South African Popiano Star Tyla Breaks Global Barriers

From her Johannesburg roots to Grammy triumphs, Tyla’s rapid rise reshapes pop and amapiano on the world stage.

From Johannesburg to the Studio: Early Years and First Singles

Tyla Laura Seethal was born on 30 January 2002 in Edenvale, Gauteng, and grew up in Johannesburg. The third of five children, she is the daughter of Sharleen and Sherwin Seethal and comes from a mixed Zulu, Indian‑Indo‑Mauritian and Irish background. After completing her education at Edenglen High School in 2019 – where she served as Head of Culture – she began posting original songs and cover versions on Instagram during her final school year. Her online presence attracted the attention of manager Garth von Glehn, who arranged her first recording sessions and saw her spend every weekend of that year in the studio. In late 2019, Tyla self‑released her debut single "Getting Late", a track produced by Kooldrink that quickly gained national traction. A music video filmed intermittently throughout the COVID‑19 lockdowns was released in January 2021 and amassed several million views on YouTube; the clip was later nominated for the South African Music Award for Best Music Video of the Year in 2022. Following the domestic success of "Getting Late", she signed a recording contract with Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records in May 2021. Subsequent singles such as "Overdue" (October 2021) and "To Last" (November 2022) built her profile ahead of an international breakthrough.

"Water": A Viral Hit That Redefined South African Presence on the US Charts

July 2023 saw the release of "Water", the lead single from Tyla’s forthcoming debut album. The song sparked a viral dance challenge on TikTok and entered the top ten in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its chart performance marked a historic moment: Tyla became the first South African soloist in 55 years – and the youngest ever – to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100, a feat not achieved since Hugh Masekela’s "Grazing in the Grass" in 1968. The accompanying video, released on 6 October 2023, attracted three million YouTube views within three days. Tyla promoted the track on international television, performing live on Sweden’s The Bianca Show and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States.

Debut Album Tyla: Critical Acclaim, Grammy Triumph and Award Season

On 22 March 2024 Tyla’s self‑titled debut album arrived via Fax and Epic Records, supported by the music video for the track "Art". Critics praised the record for its polished blend of pop, amapiano and R&B, and it entered the top twenty‑five on album charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand and Switzerland. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024, Tyla won the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance with "Water", becoming the youngest African artist ever to receive a Grammy. The same year she collected the most nominations at South Africa’s 18th Metro FM Music Awards and secured the most wins at the 2024 BET Awards, sharing the spotlight with Usher and Victoria Monét. In November 2024 she made her debut at the MTV Europe Music Awards, performing "Push 2 Start" and "Water" and walking away with three trophies for Best African Act, Best Afrobeats Artist and Best R‑B Artist.

EPs, Tours and High‑Profile Collaborations (2024‑2026)

A deluxe edition of the debut album arrived on 11 October 2024, adding three new songs including the reggae‑infused amapiano pop‑R&B track "Push 2 Start"; its video premiered on YouTube on 8 November. Tyla also appeared at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show later that year and performed at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards. December 2024 featured two home‑grown concerts in Cape Town and Pretoria, followed by the launch of the Tyla Tour in 2025, which comprised festival slots across Europe and a series of South African dates. An injury later forced the rescheduling of some European shows. May 2025 saw Tyla featured on Thai rapper Lisa’s "When I’m with You" and on a remix of WizTheMc and Bees & Honey’s "Show Me Love", the latter debuting live at her Coachella set where she also introduced the forthcoming single "Bliss". "Bliss" was released on 9 May 2025, and she hosted the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards the following month. The second single from the same period, "Is It", arrived on 11 July 2025, while she contributed "Everything Goes with Blue" to the Smurfs soundtrack later that month. The EP "WWP" (We Wanna Party) dropped on 25 July 2025, bundling "Bliss" and "Is It" and serving as a bridge to her second studio album. In September 2025 Tyla won a second MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats with "Push 2 Start", repeating her 2024 win for "Water". That same month she featured on "Talk To Me" alongside Damiano David and Nile Rodgers, and on Cardi B’s track "Nice Guy" from the album Am I the Drama?. October 2025 introduced the single "Chanel", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Global 200 and reached number 43 on the US Hot 100, becoming the highest‑charting entry since "Water". The track led the promotion for her second studio album, A*Pop, slated for 2026. In November 2025 Tyla embarked on the We Wanna Party Tour, opening with a sold‑out show at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena. The following month, South Korean entertainment giant HYBE announced a partnership with Tyla’s management company Africa Creative Agency, creating the joint venture NFO LLC to oversee her global career. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026 Tyla again claimed the Best African Music Performance award, this time for "Push 2 Start", becoming the first artist to win the category twice. She used the ceremony to announce the forthcoming A*Pop album. The second single from that project, "She Did It Again" featuring Zara Larsson, arrived on 17 April 2026, charting at number 59 on the US Hot 100 and number two in Sweden. A remix of Larsson’s "Hot & Sexy" followed on 1 May 2026. Tyla’s visibility continued with a performance alongside Future at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States on 12 June, where she also sang the South African national anthem before the South Africa‑Mexico match. She appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival on 8 July and released A*Pop on 24 July 2026, an album featuring collaborations with Babalwa M, MaWhoo, Liquideep and Zara Larsson that received positive critical reception. A week later she performed a set including "Chanel" at the WNBA All‑Star Game halftime show.

Strategic Partnerships and Management Shifts

Beyond her recording contracts, Tyla’s career has been shaped by a series of strategic alliances. Her initial deal with Epic Records and Fax Records in 2021 provided a foothold in the United States. In December 2025 the South Korean conglomerate HYBE entered a partnership with Tyla’s management outfit Africa Creative Agency, establishing the joint venture NFO LLC. Under this structure, HYBE’s resources and ACA’s creative direction are intended to amplify Tyla’s presence across continental Africa and beyond, signalling a deliberate expansion strategy for the artist’s brand.

Popiano, Influences and the Emerging Legacy

Tyla has coined the term "popiano" to describe her signature blend of mainstream pop structures with the log‑drum‑driven rhythms of amapiano, enriched by R&B and Afrobeats textures. The approach condenses amapiano’s characteristic grooves into concise three‑minute songs, allowing Western pop polish to sit alongside African musical traditions. Lyrically, her work often explores love, identity and empowerment. She cites Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Aaliyah and Britney Spears among her earliest inspirations, adding Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Shakira, Cassie, Drake and African stars such as Wizkid, Tems and Freshlyground to the list. In her own words, Tyla wanted a pop star from South Africa to stand on the global stage, and now seeks to be that representative for her hometown. The combination of a distinctive sonic identity, a string of historic chart achievements and a growing catalogue of high‑profile collaborations positions Tyla as a leading figure in the evolution of contemporary South African pop music.