Up-and-coming pop singer Azra is performing at a number of East Coast Pride festivals this month, including Philly Pride June 18.
Azra, who is also a model and entrepreneur with her own branding and consulting business, says she stays busy trying to balance her other ventures with her pop aspirations.
“Sometime it does get difficult,” she said. “Right now, I’m focused on my music career. I do have a background in modeling and running my own label and being an artist. It’s not easy all the time but because I have this business background, I think it’s kind of natural to me.”
Given her musical influences, it’s easy to see why she wears so many creative hats.
“I love Britney Spears,” she said. “I have so much respect for her as a performer, as well as Lady Gaga. I also love Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna and Bruno Mars.”
Azra recently released her debut EP, “Freedom,” which showcases her impressive vocal talents and her penchant for crafting infectiously danceable pop songs. The EP will have to hold fans for now as a full-length album isn’t in her near future.
“I’m always writing and working on new music,” she said. “I don’t have any definite plans for an album but I am writing and in the studio whenever possible. Right now I’m focused on performance opportunities for the future.”
Azra said she is looking forward to performing for Pride audiences because she feels close to the LGBT community.
“Aside from growing up and having friends and family members who are part of the LGBTQ community, to me I’ve always felt like I was connected to the community,” she said. “The LGBTQ community doesn’t just represent gays; it’s bigger than that. It’s about unity and accepting your differences and celebrating people being who they are. Through the music and the art that I do, the message is one thing and that’s be who you are, accept yourself and accept others. So I was super-honored to be asked to perform at the Pride events.”
Azra performs at Philly Pride June 18. For more information, visit www.azraofficial.com or www.phillygaypride.org.