Ayra Starr Reveals Her Afrobeats Big 3 in Candid Interview
In a recent interview on New York's HOT 97 FM, Nigerian international music sensation Ayra Starr was asked to name her top three Afrobeats artists, and she selected Wizkid, Rema, and Tiwa Savage as her definitive choices. The interview, conducted to promote her latest single 'Where Do We Go,' provided insights into her musical influences and upcoming projects.
Ayra Starr's Selection and Musical Connections
"My Big 3, I will say Tiwa Savage, obviously, Wizkid, Rema. That's my solid big 3," Ayra Starr declared during the radio appearance. This selection comes as no surprise to fans who have followed her career, as she has consistently expressed admiration for these artists in previous interviews and through collaborative work.
Wizkid's Influence and Collaborations: Ayra Starr has frequently cited Wizkid as one of her biggest inspirations in the music industry. Their professional relationship includes Wizkid featuring Ayra Starr on '2 Sugar' from his fifth album 'More Love, Less Ego.' In 2025, Wizkid appeared on Ayra Starr's track 'Gimme Dat,' which earned them a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Tiwa Savage's Iconic Status: The singer has also openly shared her respect for Tiwa Savage, describing her as one of Nigerian pop music's most iconic figures. Their sole collaboration occurred in 2024 when Ayra Starr joined Tiwa Savage on 'Gara,' a track featured on the soundtrack album for Savage's acting debut in 'Water & Garri.'
Rema's Special Connection and Social Media Buzz
Rema's relationship with Ayra Starr appears to be the most public and closely-knit among the trio. Both artists are signed to Mavin Records and have openly discussed their friendship on multiple occasions. In 2025, Rema delivered a guest verse on Ayra Starr's song 'Who's Dat Girl,' with video clips from their collaboration sparking widespread romance rumors that both parties have consistently denied.
Social media platforms have been buzzing with discussions about the chemistry between Rema and Ayra Starr, with fans speculating about their personal and professional dynamics. Despite the rumors, both artists maintain that their connection is purely platonic and professional.
Insights into New Single and Upcoming Album
During the HOT 97 FM interview, Ayra Starr shared details about her new single 'Where Do We Go,' revealing that the song was inspired by a secret relationship and served as an emotional outlet. "It was almost like a repetitive, toxic circle of spinning the block with someone that you know isn't great for you, but because it's comfortable for you and it's someone that you know, you just keep going back," she explained about the track, which she described as an attempt at "trauma dumping."
The award-winning star also announced that she will be releasing her third album later this year. While specific details about the project remain scarce, Ayra Starr confirmed that she won't be following the trend of naming her albums after numbers, as she did with her debut LP '19 and Dangerous' and sophomore album 'The Year I Turned 21.'
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
Ayra Starr's selection of her Afrobeats Big 3 highlights the interconnected nature of Nigeria's music industry, where collaborations and mutual respect among artists continue to drive the genre's global expansion. Her choices reflect both personal admiration and professional relationships that have shaped her career trajectory.
As Afrobeats continues to gain international recognition, artists like Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Rema, and Tiwa Savage play crucial roles in promoting Nigerian music on global platforms. Their collaborations not only produce chart-topping hits but also strengthen the cultural export of African music to international audiences.
The full interview with Ayra Starr on HOT 97 FM provides additional context about her creative process, industry relationships, and future plans as she prepares to release her third studio album and continue her ascent in the global music scene.
