Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has spoken candidly about the difficult personal reality of her life in New York City, months after relocating from Lagos to enhance her global career. In a deeply personal Substack post, the singer revealed she’s battling intense loneliness and the harsh winter conditions, describing her apartment as “almost-empty” and the city as “a walk-in freezer.”
The candid confession contrasts sharply with the glitz of her strategic global career move and highlights the emotional challenges that accompany international stardom.
Missing ‘Detty December’ and Doubts
Starr admitted to moments of regret, lamenting the loss of the vibrant energy of “Detty December” in Nigeria. She confessed to feeling like she’s in her “nobody gets me era,” no longer caring about proving herself to others.
She revealed the heavy emotional toll the transition has taken, particularly the relentless cold of the North American winter:
“It’s so cold it feels like the city is actively trying to unalive my motivation. It’s the kind of cold that makes you realize happiness was just a summer hallucination, and I can’t stop the tiny voice at the back of my mind sarcastically saying, ‘Who sent you work?’”
The singer had previously noted that New York’s speed and large African diaspora reminded her of Lagos, aiding a surprisingly seamless transition. However, her latest post reveals the underlying personal and emotional cost of pursuing her global ambition away from her home support system.
Her transparency provides a rare, honest look at the sacrifices required of young Afrobeats artists pushing the genre onto the world stage.
Source: Africa Publicity
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