Amanda MooraAmanda Morra has accomplished an incredible amount in 21 years.  Discovered online last summer by Costa Music Inc., bubbly Morra has been moving forward at a startling pace, from merely MySpace to the cover of Vervegirl magazine. 

“I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer,” says Morra. “I’ve been singing my whole entire life, and recording with my vocal coach and then I got picked up by this independent music label. We immediately started recording intensively to put my first album together.”

Morra, a beautiful singer from Toronto, realized that it would be too difficult to balance school and her blossoming career in the music industry. Currently studying Kinesiology in her third year, she made the decision to take the year off of school.  This logical decision also reflects on the practicality of Morra’s approach to her options.  “ I understand that this can be considered an unrealistic thing. I can always finish my degree and possibly get a job in the health field, whether it’s physiotherapy or maybe teacher’s college, and be a teacher. I had to take the year off because it was so much to balance. This year, the opportunity was music.” 

Her decision appears to be the right one. Morra is already making an impact on the music industry, and people are taking notice.

Her first two singles from her self-titled album, “Dreams” and “The Spell,” have been released to radio stations across Canada. Morra has also recorded a duet with soulful Canadian crooner, George Nozuka, called “Room to Breathe.” Somewhere within this hectic schedule, Morra found time to perform at the Juno Awards Welcome Reception in Vancouver on March 27.

“To be able to perform at a venue where so many amazing artists have performed before me was amazing,” gushes Morra. “I was the only performer that wasn’t a nominee, and it was just an amazing experience to see everyone in their own element.”  

George isn’t the only celebrity Morra has had the pleasure of working with.  In fact, the avid fan of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” featured heartthrob contestant Miles as one of the dancer’s in her music video, “The Music.” “Miles is such a great guy, and just a fabulous dancer. I was nervous at first because I was such a big fan of his, and I was just like ‘oh my gosh it’s Miles!’ I was blushing,” admits Morra. “Actually we’re shooting a music video for ‘The Spell,’ and Caroline from ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada’ is in this one.”

In terms of music, Morra can be described as having eclectic taste.  “I really listen to everything. I like rock, I like pop, I like R&B, but for what I’m doing, my music is pop.”

Her debut album, therefore, mirrors this variety in musical genre’s. “I think the album has something for everyone,” explains Morra. “It has the pop dance tracks, it has the songs that are more R&B, it has the songs everyone is going to want to sing along with. It also has the ballads. For my first album I really think it’s a combination of a lot of different things put together that I enjoy. With music in general, I’m kind of all over the place and I think this album is really a reflection of myself.”

Morra also pens many of her musical creations. “I wrote some of the songs on the album, and I co-wrote some of the songs on the album.” She relates to writing as a release, and garners inspiration from emotional ventures in her life, as well as things people around her have experienced. “I really enjoy writing, it’s an outlet for me in so many ways. I think a lot of artists would agree with me,” says Morra. “These days you have to be a song writer, you have to put yourself out there, because it’s not good enough to be a great singer, you have to have all these other things as well.”

She continues, “the thing about writing is you have to write about what you know. I’m 21 years old, so a lot of the songs are really fun, upbeat, about going out and having a good time, whereas there are other songs that are more personal and dear to me.”

Morra’s positive approach to life is reflected in the advice she gives to those attempting to make it in the music industry. “I would say stick it out, because at first it can be a really hard industry to get into,” she says encouragingly. “I’m realizing this every single day. Be true to who you are, and make the music that you want to make.”






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