International Singer Lyia Meta Brings Unforgettable Power to Her New Hard Rock Single “Raging Halls”

It is a voice that conjures wrenching emotion. Soulful expression. Above all, power.

This is the singing of Lyia Meta, the award-winning Malaysian vocal powerhouse behind the new single, “Raging Halls.” Her name is pronounced “Lee-a” — “like Princess Leia,” Meta says, if it helps to remember. But listen to her voice once, and you’ll never forget.

Fire burns, open veins

It hits hard, I’m breaking chains

“Raging Halls” begins with a solo spooky synth, tapping out minor key arpeggios, soon joined by a full heavy metal ensemble. Chugging rhythm guitar. Thundering drums. A high-pitched electric guitar picking out the single-note hook of the song’s opening.

All of that sets the foundation for Lyia Meta. Her voice enters with a deep huskiness, crooning a melody reminiscent of peak Ozzy Osbourne. The lyrics vividly paint a picture of an anguished nightmare, a never-ending walk through a hallway of danger, secrets, and faith pushed to the limit.

I move through raging halls

Every eye, every call

Where every shadow bends to me

Every secret I see

The song’s imagery derives from one of Lyia Meta’s recurring dreams. She says, “Imagine walking down a long corridor. Every room has a memory, has a time of your life all stored in that. That hall holds everything that is me.”

“Raging Halls” is a true collaborative affair. While Meta wrote the lyrics and co-composed the melody, the music was written by songwriter and composer E.G. Holmes. It was produced by Bob McGilpin in Nashville. Meta sent demos back and forth with Holmes, eventually recording the vocals at Big A Productions in Malaysia.

For Meta, collaboration is nothing new. She says, “I actually thrive on collaborations. It’s always nice to see what working together can bring.”

Despite the hard rock heaviness of “Raging Halls,” her message is one of light. She says, “I always look for a silver lining. There’s no way out but up.” Her 10-year discography supports that positivity, ranging from singer-songwriter-type ballads with sparse acoustic guitar accompaniment, to jazz versions of Beatles songs, to electronic pop.

In recent years, Meta’s music has taken on a harder edge. She finds it artistically freeing, like singing the blues to feel better. This new phase of her career is where the rocker “Raging Halls” comes in.

The musical diversity in her recording career is, in many ways, not surprising. Growing up in Malacca with music-loving parents, she was raised on everything from Black Sabbath to B.B. King and Kenny Rogers. Her deep and distinctive voice combines many grains of influence, evocative of Shakira at times, other times a sultry jazz songstress.

In addition to her solo career, Lyia Meta has been featured on many award-winning projects. Her accolades include winning a country music award in Texas, winning a World Entertainment Award, and earning a Grammy nomination. She is also a visual artist, displaying and commissioning charcoal drawings and paintings around the world.

“Raging Halls” is available May 9th with promotional support from Starlight PR. Follow Lyia Meta at the links below. Listen to “Raging Halls” now, and prepare for an unforgettable — and powerful — musical experience.