Biography
Tyla fuses sultry R&B and pop with the propulsive rhythms of amapiano, the dance style that originated in her native South Africa. The Johannesburg-born vocalist, songwriter, and dancer first reached listeners abroad when her 2023 single “Water” climbed into the Top Ten across multiple territories and captured a Grammy, opening the door for her self-titled debut album, TYLA, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 24.
Tyla Laura Seethal grew up in Johannesburg and scored her earliest South African hit while still a teenager. The late-2019 release “Getting Late,” recorded with Kooldrink, showcased the intimate, percussion-driven arrangements and melismatic phrasing that would become her signature.
She made her FAX Records/Epic Records bow in September 2021 with the dancefloor track “Overdue,” again featuring Kooldrink alongside DJ Lag. The leaner solo single “To Last” arrived the following year, and 2023 brought “Girl Next Door” with Ayra Starr before July’s “Water” propelled her onto global charts. The song reached the Top Ten in Australia, multiple European countries, and the United Kingdom (where it peaked inside the Top Five), topped the New Zealand singles chart, and climbed to number 67 on the U.S. Hot 100—marking the first appearance by a solo South African artist on that tally since Hugh Masekela’s 1968 hit “Grazing in the Grass” and, at age 21, the youngest such entry to date.
“Water” earned the newly created Best African Music Performance trophy at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in early 2024. Shortly afterward, Tyla issued her full-length debut, TYLA, in March. Joining the title track were contributions from Kelvin Momo, Gunna, Becky G, Travis Scott, and additional guests. The set opened at number 24 on the Billboard 200, led the World Albums chart, and landed inside the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland. A deluxe edition titled Tyla + later added the tracks “Shake Ah,” “Push 2 Start,” and “Back to You.”
Tyla Laura Seethal grew up in Johannesburg and scored her earliest South African hit while still a teenager. The late-2019 release “Getting Late,” recorded with Kooldrink, showcased the intimate, percussion-driven arrangements and melismatic phrasing that would become her signature.
She made her FAX Records/Epic Records bow in September 2021 with the dancefloor track “Overdue,” again featuring Kooldrink alongside DJ Lag. The leaner solo single “To Last” arrived the following year, and 2023 brought “Girl Next Door” with Ayra Starr before July’s “Water” propelled her onto global charts. The song reached the Top Ten in Australia, multiple European countries, and the United Kingdom (where it peaked inside the Top Five), topped the New Zealand singles chart, and climbed to number 67 on the U.S. Hot 100—marking the first appearance by a solo South African artist on that tally since Hugh Masekela’s 1968 hit “Grazing in the Grass” and, at age 21, the youngest such entry to date.
“Water” earned the newly created Best African Music Performance trophy at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in early 2024. Shortly afterward, Tyla issued her full-length debut, TYLA, in March. Joining the title track were contributions from Kelvin Momo, Gunna, Becky G, Travis Scott, and additional guests. The set opened at number 24 on the Billboard 200, led the World Albums chart, and landed inside the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland. A deluxe edition titled Tyla + later added the tracks “Shake Ah,” “Push 2 Start,” and “Back to You.”
Albums
Singles
