Ayra Starr has become face of Spotify’s new campaign.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ayra Starr has become the newest artiste to join the Spotify EQUAL Music Programme as she has been named the EQUAL Africa artiste of the month of November.
Spotify while celebrating the Nigerian rising star welcomed her as she joins the list of fierce African women making waves in music.
Spotify EQUAL aims to foster gender equality in music and provide a platform to highlight influential female creators.
In a statement, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu said that the 19-year-old singer is a burgeoning Nigerian Afro-Pop and R&B singer whose charismatic music style was daring, undaunted impacting, and empowering people, especially those who needed encouragement.
Okumu said this announcement followed Ayra’s popularity and fame since the release of her smash hit, Bloody Samaritan, from her debut studio album ‘’19 and Dangerous”.
She stated that the album featured the chart-topping singles that had catapulted the musician to the global stage.
According to her, the super-talented and vibrant fashion killer who is one of Nigeria’s most promising new voices has joined Gen-Z artists who are pioneering the kind of sound that younger audiences were leaning towards.
Okumu said, ”Our aim with the EQUAL programme is to create a space on the platform that allows us to solely amplify the work of female creators.
”Ayra represents the rise of new-age female artistes whose creativity and determination breaks barriers between genres.
“She possesses the boldness and swagger that we are used to seeing from pop artistes but has an edge that feels symbolic of the listening habits of Gen-Zers.
”We aim to amplify more confident female voices like hers through EQUAL.”
Ayra while welcoming the development said, ”It feels good to be a part of the generation that is changing the narrative and being appreciated for our contribution to society, irrespective of the sector and age.
”I am grateful to Spotify EQUAL for this feature that shines a light on women in a male-dominated industry, it makes me feel seen, and I am sure it is done so for everyone who has been featured before me.”
Being the latest artiste to join the EQUAL Music Programme, Ayra Starr will also feature on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York.
Her breakout hit, Bloody Samaritan will lead the EQUAL Africa playlist and feature on the EQUAL Global playlist.
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, was born in Cotonou on June 14, 2002, to Nigerian parents from Kwara.
Before venturing into music, Ayra Starr began a fashion career at the age of 16 with Quove Model Management.
She has a BA degree in International Relations and Political Science from Les Cours Sonou University.
