Our First Impressions of Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21’
her sophomore release
To say Ayra Starr is having a moment would be an understatement because said moment has lasted over three years now. It feels like just yesterday when the 19-year-old burst onto the scene with a childlike wonder that has now metamorphosed into the self-assured candour of a bonafide superstar. The career growth between her self-titled debut and her critically-acclaimed album, ‘19 & Dangerous’ was inarguably an inimitable moment in Afropop history. But the success of one or two hits didn’t stop Ayra’s dedication to shaping her craft and taking control of the narrative of young African women. She took on the mantle with grace, extending her winning streak to cement herself as one of the most reliable hitmakers from this side.
Now, ‘The Year I Turned 21’ arrives with pomp and glamour, chronicling the Popstar’s rise to global stardom. The 14-tracker is stacked with humble brags like “Commas” and groovy, yet melancholic storytelling on “Lagos Love Story” or Giveon-assisted “Last Heartbreak Song.” Once a fresh face breaking glass ceilings and inverting the industry’s gender stereotypes with her confident aura, Ayra is now deservedly a main contributor to Afropop’s rich tapestry and she won’t be shying away from the limelight anytime soon. For her highly anticipated sophomore album, the NATIVE team shares our expectations leading up to release, our favourite songs and even the biggest skips. Tap in!
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(@ayrastarr)What were your expectations of Ayra Starr going into this album?
Tayo: Ayra is an incredible artist who is very intentional about her craft so I expected amazing vocals and a few bops that would carry us through summer. Judging by the singles she released off the project over the last few months like “Commas” and the snippets we heard off “Goodbye (Warm Up),” I knew this was going to be a project that got people’s attention and one where she would be experimenting with her sound.
Jim: Over the years, Ayra has shown incredible growth and made it clear that she is ready for the big moments, and the big stages. Off the back of her singles, debut EP and debut album, I expected heavy R&B themes throughout the album with the occasional Afrobeats song, and Ayra did not disappoint, presenting a sumptuous blend of both worlds. My biggest expectation, however, was extreme confidence in her lyricism, delivery, and melodies, and Ayra delivered without question. On this album, she forcefully and undoubtedly shines through with reckless abandon.
What songs stood out on the first listen?
Nwanneamaka: It has to be “Lagos Love Story” because Ayra’s mic was ON. Considering I typically lean into the more upbeat numbers for the first listen, I loved this song simply for how crystal her vocals came through. She hit all those notes with so much ease and flair with the groovy production taking the back seat to let her vocals really shine through. Delivery aside, it’s nice to hear a love song chronicling the Lagos experience in a non-toxic way. It’s sweet, innocent even.
Wale: This feels like an obvious pick but “Goodbye (Warm Up)” felt like a hit once that snippet of Ayra previewing it landed on the internet. It still has that X Factor on first listen and I think it works for me because it feels like an extension of Ayra’s personality. She’s genuinely having fun on this song and it suits the theme of ‘TYIT21’ perfectly and, then, there’s the Asake factor as well. I also liked the GIVEON collab, “Last Heartbreak Song,” because it ties into the narrative of the album of Ayra maturing as a performer and person.
How well did the guest appearances enhance your first listen?
Jim: All the guest appearances enhanced the experience of the album within their own pockets. What particularly shines through with the features, though, is Ayra’s ability to let each guest artist revel in their own world, and seamlessly fuse their distinct deliveries with her effervescent melodies, offering fans meticulously refined compositions of their unique artistries.
Daniel B.: I loved all the features. Every artist brought their own signature style but they all merged so well with Ayra’s sound. Nothing short of amazing from her.
What song is the biggest skip?
Israel: “Birds sing of money” is definitely my biggest skip. It’s a wonderful introduction to the album but not one I’m too keen on hearing every time I play the 15-song record.
Moore: If I had to pick one, my biggest skip from the album would have to be “1942.” While the track is touching, it doesn’t quite hit the emotional notes of some of the other more soulful numbers, such as “Last Heartbreak Song.” Its sombre tone also means that it might be one of the last songs to be reached for, if the vibe called for something more upbeat.
What song is the biggest potential hit?
Damilola: I can really see “Woman Commando” taking off as a baddie anthem and going triple platinum on girls trips this summer. Twerk-ready beat, karaoke-able lyrics, and a general feel-good vibe, I can’t see any other outcome.
Nwanneamaka: We LOVE a good collab and as much as there’s huge international names on this project, my pick would have to “Goodbye(Warm up),” with Asake. The rhythmic instrumentals are so radio-ready but paired with Ayra’s lush vocals, you’re bound to get on your feet within the first few seconds of track. Then Mr Money swoops in with the “Oh baby plea-e ease, Oh baby plea-e ease,” I’m sold! My ears also caught on to those light log drums. I don’t see it being any other song.
Overall first impressions
Damilola: I was very touched by this album, and the importance of the storytelling stood out the most to me. We can really hear, feel and sometimes even see the story being told on each song, and she weaves through almost every theme one experiences at the infancy of adulthood seamlessly. Underneath the bops and ballads, we’re hearing a raw confession from a young woman coming of age, accepting of everything she’s experienced and looking forward to learning more lessons as she goes along. She sounds strapped and ready for the rollercoaster ride the rest of adulthood usually is.
Tayo: Overall, I think this was a fantastic sophomore effort from the budding megastar. Listening to this album from top to bottom, you can really hear all the different ways that she’s transformed into the artist and young woman we’ve watched over the years. From ballads about the pain of young romance and the realisation that boundaries are necessary even when you love someone, to her reflections on grief and the ways it can shape a person’s worldview, young people need a voice that speaks for them and Ayra Starr is a more than worthy messenger.
Deeply resonant themes articulated in her signature relatable style, set against a mix of moving instrumentals and catchy, fun beats? What more could we possibly ask for?
[Featured Image Credits/The NATIVE]
ICYMI: REVIEW: ‘THE YEAR I TURNED 21’ BY AYRA STARR
Best New Music: Amaarae Gives A Glimpse Of Dance-Pop’s Future On “B2B”
On an intricate body of work where Amaarae manages to infuse most of the songs with a wealth of influences,...
Early in her career, Amaarae largely stood out for her earworm melodies and whispery vocals, which often cooed over airy Afropop-inspired beats. Her 2020 debut album, ‘The Angel You Don’t Know,’ however, represented a shift in her approach, ambitiously fusing genres like Afropop, sultry R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop-Rock into something that gave an exciting glimpse into what the future of Pop could sound like. The album’s runaway hit single, “SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY,” provided Amaarae with significant momentum and a bigger platform to push the envelope even further with her 2023 sophomore ‘Fountain Baby,’ an opulent and sonically diverse album, which positioned her as a new gravitational force in Pop.
On her latest studio album, ‘BLACK STAR,’ Amaarae shows how far out there she’s willing to go, exploring a wide range of dance genres like Jersey Club, Zouk, Detroit Techno, Baile Funk, Deep House, and Kpalongo with equal enthusiasm and reverence, while painting a fuller picture of herself as a Pop savant with no limits. There’s arguably no dull moment across the album’s 44-minute runtime, but the best Amaarae songs tend to be the ones where she sounds like she’s having an intimate conversation with her listener: lush, delicate, and most importantly, sensual. That’s exactly what “B2B” represents.
“B2B, bi to bi / Fuck on me, fuck you back / I unleash, you attach /Fuck on me, fuck you back,” she sings softly in the opening seconds of “B2B,” setting the tone for what is a deviously hypnotic and sexy record that marries the reverie of Deep House with the blissful melodies of South Africa’s Amapiano sub-genre. It’s the kind of song that immediately evokes strobing lights and the humid embrace of a crowded dancefloor, thanks in part to the genius of frequent collaborator Kyu Steed and Ape Drums, the newest member of Major Lazer.
If the first half of the track’s pulsating rhythm is fit for the function, its second half, ushered in by elegant guitar strings, is fit for the wind down, the ride home, where you’re staring out the window, exhausted from the night’s activity. Amaarae’s helium vocals would be fit for company as she gently contemplates the complexities of a steamy affair. ‘Are you my virtue or vice?’ she sings with a dose of skepticism in her voice.
On an intricate body of work where Amaarae manages to infuse most of the songs with a wealth of influences–from the expansive feature list to sampling and interpolating a couple of niche and popular records–“B2B” stands out as arguably the most straightforward track on ‘BLACK STAR.’ It’s breezy in the way a lot of earlier Amaarae tracks were, but also a little more sophisticated than your run-of-the-mill Dance bop, highlighting just how unique the Ghanian-American star’s style has grown to become.
Shortly after the release of ‘BLACK STAR,’ Amaarae took to her active X account to give her opinion on her new album. “icl BLACK STAR is my personal favorite amaarae album,” she stated in one tweet like an excited fan account. In another tweet, where she gave her initial thoughts on the album, she lists “B2B” as one of her personal favourites from the album, saying “I THINK B2B IS POSSIBLY THE BEST EXPRESSION OF THE SIGNATURE AMAARAE SOUND (OR ATLEAST MY FAV).” We’re inclined to agree, Amaarae.
Listen to ‘Black Star‘ here.
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Luwa.Mp4 Releases Riotous Debut Album, ‘punKstA*’
Across the album’s 12 tracks, Luwa.Mp4 continues his fiery exploration and fusion of genres like Punk Rock,...
Rising singer and rapper Luwa.Mp4 has released his debut album titled ‘punKstA*.’ The underground star who has been on a release spree all year long, announced the imminent arrival of his debut only a couple of days ago with a cryptic trailer video and an Instagram caption that simply read ‘PUNKSTA* MONDAY.’
Before the arrival of ‘punKstA*,’ the rising fusion star had been showcasing his diligence and talent with a consistent output that has seen him put out over a dozen songs since the start of the year. A string of singles led to a 6-pack titled ‘lore skooL,’ while a deluxe version that housed 5 new songs came just a month later.
His debut album’s lead single, “pUNK FANTASY,” arrived in late July, setting the stage for what could prove to be a pivotal moment in the underground star’s burgeoning career.
Across the album’s 12 tracks, the eclectic singer continues his fiery exploration and fusion of genres like Punk Rock, Afropop, Hyperpop, and Rap into something uniquely different. Tracks like “Pure Water,” which was previously teased on Cruel Santino’s Subaru Live Stream, the abrasive, Tecno-influenced “pROMISED NEVERLAND,” and the more laidback “pEEp MY RIDE” put on display the sort of varied, autotune-soaked approach that has set him apart and helped carve a growing niche.
While Luwa decided to go solo on his debut, credited as the only recording artist, the album was brought to life by a cast of talented producers like frequent collaborator TOPSY, Emyboi, JTRN, 3CB, FVKK.ANDI and Jeremy Cartier.
Listen to ‘punKstA*,’ here.
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Shekhinah Returns With Surprise Album, ‘Less Trouble’
The South African R&B star is at her most assertive on her first album in four years.
South African R&B and Pop singer Shekhinah has released a new surprise album titled ‘Less Trouble.’ The Durban star, who had been quiet for most of the year, took to social media shortly before midnight to share the new album’s cover, synopsis, and tracklist, simply stating, ‘If you’re seeing this my album LESS TROUBLE is out now at Midnight,’ in an Instagram caption.
The soulful singer first began teasing ‘Less Trouble,’ her first album in over four years, about a year ago when she released its lead single “Risk,” a bouncy Afropop-inspired collab with Ghanaian star MOLIY. A few months after the release of “Risk,” she put out “Steady,” a dreamy pop number that suggested that something bigger was on the horizon. But then it was largely radio silence about a project until its surprise arrival at midnight.
If 2021’s ‘Trouble In Paradise’ represented a coming-of-age for Shekhinah, subsisting some of the dreamy, youthful exuberance of her debut album for more measured musings on themes like heartbreak and grief, ‘Less Trouble’ finds her at her most assertive, writing and singing with the acuity of someone who is grown, decisive and discerning. The delicate opener “Break Up Season” sets the tone for the rest of the album as she shows little tolerance for shady behaviour and toxic patterns.
Other standout cuts on the album like “Bare Minimum,” a sombre collab with fellow South African award-winning singer lordkez, the ethereal, in-your-face interlude “New Casanova,” and the percussive “What Are We,” where Shekhinah contemplates the nature of a relationship but ultimately demands all or nothing, all drive home a part of the album’s synopsis, which reads ‘A BOOK ON MORE HEARTBREAK BUT LESS HEARTACHE.’
Shekhinah invites a couple of new collaborators on ‘Less Trouble,’ featuring the aforementioned MOLIY and lordkez as well as multi-instrumentalist Mars Baby and Young Stunna across the album’s 11 tracks. Mpilo Shabangu handled the majority of the album’s production, while other producers like Michael Morare, her longtime collaborator, Mthintheki Mzizi, and Vuyo also contributed to the album.
Listen to ‘Less Trouble’ here.
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