Popular Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, widely recognised as Ayra Starr has disclosed that she was signed by her record label boss, Don Jazzy, within three days.
The “Sabi” crooner revealed how she sang a cover song and shared it on social media to land a record deal with Mavin Records.
Ayra Starr claimed that her mother encouraged her to do song covers and switched her focus from modelling to music.
In her words; “I wanted to do modelling because everyone told me I couldn’t do it, like I’m not tall enough, and I told them, “watch me.” And I ended up doing it. When I look back, I’m so proud of little Ayra, too.
It’s because of her that I’m here now. It’s because of that 16-year-old girl that didn’t give up and kept going. I used to do cover [songs] on Instagram. My mum and her friends used to force me to do covers.
I uploaded one cover on Instagram, I didn’t even like the video. But something just kept telling me to post it and I did. Not up to 6 hours later, Don Jazzy reached out. Three days later, he signed me.”
The singer went on to say that she is not particularly worried by fans’ gazes in public, whether they are male or female.
She added; “I’m an artiste to the core, and I want my style, my hair, my music, to represent how I feel. I don’t really care about aesthetics, it’s more about how I feel. I’m not really bothered about the male, female gaze, or anybody’s gaze for that matter, except my own.
I’ve always had a mind of my own. Growing up in different places, in different cultures, has shaped my mind. And in spite of all these influences, I’m still myself. I wrote “Asé” when I was 15 — I had no business writing that song. So that gives you a glimpse of the kind of mindset I had at a young age.”
