Lyra Enchants Whelan's with Debut Irish Performance

Illuminated by dozens of twinkling ivory candles, the intimate crowd anticipates Lyra to emerge from the darkness. Will she float down or rise up? United in black, Lyra surfaces with keyboardist and drummer, taking stance among white flowers that span the stage like an angelic meadow.

Lyra enraptures the crowd not only vocally, but with her whole body. She orchestrates the air and glides her limbs through the illuminated atmosphere. Even the keyboardist allows the music to possess him. He punctuates the keys as if on the drums during the second song ‘Rabbit in the Headlights.’ Dedicated to anyone with insecurities, the melodic song is spiced by hints of her influences like Enya and Kate Bush.

‘Broken Down’ is a particular high-point. This song, she muses, is a ‘flip the bird’ gesture for those who doubted her. The angst builds, the drums echo inside my heart, and the crowd loosens. Lyra marches to the beat in her gleaming black boots as though climbing a mountain. After her breathless crystal clear crescendo, she takes a minute to banter with the audience. She notes how her nickname 'Tornado' needs no explanation. People “Definitely call you a tornado because you were angry.”

Lyra notices a mix of old and new faces in the crowd. More nervous about the familiar fans, she looks down at her sheer black cover-up and worries her family at the upcoming Cork gig will wonder “What happened to you and where are your clothes?”

Swaying from her EP, W.I.L.D, Lyra spoils the crowd towards the end with her fusion of Hozier and the XX. With the rhythm of ‘Intro’ and lyrics of ‘Take Me To Church,’ Lyra tells a story intensified by a dreamy force.

Despite a short gig, the seventh and final song ‘Emeralds’ delivers soaring notes, showcasing a baroque pop style. Hesitant to leave the venue, the audience can count on a haunting and enchanting future from Lyra.