Ayra Starr Opens Up on Loneliness, Regret and Cold Nights in New York

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has shared a deeply personal reflection on her new life in New York, weeks after relocating from Lagos following a management deal with Roc Nation.

In a candid Substack post titled “I’m not scared, I promise,” the singer peeled back the glamorous image often associated with international success, revealing a more vulnerable side of her journey. Ayra Starr described her New York apartment as “almost-empty” and likened the city’s freezing weather to a “walk-in freezer.”

She admitted that the harsh cold and isolation have at times made her question her decision to move abroad.

“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,” she wrote, adding humorously, “I can’t stop the tiny voice at the back of my mind sarcastically saying, ‘Who sent you work?’”

The Rush crooner also reflected on what she left behind in Nigeria, noting that she could have been enjoying the festive Detty December season with friends and fans back home. Instead, she finds herself navigating solitude in a foreign city — a consequence, she says, of taking a rebellious leap of faith.

Ayra Starr concluded by declaring that she is now in her “nobody gets me era,” emphasizing that she has stopped trying to prove herself to anyone.

Opinion: Success Abroad Isn’t Always as Glamorous as It Looks

Ayra Starr’s honesty is refreshing in a world where success is often filtered through highlight reels and luxury aesthetics. Her words remind fans that behind every international move, big deal, or global stage is a human being grappling with doubt, loneliness, and sacrifice.

While New York represents opportunity and global exposure, her reflections show that growth sometimes feels uncomfortable and isolating. Leaving familiarity, warmth, and community in exchange for ambition is a price many dream of paying — until they experience it firsthand.

Yet, there’s strength in her vulnerability. By sharing her struggles openly, Ayra Starr gives voice to countless young people chasing big dreams far from home. Her “nobody gets me era” may just be the quiet chapter before an even louder, more confident version of herself emerges.