Since Ayra Star began popping, she has been on a roll — on a relentless march forward. With a robust and full voice and an engaging persona, her songs, no matter the tempo, always reveal the incredibly talented and versatile vocalist that she is.

“Bad Vibes“, as the title sort of suggests, is a buoyant anthem for swatting away negativity and creating space for good vibes. And who better to join her in this than the Seyi Vibez of No Seyi, No Vibez ? Their comfort and familiarity with the track are evident as they navigate the vocals with a confident yet relaxed demeanor, exuding a sense of assuredness that can only come from being thoroughly at ease with the material.

Ayra Starr’s certitude in her presence in the world, in the work that she’s making, is glaring and endearing. She is one of the new generation of African pop stars who are working to shut down the idea that it may be difficult for any woman to build and sustain a pop career with more equanimity and aplomb.

Signed under the ever-prescient  eye of Mavin Records — a label with a 12-year track record of sniffing out the next big thing — Starr is right on the precipice for something special, something huge. With her sophomore album coming this month, the singer is inching closer than ever to becoming the complete Afropop package.