Emerging artist Ayra Starr has been named a Spotify EQUAL and global artist, marking a significant milestone in her career. She joins Tiwa Savage as the second African artist to achieve this recognition.
Ayra Starr has been gaining traction with her vibrant Afrobeats tracks such as “Rush,” “Sability,” and “Rhythm & Blues.” Spotify’s EQUAL initiative aims to empower and support female artists in the music industry, making this achievement even more noteworthy.
In 2023, Spotify conducted 15 EQUAL campaigns, resulting in over 14.8 million new artist discoveries. Furthermore, EQUAL artists secured an impressive 11,800 placements on editorial playlists.
Ayra Starr’s recent release, “Commas,” has already garnered over 35 million streams on Spotify. She shared her thoughts on her distinctive musical style and expressed her excitement at being selected for the EQUAL program.
“I am honored to be named a Spotify EQUAL Ambassador. It’s a significant opportunity for me to represent women in Afrobeats and African women overall. With so many talented women in the music industry, the EQUAL program is instrumental in recognizing their contributions.”
The Grammy-nominated artist is gearing up for the release of her second album, titled “The Year I Turned 21,” slated to drop sometime this month, in May 2024. This album release promises to further solidify Ayra Starr’s position as a rising star in the music scene.
Excerpts from the interview with Ayra Starr on the Spotify EQUAL programme:
How is the Spotify EQUAL programme significant, from your perspective?
There are so many women in music today, behind the scenes, in front of the camera, musicians, and sound engineers, all these women working hard and Spotify EQUAL is doing a great job in highlighting all their hard work.
What does this mean to you as a person, being Spotify’s EQUAL artist for the month, both from an African and Global perspective?
It means everything to me because I am a girl and I have to support my gender and level the playing field.
To someone who has never heard your music, how would you describe the sound, tone, and style?
I would describe my sound as highly vibrational, eccentric, unique, and beautiful.
Are we expecting any music from you anytime soon?
Yes. I have a new single with Seyi Vibes called ‘Bad Vibes’ and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. It’s amazing, and it’s one of those songs that makes you feel good. The best part about it is that it’s not just a regular Afrobeat record; it’s like genres intertwined.
