Rising star Ayra Starr is set to release her highly anticipated sophomore album, The Year I Turned 21, and she’s promising nothing short of greatness.
In a recent interview with ELLE Magazine, Starr opened up about her creative process, her Grammy nomination, and her response to criticisms that Afrobeats has become diluted.
The Year I Turned 21 is a masterful blend of African and non-African genres, featuring solo dance tracks and soulful ballads.
Ayra Starr’s diverse background – born in Benin to Nigerian parents and raised in Abuja and Lagos – has influenced her music, which seamlessly combines amapiano, funk, pop, and R&B with Afrobeats.
Ayra Starr describes the album as a “roller coaster of emotion” that takes listeners on a journey of confidence, love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. With collaborations from Coco Jones, Asake, Giveon, and others, the album promises to be a game-changer in the Afrobeats scene.
When asked about criticisms that Afrobeats has become diluted due to collaborations and remixes with international artists, she dismissed the claim, stating that the genre is simply becoming mainstream.
She emphasized the importance of African artists sticking together and continuing to produce authentic Afrobeats music.
Ayra Starr’s Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance Category for the worldwide hit ‘Rush’ was a welcome recognition, but she remains focused on outdoing herself and challenging her creativity.
Listen to Rush here:
With The Year I Turned 21, she’s set to prove that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. As she says, “Expect greatness.”
Watch the video:
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