Ayra Starr is living life at full throttle. Fresh off a whirlwind summer filled with shows, parties, and a historic BET Award win, the Nigerian Afropop star says she’s only just getting started.
In a recent conversation with Rebecca Judd, Ayra opened up about the highs of her career so far—from sharing stadium stages with Coldplay to receiving co-signs from global icons like Chris Martin and Kelly Rowland—while also teasing what’s next musically.
For the “Sabi Girl,” downtime looks like late nights with her friends and team. “It’s a lot of partying. There’s a lot of laughing. There’s a lot of just doing crazy stuff,” she said. “I usually make sure everything is there before I arrive… the drinks, the sparklers—so when I walk in, it’s go time.”
But beyond the celebrations, Ayra has had moments of surreal mentorship. She reflected on collaborating with Kelly Rowland on the remix of Bloody Samaritan: “I didn’t know how to act. I would be screaming in voice notes. She was so amazing, though—she taught me not to complain about being tired and to enjoy the process.”
That lesson has been key as Ayra navigates her growing global profile. In June, she became the youngest Nigerian female artist to win a BET Award. Still, she admits she often has “delayed reactions” to her wins: “At first, I don’t really know when it’s happening. Then later I’m like, wow, I really did that.”
Her friendship with Coldplay’s Chris Martin has also been a career-defining highlight. Ayra has joined the band on multiple stadium dates and doesn’t hide her admiration. “That’s my G. I don’t play about Chris,” she said, laughing. Martin even once called her “one of the biggest pop stars in the world soon”—a prediction Ayra humbly takes as validation that she’s on the right path.
On the music side, Ayra’s recent single Hot Body has quickly become a social media anthem. “Everything in the song is what I said. There’s no deeper meaning,” she explained. “Every time you look hot, you have to use Hot Body.”
As for her dream collaborations, she holds three names close: Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and fellow Nigerian star Rema. “These are my non-negotiables,” she said firmly.
Looking ahead, Ayra is embracing freedom in her sound. Inspired by everything from Rihanna’s Desperado to Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra, she’s entering her next era without overthinking. “I don’t even know what I’m doing,” she admitted. “I’m just enjoying myself. And everything is making sense.”