Lyra is the debut studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Lyra, released on 12 April 2024 through Rubyworks Records.
Background and release
Lyra announced the album's release date as April 4, 2024, after returning to live performances in Ireland. With written sessions held in Los Angeles and London, the album consists of 14 tracks and was released on August 12, 2024, by Rubyworks Records. Lyra noted in an interview with Mundane Magazine.When [I] began writing music, I aimed for a specific style. But as I started developing, I wanted to write a ballad when I was heartbroken, or an irreverent song when I had a one-night stand, or an upbeat song about going on the lash with my friends and dancing until 3am. To me, music should be fun and evoke different emotions.
Critical reception
Lauren Murphy of The Irish Times described the album as a polished dance-pop album, praising the powerful vocals and the production's blend of house and contemporary pop, drawing comparisons to Florence Welch and Rihanna. However, Murphy criticized the lyrics as repetitive and centered on well-worn themes of love and heartbreak.
Alexander Williams of The Line of Best Fit praised the album's emotional songwriting, vocal delivery, and genre diversity. Williams also noted that the album's exploration of love and heartbreak is particularly highlighted in standout tracks like "Falling", "Lovers", "Chess", and "America", marking a strong and cohesive return after COVID-19 related delays.
Commercial performance Lyra reached number 1 on both the Official Irish Albums Chart and the Irish Independent Albums Chart, unseating Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.
Track listing
Charts +Chart performance for LyraChart (2024)Peak positionIrish Albums (OCC)1Irish Independent Albums Chart1
References