Ayra Starr is theÃÂ eponymousÃÂ debut extended play by Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr. It was released on 22 January 2021 through Mavin Records.
After covering several songs by popular artists on Instagram, Ayra Starr posted her first original song on her page in December 2019. This brought her to the attention ofÃÂ record executive Don Jazzy. She signed her first recording contract with Mavin Records, Jazzy's record label and began working on the EP in January 2020. Ayra Starr collaborated with producersÃÂ Louddaaa,ÃÂ Dayogrey and Don Jazzy, on the record, and co-wrote four of its songs with her brother. Musically, the EP combines elementsÃÂ of R&B and neo-soul with AfropopÃÂ percussiveÃÂ rhythms. Lyrically, it touches on themes relating toÃÂ teenage angst, romance and coming-of-age experiences.
Ayra Starr received generally favorable reviews from critics. It reached number 1ÃÂ onÃÂ Nigeria iTunes and peakedÃÂ atop the Apple Music charts ofÃÂ countriesÃÂ including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Gambia. It spawnedÃÂ theÃÂ hitÃÂ song "Away," which charted at 4 on the TurnTable Top 50.
Ayra Starr began postingÃÂ cover recordingsÃÂ ofÃÂ songs by artists likeÃÂ Andra DayÃÂ andÃÂ 2Baba online in 2019. Though she had a strong following at the time, her career did not officially start until she posted her first original work on Instagram. The song quickly receivedÃÂ thousandsÃÂ ofÃÂ views on the social networking platform and caught the attention of record executive and producer Don Jazzy who signed her to Mavin Records.
Ayra Starr drew inspiration from artists likeÃÂ Lijadu Sisters,ÃÂ 2Baba, andÃÂ Wande Coal. In January 2020, she began working on a debut project at Mavin Studios with producersÃÂ Louddaaa,ÃÂ Dayogrey and Don Jazzy. She revealed in an interview that her intention with the album was to make music that would resonate with bothÃÂ youngÃÂ andÃÂ oldÃÂ listeners. Ikon, Louddaaa and Johnny Drille handled the mixing and mastering process. Of the five songs on the EP, Ayra Starr wrote one and co-wrote the remaining four with her brother Dami.
On 22 January 2021, the EP, along with the music video for its first track "Away" was released to digital music streaming services.
Ayra Starr is a five-track set containing a mixture of introspective andÃÂ emotionalÃÂ lyrics,ÃÂ exploringÃÂ themesÃÂ of romance, infatuations, heartbreaks and empowerment fromÃÂ the teen viewpoint. It primarilyÃÂ features elements of R&B with neo-soul, and incorporates AfropopÃÂ percussiveÃÂ rhythms. Commenting on the EP's sound, Ayra Starr said:
The EP begins with "Away", an R&B-styled song in which Ayra Starr sends a message to an ex-lover to refrain from attempting to rekindle their love affair. The second track, "Ija" is an AfropopâÂÂneosoul tune backed by lush keyboard chords. Theàtitleàtranslatesàas "Fight" in English.àLyrically, "Ija" is about owning one'sàsexuality. The influence of trap can be heard on "DITR," which discusses "the coming-of-age of the modern-day teenagerâÂÂexperimenting with drugs, peer pressure, and all the experiences that teenagers face." The fourth song on the EP "Sare," meaning "Run", is an Afropop track that contains a sample from the 1979 song "Orere Elejigbo" byàLijadu Sisters. The lyrics express romanticàlove, as the singer tellsàheràlover "I want your love so don't run away." The EP closes with a , romantic piece called "Memories." Ayra Starr is found "craving for longer moments, as she assures her love interest of sustained presence."
Ayra Starr wasàmetàwithàgenerallyàfavorableàreviewsàfromàcritics. Motolani Alake of the Pulse Nigeria described the EP as "a topsy-turvy chronicle of love or love-themed situations." Alake noted that the EP also "feels like Wizkid-esque experimental Afro-pop." Inàaàreview for TooXclusive, Chiamaka Fidelis praised Ayra Starr for her "beautiful voice" and "exceptional songwriting skills." Timi Sotire, writing for NME, complimented Ayra Starr's on the album and called it "a collection of her raw, unfiltered thoughts". NativeMag's Tami Makinde concluded that the "vulnerability in her music creates something that sonically feels like a late-night conversation with your homegirls â familiar and new all at the same time."
The EP reached number 1ÃÂ onÃÂ Nigeria iTunes and peakedÃÂ atop the Apple Music charts ofÃÂ countriesÃÂ including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Gambia and had accumulated over 11 million streams by March 2021. It spawnedÃÂ theÃÂ hitÃÂ song "Away," which charted at 4 on the TurnTable Top 50.
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