You can never really know all about everyone. No matter the relationship you have with them. It is just impossible. There is always something like a hidden birthmark to change the narrative of knowing everything about that person.
That’s why you truly can’t know everything about your favorites. That’s why you need a platform like Artistes in Focus to reveal some things about your favorite artistes.
It’s Friday again and you know it’s that time for you to get closer view of your favorite artistes. This week’s Artistes in Focus features Barry Jhay and Ayra Starr.
Barry Jhay
OluwaKayode Junior Balogun is a Nigerian recording artiste, entertainer and performer from Ibadan. His professional name; Barry Jay was gotten from Balogun Junior. He has his roots from a musical lineage as the legend; Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is his father.
He didn’t make it to the music industry till 2018 where he released Aiye. The song had powerful prayerful lyrics that people could relate to. People say that Barry Jhay is a modern reflection of his father. Even his genre is Afro-Fuji pop. The song became a popular demand and
won him the Best New Act of the Year at City People Music Awards in 2018. He also got nominated for Most Promising Act of the Year at City People Music Award.
He was also known for his prayerful lyrics as his other songs had the same genre. He is a very hardworking artiste, so, he became recognized and accepted in his country. Even as his genre is not the groovy Afropop we are used to, it is loved.
He released other songs in 2019 and his achievements won him the Headies Rookie of the Year award.
He is signed into CashNation Entertainment. However, music is not his only passion. Barry Jhay owns a clothing company called; XVI-XII-X. His definitely one to keep an eye on.
Ayra Starr
Oyinkansola Aderibigbe is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter fashion and face model. She had wanted a career in music and Fashion from a very young age. Her passion for music can also be traced back to her family. Her only brother is an artiste. She was an active choir member who wrote songs. She has a good relationship with her family, especially her father who died in 2018. Devastated, Ayra poured her heart out in songs for her dear father.
Soon, she started going to the studio with her brother. There, she started recording her songs and making covers. In 2018, she was signed to a modeling company.
However, her musical career started in 2020 when Don Jazzy saw her covers on her in Instagram page. He reached out to her and started to groom her.
On the 21st of January, 2021, the record deal was made official. After the announcement of the deal, she released her debut self-named 5-track EP; Ayra Starr.
Her EP became really popular as the songs addressed love, domestic violence and beauty. Arya Starr is a total definition of “dreams come true”.
On a final note, we are going to be away for a while and it is my hope that these past months I have been writing you, your knowledge and admiration for music and Afrobeat as a whole should have soared further than when we first started. Lol. Remeber, in whatever you do, stay safe, stay jiggy and stay sane.
