2X GRAMMY® AWARD-NOMINATED GLOBAL AFROBEATS SUPERSTAR AYRA STARR RELEASES NEW SINGLE “TORNADO”
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM STARRGIRL ARRIVING AUGUST 14
PRE-SAVE HERE | ORDER VINYL HERE
Download HERE
“breakout star” – Variety
“Ayra Starr continues her rapid rise… setting the stage for the next phase of her international breakout” – Pitchfork
“responsible for expanding the world’s view of what music from Africa sounds like“ – ELLE
“a formidable and industrious artist whose music resonates globally.” – GRAMMY.com
“undeniably one of the most magnetic pop stars around” – OkayAfrica
12 JUNE 2026 (TORONTO, ON) – Today, 2x GRAMMY-nominated, 3x MOBO Award-winning global Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr released her new single “Tornado.” Listen HERE - out now via Mavin Records/Republic Records.
Produced by Skillies, Shizzi, and RiotUSA, “Tornado” is bound to be a summer anthem; with an undeniable infectious beat and catchy chorus, Ayra’s confident tone makes this track impossible not to dance to. Watch the official music video HERE.
Earlier this week, Ayra captivated audiences with her Tiny Desk performance, where she notably debuted the track from her highly anticipated third studio album Starrgirl set for release on August 14th. Pre-order Starrgirl HERE.
Ayra recently made her daytime television debut with a special guest appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where she delivered a show-stopping performance of her hit single “Where Do We Go.” “Where Do We Go” has earned over 1.3 billion streams worldwide since its debut, which was followed by an electric remix with superstar DJ and style icon Peggy Gou. Listen to the remix HERE.
Now with over 7 billion global streams, 1 billion YouTube views and a string of instantly-recognizable collaborations across different genres; it is clear Ayra Starr brings her culture with her wherever she goes – breaking barriers and creating ‘firsts’ for African artists.
Ayra Starr had an outstanding year in 2025, hitting many new milestones. Her hit single "Rush" amassed over 500 million Spotify plays, with Ayra becoming the first African female artist to have two songs achieve this feat on the streaming platform. She notably earned her second GRAMMY nomination for “Best African Music Performance” for her hit single "Gimme Dat" featuring Wizkid at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, scooped two MOBO Awards and became the first female artist in 16 years to win Best African Music Act, and also picked up her first BET Award for Best International Act.
Download HERE
FOLLOW AYRA STARR:
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | X
ABOUT AYRA STARR:
2X GRAMMY®-nominated global Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr has quickly become one of this generation’s most undeniable new voices in music. Renowned for her anthemic Afrobeats tracks and unapologetic style, the Beninese-Nigerian artist has amassed critical acclaim from tastemaker press, a massive international following, over 7 billion global streams, and 1 billion YouTube views.
Following the release of her defining debut album 19 & Dangerous, her position as Africa’s hottest rising star has seen Ayra Starr tapped for collaborations with some of music’s biggest names, including Wizkid, Stormzy, Rema, Coldplay, Tiwa Savage, and Leigh-Anne and co-signs from the likes of Rihanna.
The rising star gained major traction over the last few years but vaulted to the forefront of Afrobeats with 2022’s “Rush,” which gathered nearly 1 billion global streams and attracted R&B icon Kelly Rowland on a high-powered remix. Recognized as a growing phenomenon early on, Ayra notably picked up nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, BET Awards, MTV VMAs, and Soul Train Awards. She made history at the MOBO Awards as the first African woman to win Best International Act and the first woman in 16 years to win Best African Music Act.
She earned her first GRAMMY® nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Rush,” cementing her as the first and youngest Nigerian female artist ever nominated in that category in 2024. Her momentum continued the next year with another GRAMMY® nomination for Best African Music Performance for her electrifying collaboration with Wizkid on “Gimme Dat.”
Ayra continued to make waves with smash hits “Hot Body,” “Who’s Dat Girl,” and “Where Do We Go” which she performed on The Jennifer Hudson show earlier this year.
Now entering a bold new era, Ayra Starr is set to release her highly anticipated new album Starrgirl this summer, featuring the new single “Where Do We Go,” released earlier this year which has already amassed over 10 million streams. The forthcoming project marks another major evolution for the global star as she continues to push boundaries with her genre-blending sound, fearless storytelling, and magnetic presence.
A genre-breaking, generation-defining talent, Ayra Starr continues to bring Afrobeats to the forefront here in the U.S. and across the world redefining what it means to be a global superstar.