Ayra Starr, an 18 year old Beninese-Nigerian singer/songwriter, combines sounds of Afropop and R&B, with influences from gospel music to Rihanna.

Starr, who often collaborates with her younger brother, was recently discovered on Instagram and signed to Mavin Records, and her self titled EP, released in January, earned praise from NME and Clash, and led her to a number one on Apple Music Nigeria’s Album, Song and Video chart. In March, she was added to BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Africa 360 playlist, as part of a campaign Faron McKenzie, Head of 1Xtra, claimed was created to support current African artists and ‘invest in the next generation’.