South African singer-songwriter Tyla opens up about her journey to pop stardom and the cultural significance of her music, following the release of her highly anticipated debut album TYLA and its deluxe edition, TYLA +, in October 2024. Known for her breakout hit Water, which earned her a Grammy for Best African Music Performance and made her the highest-charting African female soloist ever on Billboard’s Hot 100, Tyla’s rise has been marked by a deliberate embrace of her roots and her fresh take on amapiano.
In an interview with Apple Music, Tyla emphasizes the African influence in her music, particularly amapiano, the genre at the core of her sound. “The roots of my sound are in amapiano music, in South African and African music,” she explains. Her debut album is a blend of pop, R&B, amapiano, and Afrobeats—a combination she playfully calls “pop-piano”—which narrates her coming-of-age experiences and self-discovery. Across the album, Tyla opens up about love, heartbreak, and her personal growth, underscoring themes of confidence and empowerment.
TYLA +, the deluxe edition of the album, adds three new tracks—PUSH 2 START, BACK to YOU, and SHAKE AH—each featuring genre-defining artists and showcasing her signature fusion of amapiano with other global influences. Tyla’s collaborators include heavyweights like Travis Scott (on the Water remix), Tems, and South African amapiano star Kelvin Momo, among others. Her dedication to representing Africa is clear: “Music is our everything in Africa. It’s our essence,” she says, ensuring her sound remains authentic while appealing to a global audience.
