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Tag: Ayra Starr

  • Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21’ amassed 375m streams on first day

    Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21’ amassed 375m streams on first day

    Afrobeat sensation Ayra Starr has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with her latest album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’, racking up an astonishing 375 million streams on its first day of release.

    The 15-track album features collaborations with renowned artists such as Asake, Seyi Vibez, Giveon, Coco Jones, Anitta, and Rvssian.

    It delves into themes of self-confidence, introspection, love, gender positivity, and mental well-being.

    Ayra Starr’s album showcases her versatility and artistic growth, solidifying her position as a rising star in the Afrobeat genre.

    Read Also: I knew I was going to be a superstar since 10 – Ayra Starr

    The Nation reported that Ayra Starr had earlier revealed the reasoning behind her collaborations with certain artists on the album, despite reported rifts between them.

    With ‘The Year I Turned 21’, Ayra Starr has set a new standard for Afrobeat artists and has proven herself to be a trailblazer in the industry.

  • I knew I was going to be a superstar since 10 – Ayra Starr

    I knew I was going to be a superstar since 10 – Ayra Starr

    Singer Ayra Starr has claimed she knew she was going to be a superstar at a tender age but confusion set in as to how that would happen. 

    Recounting her rise to fame, Ayra said she ventured into the music world at 18, shortly after she graduated from the University. 

    She made this known during an interview with a renowned streaming platform, Spotify where she revealed how she knew from a tender age about becoming famous.

    According to Ayra Starr, her mother stalled her music career until she graduated at 18, making it her first time in a studio.

    The Grammy nominee further highlighted the phases of her life after she bagged fame following the breakthrough of her first album.

    Read Also: AYRA STARR:  I get bored easily, don’t like to be predicted

    She said: “The year I turned 10, I knew I was going to be a superstar but I didn’t know how. The year I turned 16, I just wanted sing in my room; 18 was when I entered the studio for the first time, and I had just graduated from the university. I remember my mom said that the only time you can do music is when you can do music.

    “I released my first album in 19, ’19 and Dangerous’ and it took the world by storm. At 20, I released Rush and it was my biggest song. The year I turned 21, I got nominated for Grammy; that was the beginning of living my life as the global African superstar.”

  • AYRA STARR:  I get bored easily, don’t like to be predicted

    AYRA STARR:  I get bored easily, don’t like to be predicted

    Nigerian Afrobeats star and Grammy nominee, Ayra Starr has described her personality as one who gets bored easily and hates being predicted.

    In a recent interview on Apple Music 1, the 21-year-old music star explained how she subverts expectations saying, “I always try to surprise even myself, with my moves, to be honest. It can be annoying because everybody’s like, ‘Ayra, we expect you to go this way,’ but I get bored very easily, and I hate being perceived in a way that people think they know my next move. It’s chess for me; I always want to try something different.”

    On how the Mavins artist developed her unique voice, she said it has always been there all her life, even as a chorister.

    Read Also: National Assembly halts amendment of CBN Act

    “I’ve always had the voice I have now—even my talking voice would be very deep as a child. When I was in the choir, my choirmaster couldn’t believe my voice was like that. He’d tell me, ‘You’re a lady! Try to sing in soprano.’ I was like, “What?! I can’t sing in soprano—this is my voice!” It’s been[an] on-and-off thing, but I’ve always known my voice and the sound of it has always been unique,” she said.

    Ayra Starr opened up on her collaboration with Asake on the song ‘Goodbye (Warm Up).’ She revealed that the song was actually created by a music producer, P2J, who wasn’t sure it was the right song for her.

    She said, “I was in the studio with [producer] P2J. He was like, “I have this song; I don’t know if you’re going to like it,” because he’d had it for a long time and he [wasn’t] sure about it. Every time I hear somebody say they’re not sure about a song, I just automatically love the song, because it feels like a challenge—if you don’t like it, I’m gonna make you love this song.

    “I was obsessed with this song. I remember I travelled to Zimbabwe the next day [after recording], and I was playing it everywhere. Everywhere I went, I was listening to it. This was even before Asake’s verse. Asake’s verse made it so perfect.”

  • I’m coming to terms with my father’s death – Ayra Starr

    I’m coming to terms with my father’s death – Ayra Starr

    Singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has revealed how she is finally coming to terms with the death of her father.

    She revealed that ‘The Kids Are All Right’; the outro of her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’ is a tribute to her dad who died years ago.

    The ‘Sabi girl’ disclosed this in a recent interview with Elle magazine.

    “I end the album with a song called ‘The Kids Are All Right,’ which is my niece singing about dad and finally coming to terms with the death of my dad, I have my siblings at the end of the song giving their final goodbye to my dad, giving the updates of their life,” she said.

    Read Also: Ayra Starr: My sound is highly eccentric, unique

    Ayra Starr’s sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ is scheduled to be released this Friday with features from Asake, Seyi Vibez, Giveon, Anitta, Coco Jones and Mil

  • I’m not aware of Asake, Seyi Vibez ‘rivalry’, says Ayra Starr

    I’m not aware of Asake, Seyi Vibez ‘rivalry’, says Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer Ayra Starr has stated she is oblivious of the ‘rivalry’ between colleagues, Asake and Seyi Vibez.

    Over time, fans of Asake and Seyi Vibez have always argued on who is better between the duo, though they haven’t had any public spat.

    In a recent interview with The Beat FM Lagos, Ayra Starr was asked whether her decision to work with both men on her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,’ was intentional because of their rivalry. 

    According to her, she decided to work with them because she loves their sonic prowess.

    Read Also: Ayra Starr: My sound is highly eccentric, unique

    She said: “I didn’t put Asake and Seyi Vibez on my album because of their rivalry. I didn’t know about the rivalry between Asake and Seyi Vibez. I just love both of them as artists.

    “I’m really big on sonics; what would sound good sonically. My team is always thinking of the business side but I’m just thinking of who would be sonically compatible with me. And I’ve been listening to Seyi Vibez’s ‘Different Pattern’ for a very long time. 

    “So I decided to work with him. When I sent the record to him, he sent his verse almost immediately. They were very quick with it. Asake, too, he sent me his verse in three days.”

  • Ayra Starr: My sound is highly eccentric, unique

    Ayra Starr: My sound is highly eccentric, unique

    Nigerian Afrobeats star and Grammy nominee, Ayra Starr has described her sound as highly eccentric and unique.

     The Mavins artist made this known in a chat after emerging Spotify EQUAL Africa and Global Artist for May 2024.

    “I would describe my sound as highly vibrational, eccentric, unique, and beautiful,” she said, describing her infectious sound.

    Read Also: Ayra Starr over the moon as Rihanna indicates collab interest

    On how she feels with the honour from the music streaming platform, Ayra Starr said, “It means everything to me because I am a girl and I have to support my gender and level the playing field.

    “There are so many women in music today, behind the scenes, in front of the camera, musicians, sound engineers, all these women working hard and Spotify EQUAL is doing a great job in highlighting all their hard work.”

    The 21-year-old also hinted that she has a new single with Seyi Vibes entitled ‘Bad Vibes.’

    “Yes. I have a new single with Seyi Vibes called ‘Bad Vibes’ and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. It’s amazing and it’s one of those songs that makes you feel good. The best part about it is that it is not just a regular Afrobeat record, it’s like genres intertwined.”

  • African women should be unapologetically confident – Ayra Starr

    African women should be unapologetically confident – Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer Ayra Starr has stressed the need for women to embrace their confident side without being apologetic about it. 

    The singer recently appeared as a guest on the Oui Oui Baguette show hosted by Sally where she was asked to advise black women and girls.

    In response, Ayra Starr emphasised the importance of hard work and confidence.

    “My advice to black girls and African women is to work hard. The work that women put into this business is so different and they work so hard. And I’d say don’t be humble about it. That’s where we’re gonna start from,” the singer said.

    Speaking on how Nigerian girls are raised, she stressed that they should be allowed to express themselves without being told they are doing too much.

    “I feel like we are brought up to be humble in Nigeria, like when a girl starts to grow up and starts getting confident people are always like ‘too much shakara.’ They would tell them that they have too much shakara and that they should calm down. 

    Read Also: Ayra Starr donates borehole to Lagos community

    ”Let’s stop doing that, let’s stop telling girls to be less confident. Let’s stop telling girls to show up less and not wear their brightest clothes because they like too much shakara,” she said.

    Ayra Starr then encouraged them to always show up and show out. “Show up, black girls show up, and let heads turn wherever you enter and be the best. You’re already the best so why not be proud of it,” she said.

  • Ayra Starr donates borehole to Lagos community

    Ayra Starr donates borehole to Lagos community

    Award-winning artist Ayra Starr has donated a much-needed borehole to Orimolade Ifako Community in Lagos State.

    The Mavin signee expressed excitement about the “E dey rush” campaign, which she initiated last year with the aim of providing clean and safe water to communities in need.

    She extended gratitude to partners and contributors to the successful installation in the Orimolade Ifako Community, which had been without water for over 20 years.

    “Started ‘E Dey Rush’ campaign last year to provide clean and safe water to communities. I’m so happy to see the Orimolade Ifako Community getting their borehole installed.

    “I’m grateful for the partnership to make this happen. Everyone deserves good water,” she wrote. 

    Residents of the community could be seen in the announcement video beaming with joy and excitement when the project was launched.

    The singer got her first Grammy nomination at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024 when hit song, ‘Rush’ in the new category, ‘Best African Music Performance’.

  • I’ve eaten fried yam, eggs everyday for almost two years – Ayra Starr

    I’ve eaten fried yam, eggs everyday for almost two years – Ayra Starr

    Grammy-nominated singer, Ayra Starr, disclosed how she has constantly eaten yam and eggs almost every day for the past two years.

    Revealing in a recent interview with MTV, she said yam and eggs are her favourite meal.

    Read Also: Afrobeats best genre in the world – Ayra Starr

    She said: “I love fried yam and eggs so much. When I like something I’m going to eat it till I’m sick of it. I’m not even joking. I’ve been eating yam and eggs almost every day for two years now and it still bangs.”

  • Afrobeats best genre in the world – Ayra Starr

    Afrobeats best genre in the world – Ayra Starr

    Sensational singer, Ayra Starr has described afrobeats as the best genre in the world.

    The Mavin signee in an interview with Capital Xtra, revealed that Afrobeat means everything to her.

    Noting how Afrobeat is taking over and has been popping for a long time, she said African music is currently making headlines not only in the continent but across all continents including the US.

    She said: “Afrobeat means everything to me. Afrobeat is taking over, it has been popping for such a long time. 

    Read Also: I want to be one of Afrobeats’ leading artistes – Ayra Starr

    “It has been a long time coming. It is the best genre in the world. It has been a long time coming because African music has been doing its thing in the continent and outside the continent. Even before it came to America”.