The new African music sensation comes from South Africa and her name is Tyla. The 21-year-old singer from Johannesburg is setting all the tables with her hit “Water”. The newspaper The Continent listed her among the Africans of the year in 2023. 2024 could be the year of consecration with the release of her first album.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
It was with the title “Water” that everything exploded for Tyla. This hit has been listened to more than 200 million times on Spotify, choreographed on TikTok through the water challenge, which consists of twerking while pouring water on your behind. The song is up for a Grammy award in February.
Tyla dreams about it, as she said on television. “ I want to be the biggest pop star and I want it to be African! I see myself performing on the biggest stages, winning the Grammies, collaborating with the Drakes and Rihannas of this world. I remember when I was little, I watched these people on television, so I would like to be that person for other young people in Africa “, she says.
From South Africa to conquering the entire world in less than a year. Tyla claims to belong to South Africa, but she now looks towards the homeland of her idols, the United States. She signed with the American label Epic Records, that of Travis Scott, the Black Eyed Peas and Sho Madjozithe other South African artist who is a hit.
Everything for her
If Tyla’s career exploded, it was partly due to his personality, explains South African radio presenter DJ Sabby. For him, Tyla is a star seed. “ You just have to look at her to see a star, it’s undeniable, you can see it in her presence on stage. From a business perspective, she has it all: she looks like a star, she sings like a star, she acts like one », he assures
His particularity lies in his accent. “ Some South African artists think they have to change their voice when they become internationally known, not herexplains South African radio presenter DJ Sabby. She’s really interesting. His musical DNA would be more R&B, but his style allows him to have a chameleon effect. She is able to adapt, mix genres and transcend any musical style, which is what she did with the artist Kooldrink on the track “Getting Late“, it was a new form ofamapianowhat I would call pop amapiano. »