Get to Know Myra Gold, the Rising Voice of Gqeberha Poised to Elevate Afro Pop
Tugging at the heartstrings while keeping the hips swaying with her debut single titled “Open Heart Surgery”, Myra Gold’s introductory song to the industry isn’t one of red-carpet extravagance or of riding the wave of what’s popping on the charts – it’s a heartfelt yet exotic gust of new wind promising something extraordinary from Gqeberha. From starting out as a choir member as a child to obtaining her degree in Drama at the University of Pretoria and evolving into a thespian, Myra has always been a day-one child of the stage and artistry, and as fate would have it, she ended up blossoming into a promising voice growing from the fertile soil of the Afro Pop garden.
She spoke about how performing was in a blood from a young age despite not being born into a family with a creative bent.
“I started out as a performer before I could do much of anything else. I recently stumbled across a picture of my younger self in the choir. I was six years old at the time surrounded by adults in the picture. I grew up a creative, which is strange because I don’t have other family members who are creative in nature. So, I grew up as this local girl from G.Q. with global aspirations. That’s who I am,” she said.
Myra Gold | SUPPLIED
Sourcing inspiration from her own eye and looking within, Gold ushered herself into the scene with “Open Heart Surgery”, cutting open the vitals in the name of addressing the often beautiful and often ugly phenomenon of love. She spoke about what went on in her head building up to the song, and how her songwriting process flows when composing new music.
“When it comes to songwriting, I normally write from a personal perspective. ‘Open Heart Surgery’ is about taking a risk, because risk-taking is about allowing someone into your heart and really hoping they won’t mess it up at the end of the day. It’s a very vulnerable piece of music, but it’s also powerful because it’s about something we have all kinda been through. We go through so much in life, and the song is a blend of a lot of situations which have happened and that have come together thematically. For example, the song talks about vulnerability and power and about love, and these are all things I’ve experienced as a person.
“So, I had it in me to want to take all of this, fuse it into one idea and turn it into a piece of groovy music for people to enjoy. Because one thing about me is that I want my music to hit you on the hips. No matter what the content is, I want you to groove and have fun. With all that in mind, everything came together naturally in studio,” she said.
Watch “Open Heart Surgery”:
Styling herself as a soulful R&B girl at the core wrapped in the consuming flames of rebellion, Myra talked about the significance of picking the single as her debut, citing that love is life.
“We have a lot of music in the vault. We decided to go with ‘Open Heart Surgery’ because it stuck more than the others. It made us feel like we can resonate with it. It’s a powerful song that speaks to giving life a chance, and for me life is loving, and that for me is the perfect introduction,” she said.
Myra Gold | SUPPLIED
More than simply making music to translate emotions into euphonic sound waves, Gold expressed her desire to see her artistry empower her listeners to be unapologetic in expressing themselves and owning who they were.
“For right now and where I am at, I really want my music to give people the permission to be themselves. That if you’re on the outside trying to find your way in, don’t – create your own lane instead. And that’s one thing I’m big on when it comes to making music. I want my art to give people the power to freely express themselves and to stand in their freedom and to stand in their originality without being afraid to step out and trailblaze in whatever they do. I also want people to learn to have fun while doing this,” she said.
It is said that one is what they eat or consume. Myra shared how eating right has been part of her shaping herself while also revealing some other things she has been doing over the years to stay on top of her game.
“I vocally train to keep the voice right since that’s my instrument. I keep my mind and body fit in whatever way is possible. Sometimes it’s working out, and sometimes it’s about eating healthy. Sometimes I go to dance class. These are some of the things and activities that have carried me over the years. Doing these things helps me to stay locked in when it comes to the things I need and want to do to ensure that my flow is sustainable,” Myra said.
Myra Gold | SUPPLIED
Without being able to divulge much, Myra hinted at more music on the way.
“Besides a music video that is due to drop for the single, we’ve got a lot of singles coming up. There’s also a big possibility of a project on the horizon. I might not be able to say much as of that yet, but I need my people to stay locked in and in the spirit of having fun,” she said.
The songstress spoke about her contentment within the Afro Pop space, setting her sights on keeping a sustained hold on the genre to grow her musicianship within the field.
“It is the first time experimenting with the current genre I’m doing, Afro Pop, over the last year. And I’m literally right at the entry point of really experimenting with it when it comes to writing and when it comes to performing. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and it feels good to be able to touch that pocket of Afro Pop and some Afrobeats, and that’s what I will be busy with for the next couple of years,” she said.