In February, Tyla added another feather to her hat which was already struggling for space because of the awards, and plaques she has won since her hit single, Water took over the airwaves globally by winning the first Best African Music Performance award during the 66th Grammy Awards. Winning the Grammys could be said to be the highlight of Tyla’s music career which started during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic put the world on a standstill in 2020. Dreams and ambitions were put on hold by the resultant lockdown that followed the outbreak, but not the dreams of South Africa’s raving pop star, Tyla. Like everyone in the country, Tyla was forced to stay at home for the government-mandated period to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and to get through the period, Tyla started making videos for TikTok; the short video platform that caught the world by storm during the period.
Born Tyla Laura Seethal in 2002, is of Indian, Zulu, Mauritian, and Irish descent, and was raised in the urban South African city of Johannesburg. She discovered her passion for music early, already composing songs in her diary at 12, a pastime her family supported. Her influences include Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Drake, Cassie, and Wizkid. Tyla’s gravitation to music started with drama and choir activities at school, and in her final year at Edenglen High School, she became Head of Culture, steering her towards a path she has always wanted for herself.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Getting Late, a mid-tempo track Tyla released a year earlier caught the attention of TikTok and Instagram. The song that crystallized Tyla’s journey to superstardom featured South African record producer Kooldrink and became her song of stardom. Tyla never anticipated Getting Late would transcend South Africa’s boundaries, however with the power of social media which she harnessed by building a huge following on TikTok and the song’s ready-dance-beat, the song evolved into a global Amapiano anthem. Effortlessly merging deep basslines with angelic vocal delivery, the single epitomizes the expanding overlap between Amapiano and Pop—a fusion Tyla has skillfully experimented with on numerous tracks.
For the uninitiated, Amapiano stands as South Africa’s latest musical sensation. Championed by DJ Stokie and Kabza De Small, the genre’s dynamic percussion and captivating bass lines have captivated the world. However, South Africa has long boasted a vibrant electronic music legacy. As the soundtrack to the celebrations following the abolition of apartheid, house music became symbolic of hope and liberation in the country during the early 1990s. Since then, artists like South African Disc Jockey and producer, Black Coffee have taken their ‘afropolitan’ beats to international stages, from Ibiza to collaborations with global icons like Drake.
With Getting Late transcending South Africa’s borders, it captured the ears of listeners worldwide and attracted attention from record labels eager to sign Tyla. Ultimately, she chose Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Tyla’s musical journey continued to evolve, marked by notable collaborations and vibrant solo releases. In 2021, she joined forces with Kooldrink and DJ Lag for Overdue, followed by the introspective To Last in 2022, delving into the complexities of a failed relationship against the backdrop of vibrant Amapiano rhythms. Despite the upbeat sound, To Last exuded a somber mood, laden with introspection and remorse. Tyla kicked off 2023 with Been Thinking, exploring the themes of confidence, seduction, and femininity as she heals from the heartbreak she spoke about in To Last. Collaborating with Nigeria’s Ayra Starr on Girl Next Door, produced by the prodigious P.Priime, Tyla, and Ayra delivered a heartfelt performance, blending affection with subtle warnings to a potential lover. Their collaboration lends credence to the growing presence of female music superstars on the African continent, marking a significant moment in their burgeoning careers.
In July 2023, Water became Tyla’s springboard to global dominance. Water was a sensation on TikTok, Instagram, and across other social platforms, and even if you haven’t come across Tyla’s name yet, you’ve likely heard the song— its captivating, percussive beat. Or you may have seen the music video where she shows off dance moves, as sensual as it is gripping.
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With the release of Water last year, Tyla has swiftly captured the attention of the Western world in recent months, infusing radio airwaves, TikTok feeds, and countless Spotify playlists with a distinctly South African flair that many didn’t realize they were longing for in their musical repertoire. It debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 7 on the chart, making Tyla the highest-charting African female solo musician in Billboard history. Water also entered Spotify’s Global Top 50 playlist and has more than 40 million streams on the platform. On TikTok, the Water Dance Challenge raked in over 500 million views and was used in over 500,000 videos and counting. The virality on the Gen-Z-dominated app would go on to propel Tyla to being the first South African artist to hit the Billboard Top 100 in 55 years, securing her a lasting place within music history that will be difficult to overlook for some time. She consolidated her efforts with a 5-track self-titled EP, stacked with a Water remix assisted by Travis Scott before adding another plaque to her bag.
In February 2024, Tyla made history at the Grammys by becoming the first-ever winner of the Best African Music Performance award. The category was created by the Academy to honor music from the continent, according to Academy President Harvey Mason Jr. “I’d love to see us be able to honor even more music from Africa and other areas of the world,” Mason said. “This is crazy, I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old.” She said during her acceptance speech. For the Best African Music performance category, she contended with Afrobeats stars Asake and Olamide (Amapiano), Burna Boy (City Boys), Davido featuring Musa Keys (UNAVAILABLE), and Ayra Starr (Rush). However, the massive appeal of Tyla’s Water proved irresistible for Grammy voters. She capitalized on the momentum by making remixes with Travis Scott and Marshmello.
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After her Grammy victory, Tyla was billed to start her world tour, meeting her fans around the world; however, her health at the time was at stake and she had to cut short all her earlier scheduled events for health reasons. In an open letter to her fans, which she also calls ‘Tygers,’ Tyla disclosed that she wouldn’t be able to proceed with the tour as a continuation of the tour would jeopardize her long-term health and safety. While sympathies flowed in from her fans, eyebrows were raised over the possibility of the delivery of her debut album which she had slated for a March 22 release.
Last month, Tyla unveiled her debut album, bearing her name. This eponymous release extends her distinctive fusion of Pop and R&B, complemented by a consistent infusion of South Africa’s beloved Amapiano genre—a sonic blend she dubs “Pop-Piano”.
Tyla ushers the South African pop princess into a new phase of her music career, and as she rightly said: “I am so ready for everything that is to come”
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A beautiful piece. Well done.