Ayra starr essentials

Where does one even begin with a giant like this? It is difficult to choose a few essentials when it comes to our Sabi girl, because please everything is essential. But, since there is a gun to our heads, here is a list of 5 Ayra Starr essentials that are more essential than the other ones that are already so very essential. For this list, we will leave out her collaborations with other artists because they too choke. She has a plethora of collaborations that bang but today we are stepping away from that and taking a bit of a deeper look into her discography, focusing on her alone and what she has to say as an artist and songwriter

The Kids are Alright

• One thing about Ayra Starr that is not discussed enough is this woman’s music involves heart. She isn’t just a pop star who writes bumping tracks. Her music has depth and soul. Look at every single solo song she has, the subject matter is often very specific and heart wrenching. Whether it is about love or grief, joy or loss. This one in particular is about the loss of a family member and the exhaustion that grief engenders because it never ends. You never stop missing the person you lost, you just have to keep going. The voice notes included at the end of the song are everything.

Karma

• This one is about the pains of love and trusting that things—good or bad—will come back around to those who deserve them. The artist posits that unlike MEN, Karma is reliable and will always do what it has promised her. Karma will give people what it is that they deserve. You hear so much of her heart in this one, sure it is a song of pain but it is also one of acceptance and the knowledge that those who broke her heart will one day perish and that in time, thunder will fire them.

Sare

• This perfect song came from her first ever EP. This song is the definition of real yearning and is quite possibly one of the sweetest songs ever made. From the chorus to the chant that follows in the hook, this song is completely enthralling. The message is careless abandon to one’s lover and hoping that they will do the same. If one thing is true, it is that when we think of artists who are adept at expression of the human soul such as Chike or Johnny Drille, we must think of Ayra Starr as well. 

Orun

• It’s so difficult for any words to possibly do justice to this song because of how beautiful it is. Ayra Starr’s ability to describe pain as a songwriter is unmatched. This track opens with her expressing “I wish I didn’t wake today, but I gotta face my pain” this ballad appears to be about depression and the seemingly unending emptiness it brings with it despite the many reasons for happiness that may exist. During this one, she cries to God to open the heavens and send the rain wash away her sadness. This is one of those songs that lets people in the same situation know that they are not alone. This is impact.

Sability

• Do you know what it means to have the ability to Sabi? Ayra Star is confidence personified and this song is proof of it. Who else can pull off a song like this? Who else could sample Awilo Logomba’s legendary “Coupe bibamba” and make another iconic anthem out of it? Where would afrobeat be today without Ayra Starr’s influence on it? 

Considering how long Ayra Starr will undoubtedly be around, she is still at the start of her career. We are eager to see what she will do next and how she will change the future of songwriting and musical expression.