Ayra Starr admits it’s “scary” thinking about the fact she’s set to play the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
The Afrobeats star, 22, is set to perform on the main stage at the world-famous music festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, on Saturday (29.06.24), and she cannot believe it’s happening.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It’s actually crazy. I’ve wanted to do Glastonbury for so long.
“The fact that I get to do it on the main stage is kind of scary… but I love scary.”
Along with Burna Boy, 32, they are the first Afrobeats stars to play the festival’s main stage.
She said: “It’s our time. We’ve been waiting for the globalisation of Afrobeats, and it’s happening now.
“But it’s not just what you’re seeing today. It’s years and generations of musicians and hard work that’s made it what it is.”
And she gets to celebrate the genre alongside one of her idols.
Asked who she is inspired by, she said; “I used to listen to Burna Boy, Wizkid, 2face and all the Afrobeat artists – but Rihanna was my number one.”
Talking of the ‘We Found Love’ hitmaker, the ‘Rush’ star got to meet her hero and described it as a “spiritual experience” and had her mind blown when she told her she was a fan of her music.
She told reporter Mark Savage of meeting the 36-year-old Bajan superstar: “Oh, Mark, it was a spiritual experience! And I didn’t just meet her – she knew me and loved my music.
“I was just like, ‘Naaaah, this is crazy!'”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, 47, has also been in the studio with her and provided some advice after she played him her latest LP, ‘The Year I Turned 21’.
She said: “Oh, my. Yes. I’ve loved Chris for so long, and he’s been very supportive.
“We met in a studio and I played him my album before it came out. He was giving me tips, and [his producer] Max Martin was giving me tips.
“I took them all. I was like, “Yes, I’ll do all of that!”
Ayra refused to say if she has contributed to the ‘Viva La Vida’ group’s upcoming album, ‘Moon Music’.
Asked if she was with them to work on the project, she replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know about that!”