Singer Ayra Starr has said she would most like to work with Afrobeats star Burna Boy in the future.
The 23-year-old spoke about her ambitions in an interview with Billboard.
“Everybody knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with. I’ve collaborated with a lot of people, and I still want to collaborate with many more people,” Ayra Starr said.
Her comment came as she discussed her 2026 Grammy nominations ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for February 1. The singer is a two‑time Grammy nominee, including for her hit song ‘Gimme Dat’ with Wizkid in the Best African Music Performance category.
Reflecting on her Grammy journey, she said the second nomination felt like a boost to her confidence. “The first time I got nominated, it was like, ‘Oh my God, I got nominated. This is crazy.’ But the second time felt like reassurance and just like, ‘Oh, I’m good at this. I know what I’m doing.’”
Ayra Starr also spoke about the making of ‘Gimme Dat’, which samples ‘911’ by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige. She said she did not know about the sample until recording with producer Don Jazzy, and that discovering the session took place in the same studio once used by Wyclef Jean felt meaningful.
She described challenges during the recording, including struggling with her vocals at first. “First of all, I sounded horrible. The engineer knew I sounded horrible. I sounded bad the first day,” she said, adding that she worked hard the next day to improve her performance.
Ayra Starr explained ‘Gimme Dat’ was originally intended as her solo track before Wizkid joined the project. “I recorded this song maybe six or eight months before it actually came out. This was before Wizkid even jumped on it. It was supposed to be just my single,” she said.
On the broader rise of African music globally, she said, “I feel like it’s Africa’s time music‑wise. We’ve always made amazing music, and the world is just catching up.”
Looking ahead, Ayra Starr said she is working on a new album and a book. “One thing I’m doing this year is creating whatever I want to exist. I’m working on an album. I’m not done. By God’s grace — a book,” she said.
