The rise of Ayra Starr from teen star to artist has been rapid.
In three years since her debut EP, the singer has become a leading African music artist and is expanding beyond it.
Since Variety interviewed Starr last year, she’s headlined her debut world tour, surpassed a billion Spotify plays, and been nominated for a Grammy for best African music performance for “Rush.”
The Beninese-Nigerian singer-songwriter’s sophomore album, released today (May 31) on Mavin-Republic Records as part of a wider deal with Universal Music Group, features labelmate Anitta, Afrobeat star Asake, and R&B singer Giveon.
Starr’s “sabi girl” catchphrase and the bold title of her debut album “19 & Dangerous” showed her spirit as a young singer still finding herself. “I feel like I was a very confident human being, but I was never a confident musician because I was shy to say my thoughts in a studio session,” she adds. “I would make everyone leave before recording myself.
This record gave me confidence and improved my singing.
My voice coach with me in the studio taught me how to strike notes better. It involves vulnerability and ego removal.” The singer co-wrote every song on the album with Mason “Maesu” Tanner (“Angels in Tibet” by Amaarae, “No.1” by Tyla & Tems) and top producer London (“Calm Down” by Rema with Selena Gomez, “Bloody Samaritan” by Ayra Starr”).
Starr has collaborated with Nigerian heavyweights Young Jonn and Tiwa Savage on “Stamina” and “Gara” from the “Water and Garri” soundtrack, as well as buzzing French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura on “Hypé” and superstar DJ-producer David Guetta on “Big FU,” featuring rapper Lil Durk. The scorching single “Santa” with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro reached No. 8 on the US Hot Latin Songs chart and racked up 160 million Spotify streams in under two months (it’s a bonus track on “The Year I Turned 21”).
My team wanted the record out last year; we had the artwork by September and most of the songs. It felt incomplete to me. I felt rushed. It could have been the proper business move, and I saw what they were doing, but I wasn’t ready. I took my time and everything worked out. I didn’t have to argue—we had features coming out, and I thought an album with all these features would be too much. Even “Santa” was meant to release last year.
I grew up a lot personally and professionally, maybe from touring alone and being away from my family for so long. The previous six months have been a huge musical growth for me, as I’ve always loved making music but wasn’t sure of my sound. I didn’t see my supernatural powers. I now realize that being Ayra Starr in any genre is a superpower.
Do you think patience comes with age?
Definitely. I told a friend today, “I wouldn’t be who I am now if I didn’t have experience,” and my experiences have taught me patience. I wasn’t gentle with myself last year because it was my first time doing what I did. Naturally, I didn’t know everything. Now I know better.
Your new music shows more vulnerability, revealing personal experiences. How did you become comfortable sharing that?
Right timing feels right. I wish to share this portion of my life. I was unprepared to display my first album and EP. I liked the notion of Ayra Starr but wasn’t ready to be her. I wanted anonymity. It’s natural. Sometimes, like now, I feel comfortable exposing parts of my life, and then I’ll reveal something nobody knows.
What do you like most about 21?
I’m meeting Rihanna. (laughs) What a surreal experience: A childhood artist listening to me… Rihanna seems like an idea, not a real person. You never think you’ll meet her and be one of her favorite musicians, and she’ll love you.
Your career began when you were 17, 18. What was it like growing up publicly?
The public has seen me evolve since my first EP, so it’s been crazy. So my fans are protective, supportive, and don’t make fun of me. (laughs) We practically grew up together, and I get to sing about our experiences on the album.
This record sounds different to you—pop, guitar, R&B. What prompted such experiments?
I wanted to give you something unique. With the last project, before the deluxe, I stated in my notes, “After this album, I’m going to release one of the greatest Afrobeats albums to ever be released!” I want to challenge myself. My ears are good and I know what I want to hear. The producers say, “Nope!” when I say, “I want this, I want that,” which may sound absurd. (laughs)
But I did my best and worked with the greatest. I’m enthusiastic about this record, but not too much.
