Ayra Starr’s new single “Tornado” has a familiar voice tucked in the background. Rising Afrobeats singer FOLA is credited with background vocals on the track, adding his smooth tone to the Mavin star’s latest release.

The collaboration came to light after fans spotted FOLA’s name on the song credits. “Tornado” is one of the standout cuts leading into Ayra Starr’s next album, Starrgirl, which drops August 14.

Ayra first performed “Tornado” live during her NPR Tiny Desk session earlier this month. She kept the set simple, black sweatsuit, no dancers, and let the music do the talking. The song has a big, emotional sound, and Ayra says it captures the kind of bold energy she wants on the new project.

FOLA has been building his own name in Afrobeats with heartfelt lyrics and a soulful style. Getting a credit on an Ayra Starr record puts him in front of a wider audience right as Starrgirl rolls out.

Ayra Starr has been on a strong run this year. She linked up with Wizkid on “Gimme Dat,” joined Rema on “Who’s Dat Girl,” and dropped “Where Do We Go” in March. “Tornado” is expected to hit streaming platforms this Friday.

At 22, Ayra Starr is already on her third album. Starrgirl follows 19 & Dangerous and The Year I Turned 21, the project that pushed her into global charts. With FOLA now in the mix, fans are even more curious to hear what the full album sounds like when it lands in August.