Lyia Meta has a rarified contralto voice with a tone and range that enables her to deliver almost any genre. She has been recognized in a wide range of genres including jazz, blues, pop, and country. Yet it is with blues-infused jazz that her voice sits most comfortably.
The Malaysian-born singer and visual artist blends sultry jazz tones with operatic techniques to create her signature style. From small beginnings, she overcame geographic and cultural hurdles, and her musical career has soared.
On Always You, she embarks on a jazz-pop journey exploring her take on love, life, and fun with songwriting collaborator Denise Dimin. From the laid-back sultry take on this LP’s title track to the belter that is “Savor Me” and the bluesy overtones of “It’s Up to You,” the power of her vocals is striking. Meta has something which few singers possess, and that is complete control of her powerful voice.
She is more than capable of ramping up the volume, but on tracks like “For You,” she imbues intense emotion into the power, creating a track that is at once intense and quite beautiful.
The album is deeply personal” “In my entire career as a live circuit performer and an artist, I have found that being true to myself and my influences is what makes me the artist I am proud to be,” Lyia Meta says. “What is uniquely ‘me’? Who I am is very simply heard in my music. Always You is my latest chapter as I continue my musical journey.”
The arrangements and music supporting Meta are harmonious and steadfast, but the centerpiece is the voice – and what a voice. Contralto, but with added mezzo tones and beautiful phrasing that brings the lyrics to life. Meta has something hard to pinpoint: Her voice has such power yet can also be incredibly gentle, and her intonation is nigh on perfect.
Dynamite and honey, power and sweetness. Lyia Meta’s Always You is wonderful music.
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