Ayra Starr’s “Heaven Baby,” featuring ZAYN, is one of the songs from her third album, Starrgirl, that has connected with listeners through its soft piano-led production and romantic lyrics.
But the song represents only one part of Starr’s music. Since releasing her self-titled debut EP in 2021, she has moved between Afropop, R&B, highlife, dancehall and other influences, often changing her approach from one song to another.
That variety runs through her three albums. Some songs lean into romance and vulnerability, while others are driven by confidence, dance rhythms or reflections on loss.
Here are 10 songs that show the different directions Ayra Starr has explored across her catalogue.
1. “ASE” (2022)
“ASE” is one of the clearest examples of Ayra Starr leaning into an Afrosoul sound. Produced by London, the song appeared on the deluxe edition of her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, and is built around a mid-tempo groove that leaves room for her vocals.
Her delivery is relaxed and assured, moving between sung lines and conversational phrases as she pushes back against expectations placed on her.
The song also draws heavily from Yoruba language and cultural references, giving its contemporary pop production a distinctly Nigerian identity.
2. “Away” (2021)
“Away,” from her debut self-titled EP, introduced a more vulnerable side of Ayra Starr. Louddaaa’s production sits between R&B and alternative sounds, built around a restrained mid-tempo groove.
The instrumental gives her voice most of the attention. She moves between intimate verses and a firmer chorus, delivering rejection without turning the song into an aggressive breakup record.
That balance gives “Away” its appeal. Starr sounds hurt, but she is also certain about what she wants.
3. “Sare” (2021)
“Sare” finds Ayra Starr in a more playful romantic mood, but its musical appeal goes beyond its lyrics. Produced by Don Jazzy, the song runs on an upbeat Afropop rhythm and samples the Lijadu Sisters’ 1979 song “Orere Elejigbo.”
The sample gives the record a connection to an older generation of Nigerian music, while Starr’s youthful vocals and contemporary production bring it into the present.
Her light delivery suits the song’s romantic theme, while the repeated hook makes it easy to sing along to.
“Sare” also shows Starr using a familiar piece of Nigerian musical history without making the song sound like a recreation of the original.
4. “Orun” (2024)
On “Orun,” Ayra Starr moves into Nigerian highlife while addressing much heavier subject matter. The song, produced by Louddaaa, combines highlife influences with contemporary Afrobeats and soul. Starr herself has described it as a highlife song about mental health and depression.
The contrast between the music and the subject matter is central to the song. Its rhythm retains the movement associated with highlife, while Starr sings about emotional pain, faith and loss.
It is one of the clearest examples of her using a familiar Nigerian sound to carry a deeply personal subject.
5. “Rhythm & Blues” (2024)
“Rhythm & Blues” shows how easily Ayra Starr moves between R&B and Afropop. The song is upbeat and danceable, but its melodic structure and vocal delivery retain the softness associated with contemporary R&B.
Starr keeps her delivery relatively relaxed as she sings about romance, allowing the melody to carry much of the song's appeal.
Compared with the heartbreak of “Away,” “Rhythm & Blues” presents a more open and affectionate side of her songwriting.
6. “The Kids Are Alright” (2024)
“The Kids Are Alright,” from The Year I Turned 21, is among Ayra Starr’s most personal songs. Dedicated to her late father, the track features family voice notes alongside piano and strings.
The song turns away from the confidence and romance found elsewhere in her catalogue and focuses on grief, childhood and family.
Its restrained arrangement keeps attention on Starr’s vocals and the emotional weight of the lyrics, showing that her songwriting can be as reflective as it is celebratory.
7. “Gimme Dat” feat. Wizkid (2025)
“Gimme Dat” places Ayra Starr and Wizkid inside an Afrobeats setting while drawing from an older R&B and reggae influence. The song samples Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige’s “911,” bringing elements of the 2000 record into a contemporary production.
The pair approach the song with playful chemistry, with Starr delivering sultry vocals before Wizkid enters with a more relaxed verse.
The record also demonstrates Starr’s willingness to use older songs as reference points while keeping her own vocal style at the centre.
8. “Who’s Dat Girl” feat. Rema (2025)
“Who’s Dat Girl” moves Ayra Starr towards a more energetic, club-oriented sound. The track combines Afropop, dancehall and R&B influences, with Starr and Rema trading energetic lines over a bass-driven production.
Rather than separating its influences into different sections, the production blends them into a single groove.
The result is a more nightlife-focused side of Starr, built around movement, confidence and the chemistry between both artistes.
9. “Rush” (2022)
“Rush” is Ayra Starr at her most direct and self-assured. Built around a strong rhythmic foundation and a repetitive hook, the song turns confidence and ambition into a straightforward pop record.
Her delivery shifts between conversational verses and a more melodic pre-chorus and hook, creating movement without a major change in tempo.
The repeated refrain gives the vocal almost a percussive quality, making the voice part of the song’s rhythm as much as its melody.
“Rush” remains one of the clearest examples of Starr turning a personal statement into an accessible pop record.
10. “Midnight in New York” (2026)
“Midnight in New York,” from Starrgirl, takes Ayra Starr further into dance-oriented and electronic territory. The song is built around a steady dancefloor pulse, with synthesised textures and bass creating its late-night atmosphere.
Instead of placing her vocals above the production, Starr settles into the rhythm, adapting her phrasing to the song’s repetitive structure.
It is a useful example of how Starrgirl expands the range of sounds she has explored since her debut without abandoning the vocal identity that runs through her music.
Across these 10 songs, Ayra Starr moves from romance and vulnerability to grief, confidence, highlife, R&B and dance-oriented production. The sounds change, but her voice remains the thread connecting them.