Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has shared a candid reflection on her life in New York, revealing that the city’s cold weather is taking a toll on her motivation months after relocating.
The 23-year-old artist, born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, confirmed her move to New York in November, noting the city’s vibrant Nigerian and African diaspora communities.
“New York reminds me so much of Lagos. There are a lot of Nigerians. There is a huge Africans in diaspora here. So it feels like home,” she said at the time.
However, in a recent Substack post titled “I’m not scared, I promise,” Starr offered a more vulnerable perspective on her new environment, describing New York as “a walk-in freezer with rent.”
She explained that the extreme cold made her feel as if the city was “actively trying to unalive my motivation.”
The singer reflected on how the harsh climate has led her to question her decision to move, writing: “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 asking, Who sent you work?”
Ayra Starr also opened up about her personal growth amid these challenges, describing herself as being in her “nobody gets me era.” She shared the emotional toll of constantly trying to prove herself: “As I sit here in my nobody gets me era, there’s a certain kind of despondent, fatigued feeling surrounding me a lifetime spent proving myself. For as long as I can remember, I’ve fought to be understood.”
Despite the struggles, the Afrobeats star expressed determination and self-empowerment: “Since I’m such a brave, sexy cat, and with little zeal, I’ve decided I won’t limit myself to the expectations of others. I won’t be content with the flowers handed to me. I’ll grow my own garden. I will exist in multitudes. I will unfold endlessly. I will shine in countless numbers, like stars in the galaxy. I’m not scared, I promise.”
Her reflections give fans an intimate glimpse into the challenges of relocating abroad while pursuing global success and maintaining personal authenticity.
