Features : Lyia Meta’s lays down raw emotional vocals on her new track “Raging Halls”

Photography: Kenny Loh

Sometimes life truly does write music, and that couldn’t be any more true than with Lyia Meta, who has released the new alternative rock track called “Raging Halls” that was spawned from true, raw emotion.

A Malaysian GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter with more than a decade of musical experience in her belt, Meta brings a unique, haunting vocal tone that exorcised emotional demons following the tragic murder of her brother.

The creation of “Raging Halls” came immediately after the release of Meta’s 2025 album titled Sundered and Reforged: Between Shadows and Salvation. It was full of rock and metal instrumentals, and stemmed from a “huge emotional upheaval” in her life that she kept buried for such a long time.
 

“So, I was riding the wave emotionally, and now where do you go after finally climbing out of that dark hole that you’ve been in emotionally for such a long time?” Meta says. “You need to find release, and that’s what ‘Raging Halls’ is about. It’s stepping into your light. Where hesitation turns into action.”

Her brother’s murder is something that will always be difficult to grasp, and writing can be a cathartic activity, even when the story can be so dark.
 

“This (Raging Halls) follows that,” Meta says. “In that album it was about me wanting to survive all the events that had unfolded over the years following that catastrophe.”

Composer E.G. Holmes came to Meta with the musical idea at the end of 2025, so the album message, as well as the tragedy, was still fresh in her mind. Meta’s previous work was based on her thinking that she doesn’t deserve the kind of peace she was looking for, but she did ultimately find that peace after all. “Raging Halls” is the aftermath, and a step forward with her emotions.
 

“So, now what do you do after you find that peace?” Meta says. “It’s taking that next step, and that’s what ‘Raging Halls’ means to me. It’s about taking back what is yours.”

The instrumental framework was created by Holmes and was then reinterpreted through Meta’s lyrics and vocal melody. It was then enhanced by Bob McGilpin, a Nashville-based producer who arranged and performed drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitar, synths, and the lower harmonies on the track.

McGilpin has long worked with Meta, and while he brings so much to the table, she says that their relationship allows her to be her most artistic self with no creative boundaries.

Also featured on the track is Christian Wentz on rhythm guitar; John Foster on guitars and synth; Gene Rabbai on keyboards and orchestration; and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Lisa Brokop on two-part harmony vocals.

The track was mastered by Brian Foraker — an engineer who worked with the likes of Heart, Kiss, Yes and Jefferson Starship — to give it a polished sound that’s ready for the masses.

The chilling vocals of Meta, backed by an orchestral feel with layered guitars and synth elements, works harmoniously with the tension and release of the track.
 

“So, what I did was, I told Bob what I wanted and he came back with a couple of ideas, and we went back and forth like we usually do,” Meta explains. “A lot of it has to do with how I feel at the moment. I don’t go into production with a plan. I have an idea of what I want to do.”

Meta is also a visual artist, and she relates to painting on a canvas with a vision in the mind’s eye. The paint, the colors, the hands and who you are in the moment is what actually produces the final product.
 

“It all comes from imagination,” Meta says. “It can deviate from what I had in my mind’s eye. That is how I approach my music. That is why I like working with Bob because he is open to creative views.”

Meta is drawn to stories of resilience, and those who overcome adversity to get to where they are. She’s always rooting for the underdog. Some call her an empath and she isn’t so sure about that, but one thing is for certain: Meta does pick up on a lot of energies that surround her, and she can use that for inspiration.
 

“If I walk into a room and there’s a lot of happiness, I am over the moon,” Meta says. “But if I walk into a room and there is a lot of sadness, I can be derailed. I think that is what I’m drawn to. I think the crux of it all, that is what I am. I am very sensitive to my surroundings.”

For Meta, making music is all about bringing a sense of hope to the listener even if her vocal tone can sound even angry at times.
 

“No matter how terrible or how hard it is, you’re going to get back,” Meta says. “You’re going to cross the finish line and see the sun rise on the horizon. There is a silver lining in the cloud.”

Meta is constantly working on new material, saying that she is even working on a completely separate style album, with multiple songs in development that will be coming soon.

Meta also won’t discount the possibility of “Raging Halls” working its way onto a future album, as she said if her past collaborations are any indication, there is more to come from this partnership between her and Holmes.

“Holmes lit the spark, and I fanned the flames so much that it became a huge fire,” Meta says.

Be sure to check out “Raging Halls” available on May 9th on all platforms, with promotional support by Starlight PR.

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