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Tag: Ayra Starr

  • How I battled imposter syndrome after the release of ‘Rush’ – Ayra Starr

    How I battled imposter syndrome after the release of ‘Rush’ – Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer, Ayra Starr has admitted to battling imposter syndrome following the release of her hit song, ‘Rush’.

    She made the revelation during a recent interview with Billboard.

    Imposter syndrome is a persistent feeling of inadequacy, despite evidence of one’s skills and accomplishments.

    Ayra Starr said she had to be persuaded by her team to release ‘Rush’ because she had doubts about the song.

    She said: “They had to convince me to put that song out because I was not sure.”

    When asked why she was not sure, the songstress said ‘Rush’ was different from her previously released records, adding that her team encouraged her to drop it.

    She added that the song blew up as soon as it debuted and she began to feel undeserving of the success.

    Read Also: Rihanna my greatest inspiration, says Ayra Starr

    She said: “I put out different sounds all the time, but with ‘Rush’, it was different from anything I had put out before. I was like, ‘I am not sure I want to do this’, and everybody was like, ‘Trust me, Ayra, just trust your team.

    “And when it came out, it blew up immediately. Just from the snippet, like a 30-second snippet, it was already trending.

    “I started to have imposter syndrome because nothing like that has ever happened to me. Like, I do not know if I deserve this.”

  • Rihanna my greatest inspiration, says Ayra Starr

    Rihanna my greatest inspiration, says Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr has said her greatest artiste for all time is Rihanna.

    She named the American-Barbadian star as her “greatest inspiration.”

    According to her, Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ is the greatest album ever made.

    Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, Ayra Starr said: “Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ is the album I can put on repeat for life. I love Rihanna. She is my greatest inspiration. She is my matriarch. She is my queen. Her album ‘Anti’ is timeless. I listen to it always. The more I listen to it, the more I understand it. I love it so much.

    Read Also: Davido, Ayra Starr congratulate South Africa’s Tyla for bagging Grammy award

    “What I heard from Rihanna is being myself, understanding myself; whatever works for me is fine, some things don’t work for me, it’s fine. I’m just going to be myself in every situation.”

  • Mom asked me to stop wearing short skirts – Ayra Starr

    Mom asked me to stop wearing short skirts – Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has appeared in a new look, which she said was propelled by her mother.

    The “Sabi girl,” well known for short skirts and dresses,  said her mother has advised her to ditch short skirts and start wearing longer skirts.

    She made this disclosure on Twitter while sharing a video of herself rocking a two-piece outfit comprising a thigh-length skirt and matching crop top.

    “My mom said I should start wearing longer skirts,” she tweeted.

    Reacting, @ophicialrex wrote: “Thank you mummy . Our girl don almost dey wear catapult.”

    @Jbrandy_YBNL said: “Mama Celestina finally spoke to her daughter.”

    @phveektordrayne asked: “You sef gree for her? Una Don dey lose focus this year o what happened to “no gree for anybody”?”

    Read Also: Davido, Ayra Starr congratulate South Africa’s Tyla for bagging Grammy award

    @Tunmise01 noted: “Long skirt no fit you my baby”

    @I_A_M_WINNER commented: “Tell your mommy I said no. We like you like that”

    @Chikodili7517 said: “Sabi girl please, we need back our short skirts
    You are traumatizing me with the long skirts.
    Please forgive them and bring back my shorts.”

  • Ayra Starr explains ‘honest mistake’ on meeting KSA

    Ayra Starr explains ‘honest mistake’ on meeting KSA

    Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has spoken on the ‘honest market’ she made on meeting legendary singer, King Sunny Ade at an event.

    The Nation, at the last weekend, reported how Ayra was called out over her disrespect to KSA at the Heineken Afrozons Pre-Grammy Party.

    In the viral video, Starr was spotted to have snubbed Burna Boy’s mother as she embraced a woman sitting beside her. Ayra went on to greet KSA while standing and shook hands with him.

    Her ‘disrespectful’ behaviour led to backlash and Ayra Starr took to her Twitter page to tender a deep apology, referring to him as her uncle and explaining herself.

    Ayra noted how she can’t be disrespectful to her elders as she is a proper Yoruba girl.

    Ayra Starr in an interview described it as an unintentional mistake, reiterating that the place was dark, hence she didn’t know it was him.

    She noted that the clip that went viral was shortened to paint her in a bad light, adding that she went back to greet him properly after she was informed of his presence.

    Read Also: Ayra Starr apologises for ‘unintentional’ disrespect of KSA

    “An hour after I saw that, like when the video was posted, immediately I just acted. Like it wasn’t even up to an hour, I just put up my apology.

    “It was an honest mistake, literally, it was dark. I went back to greet everybody and the video started after I greeted Mama Burna Boy, and that short clip wasn’t what it was at all.

    “When they told me it was King Sunny Ade, I went back to greet him properly but the camera didn’t capture that,” she said. 

  • I ‘d love to work with Rihanna, Victoria Monét, Beyonce – Ayra Starr

    I ‘d love to work with Rihanna, Victoria Monét, Beyonce – Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated afrobeats singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has revealed that she would love to collaborate with global music giants, Rihanna, Victoria Monét, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole.

    The ‘Rush’ crooner made this known in a recent interview with Cool FM Nigeria.

    “I would love to work with Rihanna, Victoria Monét, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole,” Starr said.

    She disclosed that her biggest motivation is her “commitment to excellence.”

    Read Also: I can’t buy expensive bag because of my mother – Ayra Starr

    On people criticising her music or person, Ayra Starr said: “I read stuff [social media comments], I see stuff. Sometimes if it’s very bad I just let them [critics]. I feel like I’m in my let them era.

    “But sometimes if it’s stupid, I just block.”

  • I’ve my Grammys speech ready, says Ayra Starr

    I’ve my Grammys speech ready, says Ayra Starr

    Ahead of the 66th Grammy Awards ceremony, afrobeats singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr has said her acceptance speech and vote of thanks is ready if she wins the award. 

    The Nation reported that Ayra Starr’s song ‘Rush’ was nominated in the maiden Best African Music Performance category.

    The Mavin signee, in a recent interview with Cool FM Nigeria, said she is set to receive the award despite stiff competition.

    “I have my Grammys speech ready. It is quite long because it is the first African category. I already know my walk, my outfit,” Ayra Starr said.

    Read Also: Ayra Starr apologises for ‘unintentional’ disrespect of KSA

    She said the first thing she would do when she wins the award is to go to a Chinese restaurant and eat and then video call her mum.

    The 66th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Los Angeles.

    Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush’ will contest the maiden Best African Music Performance award with Davido’s ‘Unavailable’, Asake and Olamide’s ‘Amapiano’, Burna Boy’s ‘City Boys’ and Tyla’s ‘Water.’

  • I can’t buy expensive bag because of my mother – Ayra Starr

    I can’t buy expensive bag because of my mother – Ayra Starr

    Popular singer-songwriter Ayra Starr disclosed that, despite her financial capability, she refrains from purchasing expensive handbags because of her mother.

    In a recent interview with Beat FM, the Sabi girl revealed how her mother embodies the traits of a typical Nigerian mom, expressing how she hesitated to buy a coveted luxury bag because of her mother’s values.

    The Grammy nominee shared her experience of her mother’s protective nature, highlighting how she diligently checks in on her and those around her, particularly during late-night shows.

    Read Also: KSA is not your uncle, Nigerians reacts to Ayra Starr’s apology to legendary singer

    The Mavin signee talked about how she prayed for a Grammy nomination, which she clearly received.

    Ayra Starr also declared that she will undoubtedly release an album this year.

  • Ayra Starr apologises for ‘unintentional’ disrespect of KSA

    Ayra Starr apologises for ‘unintentional’ disrespect of KSA

    Following the backlash received by Ayra Starr, the 21-year-old singer has apologised to King Sunny Ade for disrespecting the legendary musician in a now-viral video.

    The Nation reports that the artist faced harsh criticism online after shaking hands with the music icon at an event.

    Social media users had expected that the singer would greet Sunny Ade, who was significantly older in terms of age and accomplishments,  by kneeling down in the traditional Yoruba manner.

    However, the singer was seen shaking hands with the music veteran in the now-viral footage, which infuriated Nigerians, who felt it was disrespectful.

    But in a post released on her official X account on Saturday morning, Ayra Starr clarified that she is not a disrespectful girl as a proper Yoruba girl.

    Read Also; Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr join Coke Studio

    The singer said that she went back to properly meet everyone after letting her nerves get the better of her when she first met the legendary KSA. 

    She wrote: “I’m so sorry, I had just walked in and all the lights and nerves didn’t let me see but I came back around to greet everyone properly, I have never been that girl to be disrespectful. 

    ” I’m a proper Yoruba girl and the video didn’t start until after I’d greeted Burna’s mom! I’m very sorry to the legend, uncle and King Sunny Ade”.

  • Ayra Starr under fire for ‘disrespecting’ KSA at public event

    Ayra Starr under fire for ‘disrespecting’ KSA at public event

    Singer Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has come under fire for allegedly disrespecting King of Juju music, Sunny Ade at an event.

    Ayra Starr was spotted in a trending video greeting top personalities, including Sunny Ade in attendance but the ‘Sabi Girl’ casually shook hands with the 77-year-old singer while standing. 

    Agitated by the level of disrespect and ignorance, netizens argued that she should have done better being a Yoruba girl. 

    Some X users shared a video shot last year where Wizkid prostrated on stage to greet Sunny Ade and told Ayra Starr to learn from that.

    Reacting to the video, Big Shabz said: “The fact that Ayra Starr is a Yoruba girl makes this quite disrespectful, no matter how you spin it. She shook his hands like say na hin manager she dey greet !”

    Oloye Okanlomo added: “Oyinkan, as a Yoruba girl, anywhere you walk in to elderly people, you are to show respectful gesture when greeting. Doesn’t necessarily mean you should kneel down. Even if the other lady isn’t Burna Boy’s mom, passing her is disrespectful! Shaking KSA and standing like AI is a NO!”

    Read Also: Ayra Starr is new Rihanna – David Guetta

    FineboyFash said “Shaking hands with a man old enough to be your grandfather is disrespectful.”

    Comrade Olajide Ikujenyo reacted: “Very mannerless judging by the fact that she is even Yoruba. How can you shake your elders like that? A whole King Sunny Ade? The sad part is he won’t even want to embarrass her there by ignoring her, cos ordinarily, that’s what he should have done in that situation.”

    Ibrahim Jinadu wrote: “You don’t stretch your hand to greet an elderly person in Yoruba land, no matter your status, or the elderly person’s status, even if the elderly person stretches his or her hand, you bow and take the handshake.”

  • Don Jazzy behind the ‘Starr’ in my name, says Ayra Starr

    Don Jazzy behind the ‘Starr’ in my name, says Ayra Starr

    Sensational afrobeats singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has disclosed the inspiration that led to the existence of her stage name.

    She said the suffix of her stage name was partly her record label boss, Don Jazzy’s idea.

    According to her, she coined “Ayra” while the Mavin Records boss added the suffix “Starr.”

    She said before signing to Mavin, she was known as “Oyin,” a nickname of her first name, Oyinkansola.

    Read Also: Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr join Coke Studio

    Speaking in a special Christmas interview with Arise TV, the singer said: “There is this Yoruba name called Ira, I wanted people to pronounce it as ‘Aira.’ And I was like the only way they can pronounce it is by spelling it ‘A Y R A.’ So, I was thinking about it and something just told me to go ‘A Y R A.’ And went I did, everything just came together: The meaning of the name, it felt like God was speaking to me.”