Ayra Starr gives track by track breakdown of her new album 'The Year I Turned 21'

Brimming with self-confidence and unvarnished introspection, Ayra Starr's 'The Year I Turned 21' covers a range of topics, love, heartbreak, loss, fame, success, and gender positivity.

Ayra Starr blends R&B and Afropop with stylistic borrowings from Latin pop, Jamaican dancehall, Nigerian highlife, and more to make for an album that has earned praise from critics.

Speaking with Apple Music, Ayra Starr describes her sophomore album to be the product of self-devolvement. “This album has made me who I am now. It was proper character development,” she says.

Here is a track-by-track breakdown of the album according to Ayra Starr.

Birds Sing of Money

“My brother, who is a music video director, paid a guy to just sing a Fuji song about me, which is at the beginning of ‘Birds Sing of Money’. This was a day after I released my first EP, as a gift. And the guy was just hyping me up. That’s a very Yoruba thing.”

Goodbye (Warm Up) with Asake

“This is one of my favourite tracks I’ve ever recorded. Ever. Before I sent it to Asake, I wasn’t even sure if he was going to like the song. He was like, ‘OK Ayra, give me some time.’ He sent me his verse in two days. I was like, ‘Oh, this is sounding good.’ ”

Commas

“‘Commas’ is about how God has blessed me and I’m really grateful for where I am in life and where I’m about to go. I’m grateful for just even being present in this moment and being alive. I feel like that’s what has brought me here, my gratitude and the continuous hard work I will keep putting into this job. God is good.”