Ayra Starr debuts at NPR Tiny Desk, previews unreleased ‘Tornado’ from upcoming album

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has made her first appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, delivering a powerful five-song set that also gave fans an early taste of her unreleased track, Tornado.

The performance, released as part of NPR Music’s 2026 Black Music Month series, saw the Mavin Records star take a more stripped-down approach, focusing on vocals and live instrumentation instead of her usual high-energy stage production.

During the set, she performed songs including Gimme Dat and Who’s Dat Girl, before surprising fans with Tornado, a track from her upcoming third studio album Starrgirl, which is set for release on August 14, 2026.

She closed the performance with more reflective tracks, Amin and Orun, showcasing a softer, more emotional side of her artistry.Ayra Starr reportedly described the Tiny Desk moment as a long-time dream, choosing a simple black outfit for the performance to keep attention on her voice and delivery.

The Tiny Desk appearance places her among other Nigerian stars who have performed on the platform, including Burna Boy, Tems, and Asake, all of whom have helped spotlight Afrobeats on the global stage.Her upcoming album Starrgirl is already building anticipation, especially with the preview of Tornado, which is expected to be officially released as a single ahead of the album drop.