Lira's in the mood to spread love

AS THE love month draws to a close, songstress Lira stood on a mountain top to declare she has received more love than anyone else on the planet.

And who can blame her for this declaration. Firstly, she released her new album, aptly titled Return To Love, during this month and, secondly, on top of celebrating her first Valentine's Day as a wife she got to do it on a day she was not working.

"I received a lot of love and I gave a lot of love this month. For the first time in my career I was not working and I got to celebrate Valentine's Day by having dinner with my hubby," she bragged.

She was not only showered with love at home by her husband, but on social networks she was bombarded with affection by fans and friends.

This, she says, is a direct result of the messages in her album, which is about life, love, fun, romance and money.

She describes the album as a balanced act of something very beautiful and the work of a new Lira. She says the album is among the top sellers in some music outlets.

"When you listen to it, it's very different from other albums - a bit unexpected but it is undeniably Lira," she says.

The songbird will officially unleash the album at Carnival City at a two-legged show next Thursday and Friday. And she promises an evening filled with love, romance and spirituality. She will launch the album in the US and Europe next month.

She had timed its release for February but admits she didn't expect it to be so warmly received. Also the first single, Phakade, which means eternity, has surpassed her expectations.

"I thought February was the right month to release this single. It just felt right but I didn't expect people to embrace it the way they did because it is not conventional. It is nevertheless encouraging that people love it, get it and are resonating with it," she says.

"It has been a very busy month because I have been promoting the album, but in so doing I have been interacting a lot with my fans who have been showering me with love."

Asked if she was lining up to be an advocate of love, she was quick to retort: "Yes I am a messenger of love. I just can't help it and remember my name is Lerato.

"During my shows when I interact with the audience I want them to understand me and what I want to achieve - spread love in the biggest sense."

It is no wonder the songstress is feeling love. She recently revealed she was feeling sexy these days and had for the first time in years been photographed clad in a mini-skirt and tight jeans.

She also revealed that she had overcome her inferiority complex, which she adopted at a young age as a slim woman when society at the time appreciated those with a bit more flesh.

"I am comfortable in my skin. I have woken up to the need to celebrate and love my body," she says.

"I am a thin girl and growing up it was drummed into my head that thin girls are not sexy, so you start doubting yourself and lose confidence. But I have since realised that it was their opinion."

It turns out that we all have to thank the late king of pop Michael Jackson for this.

"It hit me the other day when I was watching his concert on television. Here was this skinny person who, when he went on stage, could somehow make his presence felt. My life changed after that.

"Before, I was so insecure on stage, I would feel like people were not noticing me on stage."