Ayra Starr Reveals Why Moving To New York Is Killing Her Motivation

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has admitted that the cold weather in New York is affecting her mood and motivation months after moving to the city.

The 23-year-old artiste, whose real name is Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, announced her relocation to New York in November.

At the time, she spoke positively about the city, saying it reminded her of Lagos because of the strong Nigerian and African community there, which made her feel at home.

“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.

However, in a recent Substack post published on Friday titled “I’m not scared, I promise,” the singer shared a more honest and emotional take on her experience so far.

Ayra Starr described New York as extremely cold, joking that it feels like a freezer where people still have to pay rent.

She said the weather has been draining her energy and has even made her question why she chose to move there.

According to her, the cold has brought on a deep sense of tiredness and self-reflection, forcing her to confront long-standing feelings of being misunderstood and constantly having to prove herself.

Despite this, the singer said she is determined not to limit herself or live according to other people’s expectations.

Ayra Starr wrote, “New York is basically a walk-in freezer with rent. It’s so cold it feels like the city is actively trying to unalive my motivation.

“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?

“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.

“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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Ayra Starr recently scored a major win at the 2025 BET Awards, taking home the Best International Act title.