New York-based artist Lori Miho is a remarkable talent, known as an incredible musician and vocalist. As a child she learned to play the piano and studied classic guitar. She has released two critically acclaimed singles “Energji” (2018) and “See the Light” (2019),  which have garnered her plenty of praise in Europe and USA.

Over the last few years, the rising global star has achieved everything from groundbreaking performance in Rockefeller Center in New York to competing on the famous Kënga Magjike Music Festival in Tirana, Albania. Lori Miho is on our Top Favorite Artists at the moment and is named Best New Artist of 2022 by NY Elite Magazine.

Watching Lori Miho perform live is watching an artist, but it’s also watching a truly great vocalist. Her performance invites the audience in a deep presence of emotional and unforgettable experience. It is the creative expression and the honest storytelling at the heart of Lori’s craft that has captured the hearts and minds of fans globally. This year she plans to release a new single and an EP album.

NY Elite Exclusive Interview with Rising Global Star Lori Miho

NY Elite: Tell us a little about yourself as an artist.

Lori Miho: Music, as early as I can remember, has always been part of my life. Of course, as any artistic spirit, I consider myself creative, I’m most of the time energetic and positive, especially when I’m surrounded by music. I’m passionate about the way music makes people feel, and that’s what I like to represent as an artist, that kind of power that music has towards our emotions and the way that we see life.

NY Elite: How did you get started and how would you describe your music?

Lori Miho: First, I was introduced to music through piano lessons when I was 6 years old. My parents wanted me to learn an instrument just for culture, but then they realized it was a passion of mine and I was also talented. Later, I graduated high school for classical guitar. After high school, I discovered another passion of mine that was singing. So, 7 years ago just me and my brother started performing together on acoustic gigs, and that’s how my singing career started. I’m thankful for my brother that brought this idea to my mind and made it work. I can say that if it wasn’t for him maybe I would have never started singing at the first place.

NY Elite: What does art mean to you?

Lori Miho: I believe, not just for me, for all of us art is a very important aspect of the way we see and experience the world around us. For me, music is more than a profession, more than a passion. Is a way of meditation, a healing process, it’s a very special feeling that makes me feel confident about myself, and makes me happy most importantly. and I want to share that kind of happiness and positivity through music with all the people around me.

NY Elite: What projects are you currently working on?

Lori Miho: Until now I have released two singles:  “Energji” which was a collaboration with an Albanian band, and an original song called “See the Light”. Mostly, I have performed covers so far, so right now it’s time to create my own image, so people can get to know Lori not just as a singer, but to be able to recognize me as an artist through my music. I’m working on creating an EP album. And two collaborations, which are still in process, and I can’t share more details as of yet. 

NY Elite: Where was your last performance?

Lori Miho: The last show here in New York was at the Rockefeller Center. And after that, I had another performance but in Albania, it was an outdoor concert at the Skanderbeg Square in Tirana.

NY Elite: Where would you most like to perform and tell us about some of your favorite projects you have been part of.

Lori Miho: I think that every place, event, a festival that I’ve performed has had a different vibe and has given me a special feeling. So as long as I’m singing and I’m accompanied by good musicians and energy, it doesn’t really matter the place. But I have to say that I enjoy the most performing in outdoor festivals with a huge audience. There are quite a lot of projects that I can point to, such as the annual Albanian music competition “Kënga Magjike” 2018, where I performed with All In Band, is a group of young in Albania, the outdoor Beer Festival in Korca, my first show at the Plazza in New York, The Hellenic Initiative’s Annual NY Gala 2021, but again each performance has been special and memorable.

NY Elite: If you could try a new genre of music, what would it be?

Lori Miho: Throughout my music career, I have experimented in a lot of genres, funk, pop, rock, electronic, etc. Just with ‘Jazz’ is where I found myself more comfortable. My first single “See the light”, that my brother Angelo Miho composed and produced for me, is a completely different genre, it is more electronic/pop, more summer vibe. Also, another song that we’re currently working on would be kind of the same style as well. So, I’m definitely open to trying new genres as long as it’s good music.

NY Elite: Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics?

Lori Miho: Hmm, I would say depends on the moment and my mood. Most of the time, I found myself writing lyrics more easily, and at other moments, a might just have a specific melody that comes to mind, and then I would go to my brother to write the rest because I’m not as good at that.

NY Elite: Do You have a formal music education/training?

Lori Miho: I have studied music since an early age, I graduated high school for guitar and singing is something I haven’t studied in school, but I’ve practiced myself and of course, I’m taking vocal lessons from other professionals to help me grow and perfect my skills.

NY Elite: Do you play any instruments?

Lori Miho: Yes, I play piano and guitar. If I had a chance, I would have definitely learned more instruments.

NY Elite: What hidden talents do you have?

Lori Miho: I don’t know if that is considered a hidden talent, but I consider myself a good cook. And I like to dance, I’ve taking hip-hop and ballet classes when I was younger.

NY Elite: Who are your musical influences?

Lori Miho: I’m very lucky to say that my parents have had very good taste in music, and I’ve been grown in a good music environment, starting from classicals, to Tina Turner, Steve wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, and so on. So even today I can still include those names as my music influencers, also adding Etta James, Joss Stone, Aretha Franklin, etc.

NY Elite: NY Elite: Do you express yourself creatively in any other ways?

Lori Miho: I consider myself a very creative person. I always like to try new staff. I enjoy gardening and cooking.  And I also like to draw when I have the time.

NY Elite: What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career?

Lori Miho: One piece of advice that had helped me a lot through my music journey is to always be you and to be confident. In whatever you do, I believe confidence is one of the most important things to have. It is also important to love what you do and work very hard for it. It might sound cliche, but indeed working hard is what would get you to the goal. And the more you have to work on something, the more you cherish it. 

NY Elite: What can we expect from you this year? Any tour plans?

Lori Miho: I hope we will be able to have a tour, with all the situations with the pandemic still things are a little confusing and not stable, but that’s my next move whenever we have a chance to set things up. This year a new single is coming up that would be released around summertime, and maybe the first song of the album, but is still a little early to confirm that. Finger crossed.

Photo Credit: Cover Photo by Fadil Berisha