Global Afrobeats star Ayra Starr unveils the music video for “Last Heartbreak Song”
WATCH HERE
NEW ALBUM THE YEAR I TURNED 21 OUT NOW
LISTEN HERE
EARNS TOP 5 BIGGEST OPENING DAY STREAMS FOR A NIGERIAN ALBUM AND BIGGEST OPENING DAY FOR NIGERIAN FEMALE ON SPOTIFY
PLAYING GLASTONBURY’S PYRAMID STAGE THIS SUMMER
“The magnetism of Starr’s flow and fire is undeniable” – The Observer
“Nigerian Afrobeats superstar gets in early for the summer soundtrack crown” – The Guardian
“Ayra Starr continues her rapid rise… setting the stage for the next phase of her international breakout” – Pitchfork
“The Year I Turned 21 puts a stake in the ground as a time, place, and feeling to remember for Ayra Starr” – UPROXX
“responsible for expanding the world’s view of what music from Africa sounds“ – ELLE
“a global hitmaker with a bright future ahead of her” – Euphoria Magazine
“undeniably one of the most magnetic pop stars around” – OkayAfrica
Directed by Bobby Hanaford (who has directed videos for Rema and Vic Mensa); the pensive beach-side visuals, shot in Los Angeles, elevates the atmospheric mood of the Afro-R&B track. Here, we see a closed-off Ayra Starr metaphorically letting down her walls in a back-and-forth with American R&B heavyweight, Giveon, as the lyrics play out a dialogue between two people in different head spaces in a fading relationship. Watch HERE.
“Last Heartbreak Song” is one of the more emotive stories taken from Ayra Starr’s critically-lauded sophomore album The Year I Turned 21, which was released last Friday via Mavin Records / Republic Records. Listen HERE. The album has earned the top 5 biggest opening day streams for a Nigerian album and biggest opening day for a Nigerian female on Spotify.
Hailed as Ayra Starr’s coming of age record, the album showcases the Gen Z singer-songwriter’s most personal storytelling, alongside signature empowering anthems she has become synonymous with.
Themes of growth, love, heartbreak and realizing your power permeate the record, powered by a newfound artistic maturity that grew from the whirlwind year the Nigerian star has had.
The album also features collaborations with Anitta and Coco Jones on “Woman Commando,” Asakeon “Goodbye (Warm Up),” Seyi Vibez on “Bad Vibes,” her brother Millar on “1942’,” as well as her recent Latin music crossover hit “Santa” with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro.
This summer is shaping up to be yet another monumental season for Ayra Starr. Following the release of The Year I Turned 21, she is set to make her Glastonbury Festival debut on the Pyramid Stagethis month, building on the incredible momentum.
The singer-songwriter, with over 1 billion streams, recently bagged three BET Award nominationsfor Best New Artist, Best International Act and BET Her for “Commas.” It follows a landmark past year, which saw Ayra Starr earn her first GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Rush,” as well as making BBC’s Sound of 2024 list and being nominated for MOBO Awards’ Best African Music Act for the second time. Her defining debut album 19 & Dangerous, now sits at a staggering 500 million streams.
Ayra Starr’s position as one of Africa’s hottest stars has seen her collaborate with some of music’s biggest names including Wizkid, Stormzy, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Tiwa Savage, Aya Nakamura, and Leigh-Anne.
Since debuting in 2021, Ayra Starr has quickly become one of this generation’s most undeniable new voices in music. Renowned for her anthemic Afrobeats tracks and unapologetic style; the Beninese-Nigerian artist has amassed critical acclaim from tastemaker press, a huge international following and over 1.2 billion global streams. Following the release of her defining debut album “19 & Dangerous”; her position as Africa’s hottest rising star has seen Ayra Starr tapped for collaborations with some of music’s biggest names including Wizkid, Stormzy, Tiwa Savage and Leigh-Anne, to name just a few. Ayra Starr has gained major traction over the last few years, but vaulted to the forefront of Afrobeats with 2022’s “Rush,” which garnered over 800 million global streams and attracted R&B icon Kelly Rowland on a high-powered remix. Recognized as a phenomenon in 2023, she notably garnered a nomination for “Best International Act” at the BET Awards as well as two MTV VMA nominations in the category of “Best Afrobeats Song” for both “Rush” and WizKid’s “2 Sugar” [feat. Ayra Starr]. Additionally, she received a GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Rush,” which marked her as the first and youngest Nigerian female artist to be nominated in that category. She also garnered a Soul Train Award nomination in the Best New Artist category and a Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song. So far in 2024, Ayra Starr has been nominated for three BET Awards including Best New Artist, Best International Act and BET Her for “Commas.” Beyond praise from UPROXX, Variety, Conde Nast Traveler and more, she has also graced the covers of Teen Vogue and FAULT Magazine.
Stay tuned for more from Ayra Starr who will release new music in 2024 and continue to bring Afrobeats to the forefront here in the U.S. and around the world.