Ayra Starr admits it’s “scary” thinking about playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.
The Afrobeats star will perform on the main stage at the famous festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset in England on June 29 — and she can’t quite believe it.
“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,” she said to the BBC.
Along with Burna Boy, they are the first Afrobeats stars to play the festival’s main stage.
“It’s our time,” Starr said. “We’ve been waiting for the globalization 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.
“I used to listen to Burna Boy, Wizkid, 2face and all the Afrobeat artists — but Rihanna was my number one,” she responded when asked who she is inspired by.
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 Rihanna told her she was a fan of her music.
“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!'” she told reporter Mark Savage on meeting the Bajan superstar.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin has also been in the studio with Starr and provided some advice after she played him her latest LP, The Year I Turned 21.
“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!'” she said.
Starr refused to say if she has contributed to the “Viva La Vida” group’s upcoming album, Moon Music.
“I don’t know. I don’t know about that!” she replied when asked if she was on the group’s upcoming project.
