WHM Playlist Series: Lyra Star - Musical Notes Global

Yoga-loving and fearless, singer-songwriter Lyra Star has captivated us with her ethereal vocals, profound lyrics, and, above all, her creative soul.

Fresh off the release of her magical debut album A Thousand Dreams, Star has compiled a playlist for Musical Notes Global's Women's History Month celebration that includes songs by female artists that have inspired her throughout her life. Check out what she had to say about her picks below:

"So many artists from a variety of genres have inspired me over the years. From folk to hip hop, jazz to electronic and blues. Initially, I was super inspired by pianists, such as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. The album Little Earthquakes was life changing for me. When I heard what Tori Amos was doing on the piano and with her words, I was completely in awe and immersed by the magical images that she was weaving with her vocals and melodies. "Winter" was one of the first songs that I started to sound out on the piano by ear, and the album sparked my desire to begin to create my own compositions on the piano.

"My mom used to listen to Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt a lot, and I didn't truly begin to appreciate those artists until high school, when I began to delve deeper into female artists that created beautiful, emotional landscapes with their lyrics and voices.

"Jewel's album, Pieces of You, inspired me to start taking guitar lessons. I loved her raw, simple performance of the songs. It was so vulnerable and real, and her voice really captured me. I didn't really follow her much after the first two albums, but I remember wanting to learn those songs when I first started taking guitar lessons.

"I've also always loved traditional jazz and blues singers, such as Billie Holiday and Etta James. There’s something about the emotion of soul music that really draws me in. It inspires me to be a better singer. Lately, I've been really inspired by vocal harmonies and how artists like Ayla Nereo and Imogen Heap use loop pedals when they perform live in order to layer their own voice to create swirling rhythms and harmonies. It’s so beautiful. As much as I appreciate the raw power of a single voice and guitar, technology allows for unique sounds and musical landscapes that are not of this world, such as what Bjork does with her songs. Truly, I am blessed to have had all of these women touch my life in some way and help me to realize that my passion lies in creating music myself.