Ayra Starr’s album The Year I Turned 21 is a profound and multi-faceted journey of growth, vulnerability, and self-discovery during a pivotal moment in her life. This project reflects her emotional and artistic evolution while navigating newfound stardom, love, and loss.
Sogs like “Birds Sing of Money” and “Commas,” highlights her success and financial freedom. Starr explores the complexities of relationships from the exhilarating new romance in “Lagos Love Story” to the painful betrayal and closure in the Giveon-featured “Last Heartbreak Song”.
A standout feature is the raw honesty she brings to sensitive topics. In “Orun,” she addresses her mental well-being and reliance on God, and on the emotional closer, “The Kids Are Alright,” she pays tribute to her late father, incorporating voice notes from her family. The album showcases her versatility by blending genres like Afropop, R&B, Amapiano, and Latin influences, solidifying her status as a dynamic and deeply intentional artist.
