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‘I’m literally a superstar!’: the irresistible confidence of Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr
Moving around a lot as a child taught the 22-year-old to listen and absorb myriad musical influences. Now she’s combined them into a Grammy-nominated cocktail of R&B and Afrobeats and is ready to conquer Glasto
Her 2022 breakout single Rush has earned Starr more than 370m Spotify streams and a Grammy nomination, while her new album was the first by a female Nigerian artist to debut on the Billboard 200 when it was released last month. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesStarr’s ascendancy sits as part of a broader rise of young female singers from Africa, with fellow Nigerian Tems and the South African artist Tyla having both released debut albums to critical acclaim this year. Her genre curiosity has encouraged a fruitful partnership with Latin pop singers: earlier in the year, Starr appeared on the reggaeton track Santa with Rauw Alejandro and Rvssian.
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