Currently trending with her new single, Commas, Ayra Starr has spoken about how she has always wanted to become a teenage pop star.
Highlighting aspects of her life in a Billboard interview, she joked about how her parents have often “blackmailed” her with music since childhood.
The 21-year-old, who hails from the Benin Republic, explained that she was not willing to move to Lagos, but she finally decided to relocate when her mother said the Nigerian city was a good place to pursue music.
“My mother was like if you want to do music, you have to finish school first…I knew that if I waited till I was 15, I won’t grow to be a teenage pop star. I wanted to be a teenage pop star,” she noted.
The Grammy nominee explained that she entered the university at age 14, where she studied international relations. She said she passed her initial examinations, which was enough to take her to the next level.
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Nicknamed “Celestial Being,” she has had many recognitions and several chart-topping songs since she came into the limelight in 2021. She started putting out music covers online before she was discovered and signed to Mavin Records.
Ayra said the “crossover” from Benin to Nigeria had contributed to the different vibes inherent in her compositions.
“Nigeria and Benin are so significantly different event though they are so close to each other…I used to go school in Lagos and return to Benin for holidays and I feel that help shaped me in a way so I can adapt to any situation,” she noted.
The Sability hitmaker has collaborated with many local and international artistes since she announced her presence. In January this year, her song Rush competed in the Best African Performance category at the 66th Grammys together with Tyla’s Water, which won the popular votes.
Prior to the Grammy weekend, Ayra Starr joked about eating at her favourite Chinese restaurant when asked what she would do after she had won the award. Despite the loss of her first nomination, she still has her speech “prepared for next year.”