Ayra Starr, the Nigerian singer, says the cold weather in New York is draining her motivation months after relocating to the city.
In November, the 23-year-old artiste, born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, revealed that she moved to New York.
“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.
But in a Substack post published on Friday and titled ‘I’m not scared, I promise’, Starr offered a more vulnerable reflection on her new environment.
She described New York as “a walk-in freezer with rent,” saying the cold made it feel as though the city was “actively trying to unalive my motivation.”
Ayra Starr said the harsh weather left her questioning her decision to move, adding that the experience stirred a deep sense of fatigue.
“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,” she wrote.
“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.”
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