Ayra Starr feat. ZAYN – "Heaven Baby"

If heaven has a waiting room, Ayra Starr and ZAYN are probably coming through the speakers. The two having commandeered a piano. The walls papered in galaxies.

The Nigerian superstar and one of pop’s valedictorians’ voices spend no time finding each other across the keys, Ayra glowing like an iron left plugged in and ZAYN sending his falsetto somewhere near the ceiling tiles. By the chorus, the room has misplaced its floor.

You’d think someone behind the desk would object, but the place appears to have excellent acoustics and very relaxed management. Ayra and ZAYN move differently through the room. She presses into a line; he curls around the edge of it. Then they trade places, overlap, brush past each other and meet again and again with “You could be my heaven, baby.”

Ayra called “Heaven Baby” “one of the best songs I’ve ever gotten to sing” and said she cried the first time she heard the finished version. Her trophy cabinet already has plenty to discuss, which makes a new career highlight announcing its arrival in real time even sweeter.

Then the music stops and the intercom crackles overhead. Nobody’s name gets called. Just one announcement: whatever you’re waiting for, go meet it loudly.