Features : Exclusive interview with Lyia Meta

Artist Spotlight: Lyia Meta

The song “Raging Halls” was written with purpose and intention, as Lyia wanted to capture the emotional arc from which her recent work has emerged. 

In this conversation, we go beyond the music with Lyia Meta - diving into the moments that shaped their soul.

FreshMusicWorld: What has remained most consistent about your creative identity over time?

Lyia Meta: Authenticity. Regardless of genre or arrangement, I've always wanted my work to reflect something genuine and true to who I am as an artist and performer. Even when collaborating with other writers, I always bring as much of myself to the table as I can. Collaboration shouldn't dilute your identity; it should reveal another side of it.

Music has never been about following trends for me. It's about communicating honestly and creating something that resonates on a human level. That commitment has remained unchanged throughout my career.

FreshMusicWorld: What experiences outside of music have had the biggest influence on the way you create?

Lyia Meta: Life itself has been my greatest teacher. Loss, resilience, relationships and meeting people from different cultures have all shaped how I interpret a song.

Although listeners may relate to my songs on a literal level, most of my work is actually introspective. The stories usually begin as internal conversations before they become songs.

My experiences as a writer and visual artist have also influenced the way I think about narrative, emotion and atmosphere. Every experience adds another layer to how I approach music, or any creative venture for that matter.

FreshMusicWorld: What role does instinct play in your creative process?

Lyia Meta: A significant one. Technique and experience provide the foundation, but instinct tells me when something feels truthful. I also instinctively work with people I resonate with on some level. It all sounds incredibly complicated, but if you allow your gut feeling to guide you, you'll often find the right path.

As for the creative process itself, if a lyric, melody or vocal interpretation doesn't feel emotionally honest, I know it isn't finished. I am very hard on myself and often look for what's wrong rather than what's right. But despite it all, I've learned to trust that instinct more than anything.

I also don't surround myself with yes-men. Honest collaborators make better art than agreeable ones. That would be my downfall.

FrreshMusicWorld: How do you decide which ideas are worth returning to and which ones to leave behind?

Lyia Meta: Some ideas stay with me. Over the years, I've kept a mental catalogue of all the ideas I've wanted to pursue. Nothing is wasted. Even after months or years, they continue to ask for my attention, and that's when I know they're worth exploring further.

I think of myself as an explorer who does not define herself by the expectations of others. Of course we're human, and not every idea deserves to survive. Learning what to let go of is just as much a part of the creative process as knowing what to keep. I've learned not to force every idea into becoming something.

FreshMusicWorld: Have there been any recent shifts in the way you think about your sound or style?

Lyia Meta: Rather than chasing a particular sound, I've become more interested in serving the emotion of each song, like a painting that simply needs another colour or another element before it's complete.

There hasn't been a dramatic shift so much as a change in perspective. I find myself asking different questions now. What do I genuinely bring to this piece? How can I serve the song, and in return, how does it challenge me to become a better artist?

My recent work embraces a broader range of influences while remaining rooted in storytelling. I'm less concerned with fitting into a category and more focused on creating music that feels honest and emotionally complete.

FreshMusicWorld: How do you make room for experimentation while still maintaining a clear artistic identity?

Lyia Meta: Experimentation isn't about changing who you are; it's about discovering new ways to express who you are.

Whether I'm exploring different arrangements, production styles or vocal approaches, the emotional core remains the same. That's what keeps the work recognisably mine.

And of course my voice is my trademark sound. That alone tells part of the story, but more than that it's an instrument I can continue discovering. The older I get, the more I realise there are still colours, textures and emotions within it that I haven't fully explored yet.

FreshMusicWorld: How has your perspective on success changed over time?

Lyia Meta: Earlier in my career, success was often measured by milestones and external recognition. Today, I see it differently.

Success is having the freedom to create work I'm proud of, continuing to grow as an artist, and knowing that my music has connected with someone in a meaningful way.

When I first started, success was more about expressing what I wanted to say through my own work. Over time, I've realised that some of the most meaningful projects are born through collaboration. Those partnerships often produce work that becomes greater than the sum of its parts because every person brings something the others couldn't have created alone.

Longevity, integrity and continuous growth have become far more important than chasing validation.

Alas, we still have to feed the algorithm, so to some extent we're all servants to a modern definition of success. The challenge is not letting the algorithm define your worth as an artist.

FreshMusicWorld: What has experience taught you about protecting your creative vision?

Lyia Meta: Not every opinion deserves equal weight. Collaboration is valuable, but I've learned the importance of knowing when to listen and when to stay true to what feels right.

Protecting a creative vision doesn't mean resisting change. It means ensuring that every decision supports the heart of the work rather than distracting from it.

And perhaps most importantly, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Sometimes growth comes from refinement rather than reinvention.

FreshMusicWorld: What kind of growth feels most meaningful to you at this stage of your journey?

Lyia Meta: Creative growth above all.

I want every project to reflect a deeper understanding of both music and life. If each new release reveals something I couldn't have expressed a few years earlier, then I'm moving in the right direction.

Growth isn't about becoming someone different. It's about becoming more fully yourself.

FreshMusicWorld: What kind of impact do you hope your music leaves over time?

Lyia Meta: I hope my music leaves a sense of timelessness.

More than anything, I’m drawn to themes that feel universally human.... what it means to endure, to feel deeply, to lose, to love, and to keep going through it all.

If there’s anything I’m aiming for, it’s that sense of recognition in someone else’s life… where a song feels like it could have been written yesterday, or years ago, or even years from now, and still carry the same emotional truth.

I suppose I’m interested in creating work that resonates beyond the moment it’s released...something that quietly stays with people because it reflects something real about being human.