Grammy-nominated Nigerian singer and songwriter Ayra Starr has revealed how she overcame a six-month struggle with writer’s block, thanks to a special birthday gift.
In a recent podcast interview, the ‘Rush’ crooner shared that she had been unable to write songs until she received the demo of ’21’ from a friend on her 21st birthday.
“I got the demo of ’21’ from a friend as a birthday gift the day I turned 21,” Starr said. “I had told him that it has been so hard… I was having a writer’s block for six months. I couldn’t write about myself then he gave me the first version of the song in a demo as my birthday gift.”
Starr explained that recording ’21’ was a transformative experience for her. “Recording ’21’ was quite easy for me, I did it in one take. I was even lying down with the mic in my hand,” she recounted. The song not only marked a turning point in her creative process but also helped her see herself in a new light.
“’21’ is special because it is what opened my mind to the rest of the album. With ’21’ I started to see myself again the way I wanted to see myself,” she added.
The song ’21’ is featured on her new album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,’ and symbolizes Starr’s journey back to creative productivity and self-discovery.
