‘New York Feels Like Lagos’ – Ayra Starr

Afrobeats sensation, Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has explained why she relocated to New York, saying the city has always felt like a natural home for her.

• In a viral interview clip from “Hot 93.7, Hartford,” the 23-year-old singer said she had long desired to move to the United States’ most populous city.

“Yes, I live in New York. I moved in not less than two months ago… I’m a New Yorker in my spirit; I feel it. New York reminds me so much of Lagos,” she said.

Ayra Starr said she often felt a sense of comfort and belonging whenever she performed in New York, a feeling that strengthened her decision to relocate.

“There are lots of Nigerians here. There’s a huge African diaspora here. So it feels like home,” she added.

She recalled performing in the city and feeling a sudden clarity: “I was sceptical about moving… but being on stage, I remember thinking, I really like it here. I might actually move here.”

The “Rush” hitmaker stressed that relocating has not changed her identity or her commitment to Afrobeats.

“Afrobeats will always be my… I’m Afrobeats. It’s not just a genre to me. It’s me. Wherever I go, I’m bringing that culture, that history with me,” she said.

Ayra Starr said the relocation is part of her artistic evolution and her ambition to carry African culture to a global audience.

“I moved to broaden my sound and to make my people proud around the world… I want to be able to say this is who I am and this is what I’m taking to the world,” she noted.

She described Afrobeats as one of the world’s leading genres, adding that artists like her still have work to do in advancing the culture internationally.

Ayra Starr last made headlines in July when she thrilled fans in Miami performing “Hot Body” alongside British band Coldplay.