Ayra Starr has made a shocking revelation about a secret romance that inspired her new album, Starrgirl. The 24-year-old Afrobeats artist revealed the details of the relationship in an interview, saying it was "stuck in a rut" but she kept coming back to it.
Secrets Behind a Hit Album
Starr's new album, Starrgirl, boasts collaborations with Afrobeats legends Wizkid and Rema, as well as One Direction's Zayn Malik and rising R&B singer KWN. The album is her first under a new management deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, and a relocation to New York. Leaving Lagos was a big upheaval, she confessed in an essay posted to her Substack last year. "New York is basically a walk-in freezer with rent," she wrote. "It's so cold it feels like the city is actively trying to unalive my motivation… I'm not scared, I promise."
The Relationship That Inspired the Album
The lyrics of the album were inspired by a secretive relationship that Starr kept coming back to despite being "stuck in a rut." The thought of starting over with someone else filled her with fear. "You're back to square one, and somebody's asking for your favourite colour again," she said. "I'm like, 'Oh my God! Can we, like, not do that?'"
Growth and Autonomy
Starr's new album is about walking to her own rhythm, as she grows into autonomy and womanhood. The album's lead single, Ms Paper, takes a detour into Bouyo, a genre that Starr has experimented with before. The song is infectious and showcases Starr's ability to blend different styles. On the album, Starr laughs at the people who told her she'd "never make it on her own"; while the laid back groove of Treasure allows Starr to pause and savour her success.
Unapologetic and Unstoppable
Starr has always been unapologetic and unstoppable. She has a sense of humour so dry it could soak up a tsunami, and delights in winding people up. For example, when music legend Stevie Wonder phoned to congratulate Starr on a Grammy nomination, she goaded him into a playful argument about zodiac signs. "I was trying to one-up him every single time, and he was trying to one-up me," she recalls. "It was almost like a battle."
A New Chapter
Starr's new album marks a new chapter in her career. She is no longer the same teenager who released her debut single, Rush. She has grown into a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to speak her mind. The album is a reflection of her growth and autonomy, and it is clear that Starr is unstoppable. With her new album, Starr is ready to take on the world and show everyone what she is capable of.
Source: Joy Online
