretly, until everyone knew, in Mauritius.

Here's what she had to sing:

Tashi: What’s your take on the Channel O Awards? How do you see them in the greater scheme of music Awards?
Lira: The great truth about them is that they expose an artist to the African continent - from that point of view they’re extremely important and can’t be discounted.

Although, sadly for us as South Africans - we either don’t have enough people with DStv or South Africans don’t vote - South Africans rarely win because the people in other African states really support their own.

Every year it’s the same - it’s an honour to be nominated but you think “Don’t hold your breath,” - it’s a pity. It’s one thing I feel, so many people from other African states don’t have - we’ve got lots of Awards - there are a few accolades that we have in the year but they don’t have as many so they really go out there for them.

Tashi: The song that’s been nominated: Wa Mpaleha - could you tell us more about the meaning behind it?
Lira: Absolutely, very often in African culture it’s quite a taboo for a woman to approach a man so in the song, it’s a girl who says: “I sincerely feel the love I have for you in my heart and all I want to do is just be next to you.

"I’d love to hold you by the hand, and if I do, it means it goes two ways: I’ll be by your side so please, please don’t run away. Don’t be afraid that just because I’m a woman coming towards you saying 'I do love you,' - don’t run away from it .”

lira_video_1

Wa Mpaleha is: you're running away  - it’s a fun take on it. It’s sung in my father tongue, a Sotho song, which I hadn’t yet sung in - I thought it would be fun to reverse the roles and people have liked it for that.

Tashi: So did you ask Robin to marry you?
Lira: Haha no. *laughs*

Tashi: Do you come up with the ideas for your videos?
Lira:
Yes, we come up with the idea, put the brief out there and then film-makers come back with storyboards. Eben Olivier came up with a story that I liked - it was lighthearted, nothing hectic, had lots of dancing so I like the treatment he offered. He also shot it on the Red camera which gives it a different quality.

Tashi:
Your backing singers in the video - I’ve always wanted to be one, I can’t sing but I SO want to be one. Do you always use the same people?
Lira:
Yes, I always use the same team. I also encourage people to do what they want to do so we’ve lost a few backing singers over time because they want to pursue their own career’s, which I fully encourage. We’ll help them with cutting a demo and things that they need.

The core members of my band though, they’re exactly the same and they have been for the past three years - they’re like family.

lira_large
Lira, spotted in mid-sing and snapped by Segololo at True Love Magazine's Women's Day.

Tashi:
With the music industry being so difficult to break into - what was the moment that you knew you’d made it? A career changing moment?
Lira:
Signing to Sony was one thing and then as soon as the album was out -  you really gauge how people are responding to your music once the album’s out and you’re on air.

I'd say a few months after the release of Feel Good, I thought “Oh my word I’m getting somewhere.” The release of it was a bit risqué for me - I’d gone through a personal transformation, the music wasn’t that different, but even my physical appearance was a change so I didn’t know how people would respond.

I was presenting who I really am and I plugged into a record label who believed in who I was. There was no-one telling me what I should do or be.

Tashi:
Did it have to do with finding independence?
Lira:
Yes, my first album didn’t sell because it wasn’t marketed at all. This one was more grown-up, commanding and owning the space more. It took me two years to run it as my own business and career - I wasn’t trying to be anything, I just was.

lira_3
Lira on the set of Top Billing with Tumisho Masha

Tashi:
Before that, what stopped you?
Lira:
I was young firstly and doing the first album - it was a great album and even then nobody influenced what it sounded like .... but sadly because of the stable I was in - it was with a Kwaito stable (Triple 9) - what I represented didn’t come across at all.

I had 8 songs out of an album of 14 that got strong airplay but people didn’t have a connection who was actually singing it; and also they didn’t know that I was South African and just making a living out of it was very difficult.

I went through a whole depression and then, when I was ready, I did Feel Good, which reflected the woman I had become. Being in that stable, I just felt that I was seen through the eyes of them as opposed to who I was.

It became clear that no matter how hard I worked, or how I smart I was, being in the kwaito stable I was being treated like an idiot. Some of the questions I got in interviews, I’d think “My God you must think I’m an idiot.”

It was frustrating, I was not going to go anywhere in that environment - just that constant condescending tone was horrible, it was everywhere I went. After I left I just knew there was no turning back and that everything would be good.

lira_20
Lira, at the 2009 SAMAs, pic'd by Cande

Tashi:
Do you have a particular designer who designs for you?
Lira:
I have a few, I keep it strictly South African, I like what South African designers represent: I find they’re very innovative and colourful - it’s so reflective of us as a nation.

Tashi:
Do you get to keep them?
Lira:
Yes I have most of them tailor-made. I also like to wear things, give the designers the exposure and then give it back.

Tashi:
Do you wear things more than once?
Lira:
I do, some, with the stuff that I wear on TV, admittedly no - I may get it in another colour or a variation of it. Unfortunately you’ll be in the tabloids if you wear something more than once too often.

Tashi:
In the category: Best Female Video for the O Awards- who do you think your biggest competition is? ...

Amani for Tonight (Kenya)
Lizha James for Estilo Xakhale (Mozambique)
Nneka for Heartbeat (Nigeria)
Thandiswa Mazwai for Ingoma (SA)
Sasha for Only One (Nigeria)

Lira:
It’s a tough one - I think Lizha’s a pretty strong contender and probably Thandiswa.

Tashi:
If you weren’t up for it - who would you want to win?
Lira:
I think that it’s about how you portray yourself in the video - I would zone into that, so I’d give it to Lizha.

Tashi:
Why did you elope to Mauritius instead of having a big schmancy wedding?
Lira:
I didn’t elope - that actually offends me, in spite doing a proper press release people will see it their own way. It was an opportunity for us to spoil our families - we have wonderful tight family and for me it was an ingenious way of getting married because we integrated incredibly well as a family - everyone became friends. They actually went ahead and became friends before the wedding. We'd planned it since March and our family knew.

We also wanted to go somewhere where it didn’t matter that I’m Lira, where I could just enjoy the night without worrying about the fact that I’m Lira - sometimes I just want to be a bit sloppy, party-up and dance like a little child and not worry about somebody watching or making a judgement on me so I went to an island where I could be with my family and be that.

lira_30
Lira performing at the relaunch of MTV Base

Tashi: Who's your fave musician of all time?
Lira:
Michael Jackson - not because he’s died but perhaps it’s been reinforced because he’s died. There’s one point where he totally changed my life - as a child, my parents used to say that I wanted everything with Michael Jackson on it. He really influenced the kind of musician I ended up becoming.

It wasn’t just the music with him, he cared about the environment, he cared about children, he cared about others - I really think he was the most amazing entertainer we’ll ever know.

When I first started, I’m a small girl - and growing up I was always reminded of my frame, so when I stood on stage, especially when it was a huge stage, I felt like a twig, like I’d disappear so I was very self-conscious.

I saw a video of him, and he was tall and skinny and he walked up with confidence and swagger and the place was filled to the brink. He walked on, struck a pose and the crowd went beserk. All he did was turn around, kinda looked the other way and it was just incredible.

What it taught me, from that moment on is that it’s your energy, your vibe, your whole demeanour - it totally changed my whole life. He made me feel as if anything was possible.

Ends



RELATED LINKS:

All the nominees in each category: 2009 Channel O Nominees

Voting online's happening on: Channel O's website






18 Comments

TerryN
23 Oct 2009 07:51

They're being hosted by KB, Lungsta and Nonhle Thema and will be broadcast on Sunday 8 November at 21h00

Noted!

Although, sadly for us as South Africans - we either don’t have enough people with DStv or South Africans don’t vote - South Africans rarely win because the people in other African states really support their own. 

She's rite...I watched MTV awards last week only HHP won for the best video. Our very own Lira was nominated but did not win...

Nigerians/Kenyans were taking awards left right and centre!!

cuz-cuz
23 Oct 2009 07:59

nice interview and i am glad she left 999. i luv the  ngiyazifela song

GML
23 Oct 2009 08:29

I just love this girl.

why was there no article about her DVD live recording at the superbowl?

zozoe
23 Oct 2009 08:31

Thanks Tash

Wow Lira

Best-Achiever
23 Oct 2009 08:35

Nigerians/Kenyans were taking awards left right and centre!!

True that TerryN ..and Lira is very true in saying that most Sout Africans either dont have DSTV or just dont vote ....

Mathaz
23 Oct 2009 08:36

Well grounded girl she is, i like her a lot indeed 999 was a stepping stone for her.  

Renegade
23 Oct 2009 09:02

Oh my word, I cannot express enough how much I love this girl, she is amazing! Love Love her! I'm about to break into one of her songs right now!!!!!

libra
23 Oct 2009 10:47

i heard the DVD is out in stores, i should get it before i miss out, i cant afford to miss it.

mstick
23 Oct 2009 13:17

OMG i love this girl she is great, she is a hard worker

mstick
23 Oct 2009 13:21

It became clear that no matter how hard I worked, or how I smart I was, being in the kwaito stable I was being treated like an idiot. Some of the questions I got in interviews, I’d think “My God you must think I’m an idiot.” 

ohh i see this means Chomi is not an idiot by choice oh ok, tnx for clearing that up Miss Lira

ndlovukazi communications
24 Oct 2009 13:22

when do we get to see the wedding photos? Congratulations!

Sane`

La Dolce Vita
24 Oct 2009 13:42

L0lest @ mstick...I'' thinking the same thing!! Wats up with that new song? Ine beat ka 'Changes' (Chomee)?
I l0ve Wa mpaleha...it just speaks v0lumes and I agree, there's nothing wrong in telling a man u l0ve him and want 2b naye. C0ngra Mrs Kohl(n?)

dali
26 Oct 2009 08:55

beautiful!

blueroze
26 Oct 2009 10:49

bathong i love this lady ka nnete

Tashi
27 Oct 2009 20:10

>>when do we get to see the wedding photos?<<They're all very hush-hush "in the family albums" ndlovukazi - I'm hoping they're both gonna be at the Channel O Awards on Thursday so I can ask them to pose what they looked like when thjey took their vows, hehe! I'll also find out if they're doing anything with the pics or keeping them totally private.

Cande
30 Oct 2009 16:27

LOL Tashi, Ndlovukazi??

u4me
15 Oct 2010 14:17

some people just seek attention, and they are not getting any,shame. this is just a waste of semen. To Lira, you go gal, your god given talent can not be taken away from you. You are my beautiful african princess. Let the dogs bark, besides what worries the moon when the dog barks

sunbae
28 Apr 2011 12:41

Lira the lady wawo maam you r the lady... i jst love her ...


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