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IRA S golden chords and musical expertise have earned her a seat as a judge on the South African version of which airs for the first time next Sunday.
She will be joined by established musicians, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Karen Zoid and the Parlotones frontman Kahn Morbee.
The songstress says it has been an exciting journey so far and yet an emotional roller coaster at times.
We were presented with incredible talent and it was hard to let go of some people. Each coach could only take 14 people into their team. It has been one of my highlight experiences and I can t wait for the rest of the country to see the show,” she says. Her distinguished career speaks volumes. But not even she realised that one day she would be making others dreams come true.
Lira was born Lerato Molapo in the Daveyton township on the East Rand.
Her talents were first spotted by Arthur Mafokate and he signed her to his 999 stable. But not feeling fulfilled as a kwaito girl, she left after only a year. She says that was never her dream. She wrote a book titled about her journey with Mafokate.
In the book she reflects on her journey, which she said wasn t an easy start She also says anyone who aspires to be a successful musician will have a lot to learn from the book.
Today she s known as an Afro-soul artist who moves easily from R&B to jazz, from lush pop to bossa.
Her musical talent was only realised 12 years ago.
She climbed the ladder to success quickly and successfully and at a mere 36 years of age has managed to conquer the African continent.
With five albums under her belt, including live DVDs, she says she ain t done yet, talking about her very own forthcoming doccie,
The Lira Dream Chaser Documentary is still on track but has been pushed back to coincide with the launch of a new international channel which will go live in March,” she says.
Her life has been characterised by a sense of style, classic beauty and countless awards that she hopes will inspire the protégés that will be unearthed on the show.
And by the looks of it, contestants are dying to be on her team as Sunday World noticed when we attended the auditions.
As much as she is thrilled to be part of the show, she has worked extremely hard since learning the business side of the entertainment industry over the last 12 years.
The positive tone of the show is also in alignment with my personal values so it was the perfect platform for me to also share all that I have learned. I love the fact that the show has a positive perspective. It s about building and empowering all the contestants. The energy throughout the whole shooting schedule was positive and uplifting which I appreciated, she said.
When asked about her own achievements she said it was simply making a career out of something that is her passion.
Meeting and performing for Oprah Winfrey. Performing for Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. Being nominated and attending the BET Awards. Winning 11 SAMA awards and performing at the 2010 World Cup and now being a coach on ... I ve worked hard, but I am also abundantly blessed to have done all these things,” said Lira.
Like her before her, Miriam Makeba, she too would like to leave a lasting legacy.
I d love to inspire my generation to trust themselves and their talents and to know that they can live passionately. I heard that changing the world starts within so through my own life and through my own journey, I hope to lead by example,” she said.
Lani Lombard, M-Net head of publicity, said they were honoured to have Lira as a coach.
She is well-known for her elegance, high standards and ability to touch people with incredibly soulful performances. Whoever ends up on her team can rest assured that they are in good hands,” said Lombard.
will premier next Sunday on M-Net.