Pop and rockReviewKoko, London
The Grammy-nominated 21-year-old combines multiple energies from Afropop hits to stripped-back soulfulness, with a big voice and commitment to match
Benin-born, Nigeria-based Ayra Starr epitomises a new era in African music, as women assert their presence in a once male-dominated talent pool and the continent’s pop has finally become globally dominant. She spent 13 weeks in the UK Top 40 earlier this year with her single Rush, and this show is the 21-year-old’s first following a Grammy nomination in the new best African music performance category. Her debut album opener Cast begins and, in a chic light-pink two-piece with a sweeping asymmetric tulle skirt, Starr takes to the stage.
Her five-piece band kick into a robust rendition of Fashion Killa, and Starr’s vibrant vibrato – on a par with her studio recordings – manages to cut through. In an era marred by lacklustre concert experiences from some of her Nigerian counterparts, Starr’s synergy with her band and dancers shows how committed she is to honing her craft.
Despite her age, she has a substantial and varied catalogue, allowing multiple energies and vibes to seamlessly coexist here. Following a soulful rendition of her debut single Away, Starr reappears in a lofty balcony, telling the crowd: “I know this an Afrobeats concert but we can do some meditation, we can relax.” With just a piano accompanying her on Crazy, the audience holds its collective breath, carefully holding their cheers in between verses.
Onstage guests include rapper Darkoo and former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock; Starr performs the uptempo Overloading with fellow Nigerian vocalists Magixx and Crayon as the concert hall dazzles with phone flashes. But the running time, a lengthy hour and 20 minutes for a debut tour, tests the patience of some, and tetchy shuffling breaks out towards the finale, taking the gloss off her biggest hits: Bloody Samaritan, Rush, and Sabi. The eventual conclusion, a karaoke-style rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You sung over the track, feels corny. Overall though, this show is an ethereal experience, as Starr’s talent and range positively radiate.
Ayra Starr is on tour in Europe until 30 November
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