Tyla is not just a singer and songwriter. She is a dreamer, a trailblazer, and a proud South African. Her hit song Water has made history by becoming the first solo song by a South African to enter the Billboard Hot 100 since Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass in 1968. It also reached the Spotify Global Top 50 playlist and racked up almost 40 million streams.
Tyla’s journey to stardom began in 2021, when she signed with Epic Records through Fax Records, a label based in Johannesburg and New York. Before that, she was a mining engineering student who decided to pursue her passion for music full-time. She always envisioned herself as a pop star, performing with the biggest names and crowds.
She is inspired by Rihanna, another island girl who made it big in America. In fact, some have said that Water’s video pays tribute to the Barbadian beauty. Tyla agrees: “That’s the goal,” she said.
Water’s success has been “exciting” for Tyla, who loves seeing her idols use her song. “People tag me and seeing like Megan Thee Stallion use it, Christina Aguilera, Tinashe, all these crazy people that I look up to using my song, it doesn’t feel real, and it’s all happening all at once,” she said.
But fame comes with a price. Tyla can no longer do some of the things she used to do, like going to Gold Reef City or wearing mismatched shoes and socks. She has to be more careful about her image and appearance. “But, I mean, it’s what comes with it,” she said.
One thing that hasn’t changed is her love for her country. Tyla is proud to be South African and to represent its culture and music. She says being South African is a “flex” and that the country has changed for the better since amapiano became popular. She enjoys the vibe and the parties in South Africa and wants to be one of the artists who pushes it more.
Tyla has no time for guys who show their butt-cracks, though. That’s her biggest turn-off. “No way. Like why is your crack showing? That’s my biggest ick; I can’t. It’s just like, why can’t you feel the breeze? Do you not know that your whole crack is out?” she said.
Tyla’s fans can expect more from her soon. She is working on her debut album, which will feature a fresh sound and more bangers. The album will include afro piano, pop, amapiano and afro beats. She already has the cover, the name and everything else ready. She is eager to show everyone who she is as an artist.
“I’m ready to show everyone, for real. Water is killing it, and I just want people to have more music out that’s my sound and vibe so they can get to know me as an artist,” she said. “I don’t wanna just be a song, so I’m very excited.”