Tyla manifests fame on her debut album

NEW YORK (AP) – Tyla grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, practicing acceptance speeches within the mirror and imagining herself on the grandest awards stages. But as she came upon, a dream is one thing and reality is one other.

“I wasn’t prepared at all,” Tyla laughed, who won the inaugural African Music Performance Grammy Award last month, beating out established superstar nominees. “On the way to the Grammy Awards, I thought, ‘Hey, I didn’t write anything. Let me think about everything in case I win. But I don’t know, I was just moving. That day I swam against the current. And I feel like God just gave me a break and let me know, “Girl, you got this! Relax. That was the kind of energy of the day.”

There was a whole lot of good energy flowing throughout last 12 months Tyla, who released her debut album album last week. It is the culmination of the life aspirations of a 22-year-old whose ambitions have all the time exceeded her continent, regardless that it was huge.

Powered by Cape Town Recording “Water” – breaking a bottle with lightning that took the world by storm and won a Grammy Award before the album’s release, she quickly became considered one of the leading faces popularizing music originating from Africa. As Afrobeats has gained enormous attention over the past few years, Tyla has been introducing the world to amapiano music, which implies “pianos” in Zulu, a fusion of house music and Kwaito jazz, often driven by drums.

While recent artist debuts often revolve around a heavy dose of established features, Tyla all the time delivers, despite appearances from Becky G on “On My Body” and Gunna and Skillibeng on the party-starting “Jump,” a bop she describes as “stretching for people ” and not “really deep.” He spices up the amapiano vibe with songs like “Safer” and “Truth or Dare.” “NIE. 1” – a stunning collaboration with acclaimed Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems which Tyla credits with opening the door for the newest generation of African singers to make it to America. But it’s songs like “Breath Me” that prove the depth of Tyla’s talent.

“The song that most reminds me of Tyla, I would say probably ‘Breathe Me’ because it obviously has all the African sounds in it.” she said. “I’m really singing on this song, like I’m literally giving people vocals and emotions and all that.”

In “Priorities,” which is more pop-oriented and has an analogous theme to “No. 1,” laments Tyla. “My first mistake/I thought I could be everything/Watch me lose weight/I became my priority again.”

“‘Priorities’ is something I had to tell myself… I feel like a lot of people could relate to that song, just always putting people before yourself and feeling like you have to please and (overcompensate),” said the self-deprecating singer. counts Michael Jackson, Rihanna and Britney Spears as inspirations. “The fear of disappointing people… I struggle with a lot. Now I feel a little better.”

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Tyla hopes fans will gravitate towards other songs, as they did with “Water” – the album features a remixed version with Travis Scott – but admits she felt a bit of pressure. The song reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gained popularity on TikTok due to its viral #WaterChallenge dance. While he doesn’t know the small print of a possible US ban on the app, he says it is a bit concerning.

“TikTok really helps artists and helps us reach places that we can’t really reach. For example, when I was in South Africa, I used TikTok and social media – I used them extensively to get noticed,” said Tyla, who was discovered singing covers on the social media app and published her first single “Getting Late” in 2019. “TikTok has built a lot of careers and I’m sure it would be scary if a lot of people lost them.”

Currently, Tyla resides within the moment and says she is pleased with the response to the album and hopes to start her international tour, which was postponed because of injury. She desires to act and would love to play a Disney princess.

In the meantime, he’s laying the groundwork for royal music, Soso says.

“She has something about her that everyone admires… she came out and kind of conquered the world with her energy and kindness,” he said, also pointing to “her love for music and the fact that she is simply authentic in her statements.” her sound from home.”

No goal is beyond Tyla’s reach when her dreams come true.

“Ever since I was little, I was that girl who told everyone, ‘Hey, I’m going to be the biggest pop star’… I feel like if you want something, just say it,” she advised. “You work harder when you give it back, and it comes back to you – it really does.”