Getting To Know... LIYA

With a wave of bold and impressive singles under her belt already this year, Bulgarian singer and songwriter LIYA is back once again with her latest offering 'Mother Medusa'.

Working alongside producer ABRAM, 'Mother Medusa' is a bright and bouncing slice of alt-pop. With her smooth and soaring vocals running through every inch of this new release, she is set to become one of this year's biggest talking points on the pop circuit.

So with her new single doing the rounds, we sat down with her to find out more about her background and what has inspired her most over the years.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

The voice! I’ve been singing since I can remember and I’ve been dreaming of being an artist since I was a little girl, singing in front of my mirror with a hairbrush imitating a mic.

What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?

Trying to express my feelings with the music and tell a story with the lyrics. My inspiration can come from anywhere. Mainly from my personal experiences, but it doesn’t stop there.

What kind of music did you love as a teenager?

In the early 2000’s all I would do is watch MTV, I was a huge fan of Xtina, Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne…. weren’t we all? When I was young my dad would play a lot of rock, such as AC/DC, Queen, Rainbow and so much more. When I was a teenager I listened to a lot of pop, as well as rock and indie, and I still do. My favorite artists range from Pop Queens such as Whitney Huston, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, all the way to Florence + The Machine, Hozier, Muse, Queen, etc.

Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?

It was probably a Whitney Huston or Christina Aguilera song. I remember listening to them and thinking “Wow, I want to sing my heart out like that for people too!”

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

As I mentioned above, I listen to a large range of artists. Lately, I’ve been loving to put on playlists filled with music and artists I’m not familiar with and just discover new music and people.

How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?

A lot, especially the released ones. When I write I don’t always limit myself to my own experiences, because I think that songwriters are storytellers and we can and should write about anything, even if it’s not a personal experience. But I do find myself writing about my personal experiences the most and getting attached to those songs more, which makes a lot of sense.

What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?

I’d say the whole covid situation this year has been pretty unusual for all of us. Of course I lost all of my live shows but at least I’m still able to create music from home and even participate in co-writing sessions with people all around the world, they just have to be virtual, haha. And I even recorded the background vocals to my latest song “Mother Medusa” in my closet, cause no studios were open.

Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?

I really love all the creative aspects that go behind creating a song. Aside from writing and performing the song, I love everything that goes behind creating the entire project. From the visuals, to the styling, hair, makeup, promotion, etc. I also love working alongside other creatives, it’s always so inspirational.

If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?

Ah, man I really don’t know! Maybe something in the arts again? Or if not, in college I took a class in psychology and really liked it so… imagine me as your psychologist?

And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?

Just create art that excites you. Create it for yourself first and then for the world. And take it step by step. Think of the first and smallest step you can take towards your dream and start there. I think a lot of people focus on the end-goal and not on the (looooong) path they need to take on their way there. I’m not saying don’t dream big. Hell, dream even bigger than you are right now, but then see what’s the first step you can take and go! I know I’m still making my small steps each day.

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LIYA's new single 'Mother Medusa' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.