Ayra Starr biography

Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

Biography Entertainment and Lifestyle

today, we will be looking at Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars. From grass to fame,  the next big star in Nigeria in the person of Ayraa Starr has left the mouths of Nigerians wide open after her hit song “Rush” flooded the country,

 Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe (born 14 June 2002), popularly / professionally known  as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian female singer. Born in Cotonou, Benin, Ayra Starr began her very first fashion career at the age of 16 with Quove Model Management before she however decided to pursue music.

After acting as a cover artist for several songs by a lot of popular artists on Instagram, she posted her very first original hit on her official page on December 2019. This brought her to the attention of the highly respected and well known record executive Don Jazzy, and this led to her signing to Mavin Records.

In the early months of 2021, Ayra Starr achieved good mainstream recognition with her eponymous debut extended play and its hit track  which she named “Away” which spent two consecutive weeks at the number four on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50 and skyrocketed to number 17 on the US Billboard Top Triller Global, paving the way for the release of her very first full-length mixtape, 19 & Dangerous in the late days of August 2021.

The hit track which was categorized mainly as Afropop and R’nB, the album has been met with good favorable critical reception. It spawned two top forty hits and most famous song in Nigeria.

The lead single “Bloody Samaritan” skyrocketed atop the Top 50 chart, becoming the first ever solo song by a female artist to reach the very and forever-craved-for number-one position.  Ayra Starr debuted on the Pandora Predictions chart, and on the 28th of August 2021, she ranked number two on popular Billboards Next Big Sound.

Ayra Starr Early life

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe also known as Ayra Starr was born on the 14th of June, 2002 in Cotonou, Benin. she  grew up there and also in  Lagos, Nigeria.  She was born to a Nigerian family from Kwara State and has four siblings.

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

Her family however, moved frequently during her high school years because of her father’s business, and as a result she had a difficult time forming close and long contact  friends. 

The singer having been raised in a music-loving family, her interest in singing comes mostly from her beloved family. well, At the age of 10, she sang in a high school choir and began writing songs with her beloved brother.  She attended the Les Cours Sonou University where she got her  BA degree in international relations and political science.

During her college and high school years, she was often bullied by her classmates because of her young age and looks / appearance. To counter the feelings she experienced from being taunted and a victim of college bully, Ayra Starr turned to music.

“I would listen to Nicki Minaj on my way to school, and I’d feel like the second Nicki Minaj.” she said.  Ayra Starr’s mother was very supportive of her musical ambitions and always encouraged her to pursue her ever dreamt of singing career. 

Ayra Starr Career

Year: 2018–present:

Career beginnings, Ayra Starr and 19 & Dangerous

In the days of August 2018, the today’s popular and most loved female artist in Nigeria Ayra Starr was signed with Quove Models, a modelling agency which is based in Lagos state. From there, she modelled for companies such as Mazelle Studio, Complete Fashion Magazine and Esperanza Woman.

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

In 2019, she began posting covers of songs by popular artists like Andra Day and 2Face Idibia online.  She chose her stage name simply because, in her words, “it means woke and eye-opening and that’s what I stand for.”

 She however, appeared in the music video for Eri Ife’s song “Dear Future Wife.” In December 2019, she uploaded her original song which she called “Damage” on her Instagram page. This was heard by thousands of people which includes label executive King  Don Jazzy and this led to her very first recording contract with the Mavin Records.

In 2020, she kick started recording at Mavin Studios in Lagos with producers Louddaaa and Don Jazzy. Her self-titled debut extended play was released on the 22nd day of January, 2021 through Mavin Records. The album has been described as “a topsy-turvy chronicle of love or love-themed situations” and “merges elements of R&B/neo-soul with that of Afropop percussion.” Ayra Starr said her intention with that particular record was to make music that would resonate with both the young and old listeners.

The mixing and mastering of the EP was by Ikon, Louddaaa and Johnny Drille. Ayra Starr wrote one of the songs on the EP alone and all by herself, and co-wrote the remaining four with her brother Dami.

Shortly after its release, the EP magically became the number-one album on Nigeria iTunes and Apple Music. As of the days of March 2021, it has reached the same position on Apple Music in 4 other countries, racking up over 15 million streams across different music platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Audio Mack.

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

The project spawned the hit track “Away” which was peaking at number four on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50 and number 17 on US Billboard Top Triller Global. Its accompanying music video also debuted on MTV Base‘s Official Naija Top 10.

 OkayAfrica also included the song in their list of The 9 Best Nigerian Songs of January 2021. Ayra Starr released remix versions of “Ija” and “Away” featuring Tokimonsta and Lilo respectively between March and April. Around the same time, Crayon’s EP Twelve A.M was released with the singer’s vocals on the track “In Sync.”

 She performed at the UC Berkeley Nigerian Students Association virtual culture show which was titled The Olori Awards. On the 28th day of April 2021, the official music video for her song “DITR” was released on YouTube via the record label, Mavin.  In June 2021, the music video for another song titled “Sare”, was also released. Both music videos were directed by director Afolabi Olalekan.

On the 11th day of July 2021, Ayra Starr performed for the season finale of the Nigerian Idol.  On the 6th of August 2021, her debut studio album, which was titled 19 & Dangerous was released.

For the album, she worked with her previous collaborators Louddaaa and Don Jazzy, both of whom contributed largely to the production on her EP Ayra Starr, and new collaborators, London and Andre Vibez. The album marked her first time recording alongside other guest artists such as Fousheé and CKay. It was met with favorable critical reception with most critics characterizing its sound as primarily Afropop and of coz, R&B.

It however, spawned two top forty hits on the TurnTable Top 50, the highest being “Bloody Samaritan“, its lone single, which became Starr’s first number-one single on the chart table.

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

The song drastically moved and climbed to the Top 50 for several weeks, and, on the chart dated 27 September 2021, it reached the number one spot, making Ayra Starr the first ever female artist to do so with a solo single.  She however debuted on Pandora Predictions chart, and on 28 August 2021, she ranked number two on the popular Billboards Next Big Sound.

She was also  featured  on “in the light”, a track on Johnny Drille‘s Before We Fall Asleep. On the 4th day of September 2021, she was named a brand ambassador for Pepsi Nigeria. The following day, Starr performed during a live eviction episode of the biggest Reality TV show in Africa tagged, Big Brother Naija. She collaborated with an artist, Cheque on “Dangerous”, the second track on his album Bravo. At the 8th African Muzik Magazine Awards, she was nominated for the Best Newcomer award.

Ayra Starr Artistry

Musical style

ayra starr and don jazzy

Although musically diverse, Ayra Starr’s sound has predominantly been categorized by many and sundry as Afropop and R&B. Her sweet voice has been described in the media as “silky”, “cozy”, “delicate”, “sturdy”, “arresting” and “soulful”, with music critics noting the dynamic nature of her range and good emotional delivery.  Her lyrics are usually a mixture of English, Pidgin English and Yoruba, often exploring contemporary topics such as love, relationship, empowerment and freedom.

With the release of her elegant debut eponymous EP, some critics felt that her vocal technique bore a striking resemblance to that of Tems‘ musical style. In an interview with the Cool FM, Ayra Starr spoke about comparisons to Tems: “I’m a young artist and Tems is an amazing musician, for people to compare me to such an amazing musician, it’s a compliment and I’m honoured.” she said.

 Motolani Alake, in his review of the EP for Pulse wrote that “Ayra Starr isn’t exactly a replica of Tems, but when she manipulates her vocals to stress the very  final syllable on words, sentences and cadences by flexing her octaves, she definitely sounds like Tems.”

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Alake also opined that both artists are different and that “Tems can be more alternative while Starr is more Nigerian and more Afropop with more lamba in her soul.” Schön! Magazines Thandie Sibanda however, called the EP “a coming-of-age jukebox.”  Karen Chalamilla of The Floor remarked that Ayra Starr “not only solidifies the singer/songwriter as a standout vocalist, but also serves as an acute window into her artistic sensibilities.”

Also in a review for 19 & Dangerous, Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of Music In Africa described Starr as an evolving artist and praised her good singing abilities, adding that it’s clear she “can work across genres while not quite sounding like anybody else.” 19 & Dangerous retains the Afropop-R&B sound of her previous record, but it also incorporates influences from good  genres such as neo-soul, Jazz and EDM.

Ayra Starr Influences

The singer Ayra Starr grew up in a musically inclined family. She considers her mother, a former singer and her beloved brother Dami, a guitarist and songwriter as her earliest inspirations for her interest in a music career.

 Growing up between Bénin and Nigeria, she was exposed toa whole lot of cultures that influenced her perspective on life and of coz her personality. Ayra Starr and Dami began writing songs from a very young age under the tutelage of their mother and also aunt. She had wanted to make a real career out of what she loves, singing  ever since age 10 but her father encouraged her to complete her education first.

In her interviews for local and international media, she stated that throughout her childhood, she had a wide range of musical influences, which includes 2Face Idibia, Wande Coal, AngĂ©lique Kidjo, Lijadu Sisters and Tope Alabi, and in college, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Sia and Tiwa Savage. She also credited Shakira as her biggest influence vocally along with well known BeyoncĂ©, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus: “It was just the power I would feel listening to their music. We didn’t get a lot of Nigerian female singers singing strongly about things like them, not as we do now.”

Lyrically, she admires Aṣa and has added that she “wrote so beautifully [and] was one of one of those people [she] would listen to just to learn how to write music properly.”

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Ayra Starr Other ventures

Ayra Starr Endorsements

On exactly September 2021, Ayra Starr became a brand ambassador for soft drink company Pepsi Nigeria.

Ayra Starr Fashion

Ayra Starr biography

The popular music superstar was in the cover for October 2021 issue of Accelerate TV’s The Cover and an editorial titled “Ayra Starr A Starr Is Born”.  She starred an editorial for Fall/Winter 2021 issue of ODDA. Around the same time, she also appeared in a Notion editorial to discuss about her hit debut studio album 19 & Dangerous.

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

Ayra Starr Discography

Studio album and EP
  • Ayra Starr EP (2021)
  • 19 & Dangerous Album (2021)

Ayra Starr’s Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
“In The Light” 2021 Johnny Drille Before We Fall Asleep
“Dangerous” Cheque Bravo
“Roadside” (+234 Remix) Mahalia, Rema —

Ayra Starr Awards and nominations

Award Year Recipient(s) and nominees(s) Category Result
African Entertainment Awards USA 2021 Ayra Starr Best New Artist Nominated
African Muzik Magazine Awards 2021 Best Newcomer Nominated
Mobo Awards 2021 Best African Music Act Pending
Net Honours 2021 “Away” Most Played R&B Song Nominated
2022 Herself Breakout Artist of the Year (Female) Won
Most Searched Musician (Female) Nominated

you are now reading: Ayra Starr biography and net worth, family, Age, Houses & Cars

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