Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has opened up about how her music-making process has changed over time, revealing that she now focuses more on experimenting with sounds than on creating songs strictly from emotion.
The Mavin Records star made the revelation during a chat on the Creatorium Podcast, where she reflected on her artistic growth and how her approach in the studio has evolved since the release of her debut project.
According to Ayra Starr, her earlier songs were deeply connected to feelings and emotional moments, but lately, she has become more interested in exploring fresh sounds, unusual ideas, and creative possibilities.
“It depends on what I am going for. Lately, for me, creating just starts with trying. Not emotion; just trying, then we see where it takes us. It may start with chords or sounds, or a specific sound I want to sample.
“Sometimes, I just want to do something fun or make something that sounds different,” she said.
The singer explained that this new mindset has allowed her to become more adventurous in the studio, unlike her first album era, where emotional storytelling played a major role in shaping the music.
“For my first album, it was more about trying something sad, something that matches emotion. But now, it’s more about experimenting sonically and indulging in different ideas to see where they lead,” she added.
Ayra Starr also shared the interesting real-life inspiration behind her song “Beggie Beggie,” revealing that the track was written during a random bus ride home after hearing a woman make a comment about someone begging inside the vehicle.
“My first album has a song called Beggie Beggie. I literally wrote it on a bus. I was going back home and just wrote it there. Somebody was begging inside the bus, and a woman said, ‘See this one, beggie beggie,’” she recalled.
Speaking further, the award-winning singer peeled back the glamorous image often attached to stardom, stressing that life behind the scenes can be physically and emotionally demanding.
She noted that despite weeks of rehearsals and preparation, unexpected technical issues can sometimes ruin an entire performance, adding that genuine passion is what keeps artists going through difficult moments.
“You have to have a certain type of love and passion for what you do to be able to do this. The glamour is the glamour, but behind the scenes, it’s a lot of work.
“It’s a lot of preparation. It’s a lot of not-so-amazing days. Sometimes, after rehearsing for two weeks, one sound can ruin the whole performance on stage,” she said.