Afrobeats singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, also known as Ayra Starr, has disclosed that she has “never fallen in love”.
Ayra Starr who graced the cover of the latest issue of the British lifestyle magazine, admitted that despite being identified as a “lover girl,” she has never been in a fully committed relationship.
The 21-year-old Mavin Records sensation, now open to finding love, also attributed her single status to her intense focus on music since age 15.
“I want to fall in love. I wrote ‘Lagos Love Story’ about what love would look like if I was. I am a lover girl deep in my heart, I’m just very strong-headed about it. I actually have never been in love. I have been in certain situations, not situationships! but I have never been in a fully committed relationship.
“I’ve put myself out there and I’ve tried to see what’s there but I don’t think I’ve had the time. I’ve been working since I was 15, I was modeling, I was doing university, and now I’m on the road.”
Ayra Starr
“It’s me just enjoying myself as a girl. I’m like, let me sing to a cute boy today and I’m looking around because I can, why not?” she added.
In June, Tems, another award-winning Nigerian singer, revealed that she has never been in love. The singer also opened up on how she battled body dysmorphia at the beginning of her career.
Tems praised Ayra Starr for being “hardworking” while indicating a potential collaboration between them.
Tems and Ayra Starr are among Nigeria’s finest global exports whose music has won them notable awards and millions of fans.
Ayra Starr who recently dropped her album ‘The Year I Turned 21’, became a viral sensation after releasing her hit track ‘Bloody Samaritan’ in 2021.
The same year she released her debut studio album “19 and Dangerous” which included her other chart-topping songs “Away”, “Rush” and “Bloody Samaritan”, which she later remixed with American singer, Kelly Rowland.
With numerous awards and accolades, Starr has become one of the continent’s fastest-rising artists.
Singer Not Diluting Her Culture
Ayra Starr talked about her music, reflecting on her childhood, personal style, and songwriting journey.
At just 22, Ayra Starr has already achieved remarkable success in her music career. She’s released two critically acclaimed studio albums and an EP, earned a Grammy nomination, collaborated with major stars both locally and internationally, and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Despite her rising fame, Ayra remains deeply connected to her roots.
“It’s very important for me to highlight my culture. People tell me I can tap into this market by singing more in English [but] I’m like, I’m not going to dilute my culture. This is my identity.
“People listen to Spanish and all types of music, what makes the African one so bad? Why don’t we love ourselves? Why don’t we see how beautiful our culture is?”
Ayra Starr
For Dazed‘s Autumn 2024 ‘The Impossible Issue,’ Ayra Starr opens up about her rapid rise to pop’s A-list at 19, the influence of her family’s tight bond, and the creation of her second album, “The Year I Turned 21.”
On writing songs for her debut album, “19 & Dangerous”, “[I would write about] everything from life to TV shows. My friends would tell me ‘Ohh, my boyfriend did this’ and I’d be like, ‘That would make a good song,’” she laughs. “I would just watch people. I was a viewer, and I loved to listen.”
Growing up in an African household, Ayra Starr revealed that she had to cook before school, and before classes, and she had to be back home so that everybody could eat.
“I’ve always been in charge of my siblings because I’m African and I’m a woman… As long as you’re a girl, you’re in charge of everybody, so even as a middle child I was in charge,” she said.
Being signed to Mavin Records, the “The Blood Samaritan” hitmaker disclosed that it had always been her dream to get signed to Mavin because that’s the best and biggest record label.
“When they sign you it means you are going to be a star, it’s a no-brainer. They’ll work on you. They’ll build you up. You know how K-pop groups are?”
Ayra Starr
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