Irish dance-pop singer LYRA has just announced that her upcoming album, LYRA, will be released on 26th April. Accompanying the announcements is the brand-new single, ‘Chess,’ from the popstar’s highly-anticipated record.

Opening with LYRA’s infectious vocal presence before leading into a dark rhythmic tempo, ‘Chess’ radiates with the kind of compelling energy and lyrical hooks she has made her calling cards. The song is about starting out in the uncharted territory of the music industry and the perils that came with that period of her life. ‘Chess’ earnestly reflects the conflicts she faced in navigating a career in music while remaining true to herself.

Speaking about the single, LYRA says: “My dad taught me how to play chess when I was younger. It was a massive mind game and when I grew up it reminded me about a lot of obstacles I had to get through in order to find out who I am.”

“I was constantly being asked “what box do you fit in” and I really struggled with that. We are not built for boxes and life isn’t about ticking off lists. The day I said ‘enough is enough, I’m not your pawn anymore’ is the day I created ‘Chess.’”

To celebrate her new single and the upcoming release of her self-titled LP, LYRA will embark on a tour across the UK and Ireland over twenty-two dates:

• Ireland:
  15 Feb - Theatre Royal, Waterford
  17 Feb - Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny
  20 Feb - Cork Opera House, Cork
  21 Feb - Cork Opera House, Cork
  23 Feb - TLT Theatre, Drogheda
  24 Feb - 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
  27 Feb - Cavan Town Hall, Cavan
  29 Feb - Leisureland, Galway
  01 Mar - Social Live, Donegal
  02 Mar - Nerve Centre, Derry (NI)
  08 Mar - Gleneagle INEC Arena, Killarney
  09 Mar - Live at the Big Top, Limerick
  10 Mar - Belfast Waterfront, Belfast (NI)
  14 Mar - Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar
  15 Mar - 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
  16 Mar - TF Royal Hotel & Theatre, Castlebar
  21 Mar - Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny
  22 Mar - Sligo Park Hotel & Leisure Club, Sligo
  23 Mar - Arklow Bay Conference, Leisure & Spa Hotel, Arklow
  29 Mar - Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan
  30 Mar - Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort, Trim
  31 Mar - Gleneagle INEC Arena, Killarney
• UK, including Northern Ireland:
  02 Mar - Nerve Centre, Derry
  10 Mar - Belfast Waterfront, Belfast
  04 May - The Deaf Institute, Manchester
  05 May - King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
  07 May - The Globe, Cardiff
  08 May - Omeara, London

Tickets for LYRA’s Ireland and UK tour are on sale now, and can be purchased here.

Check out the latest single from LYRA, ‘Chess,’ below.