South African global sensation Tyla has opened up about her music, personal journey, and the challenges that come with being in the spotlight.
Tyla cued up her just-released single, “Bliss”, a mix of R&B and Afrobeats. As the song played in the background, she lowered the volume to explain the lyrics more clearly.
“It’s such a real love song,” she said, adding that the lyrics are “a bit dramatic,” but true to her own emotions. The single’s cover artwork shows her drenched in sweat, with her head buried in a man’s bare chest — a bold visual that mirrors the song’s emotional depth.
“But they are things I’ve said and felt: ‘I don’t want to live without you.’ It’s so intense … but beautiful. Losing something or someone that I love is probably my biggest fear.”
Tyla
The singer admitted that she’s still adjusting to her rapid rise to fame. “When ‘Water’ happened, I wasn’t ready,” she said.
“I became obsessed with the idea of doing things ‘right.’ I wanted more time to make mistakes to fully figure out who I am as an artist, but then things just went … Well, you know.”
Tyla
She also shared that music was always a big part of her family life. “My uncle used to sing all the time,” she recalled. “He was the life of the party, and he’d be capable of just pulling out a guitar in the middle of a crowd and encouraging us to sing along.”
Her grandmother was also musically gifted and once competed in local singing contests. “Our house was never quiet, and our neighbors definitely hated us,” she said. “We were all always singing or laughing at the top of our lungs.”
Tyla Reflects on Her Journey
As she worked on the themes for her upcoming album, Tyla reflected on her journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
“I had to grow up fast, especially for someone coming from a strict family,” she said. “It was a constant challenge to learn.”
One major challenge came when her mixed heritage — Zulu, Irish, and Mauritian-Indian — sparked controversy. An old TikTok video from 2020 resurfaced, in which she referred to herself as a “Coloured South African.”
In a June 2024 interview with Charlamagne Tha God, he asked her to clarify the “debates that they be having about your identity.” Tyla chose not to answer, which led to more public debate.
Although the term “Coloured” carries painful weight for many Black Americans, in South Africa, it often refers to people of mixed-race heritage.
In response to the backlash, the ‘Water’ crooner released a statement. She admitted the experience was difficult and confusing. “That [controversy] was really confusing for me,” she said.
“I understood both sides of the story, but I was left asking, ‘OK, but what do I do now?’ When who you are is challenged, especially when it’s all you’ve ever known, it shakes you. You want to stand your ground, because if you don’t, someone else will try to define it for you.”
Tyla
Looking ahead, the singer is preparing to release a new amapiano single called “Chanel,” with her second album on the way. She recorded songs in Los Angeles, Barcelona, and other locations around the world.
This global journey influenced her music, and she even experimented with rap and reggaeton. “I had more time to work on this album than I did the first, so I have a lot of songs,” she said. “It feels really current — this time, I’m living what I’m singing, and it feels way more personal,” she added with a smile. “Way more like me.”
As for the future, Tyla has big dreams. She wants to explore acting, voice acting, performing, and even creative direction for other artists. “I want to do almost everything,” she said. “I want to look back one day when I’m older and be like, ‘Damn! I really lived my life’.”
READ ALSO: Colombia and India Mourn Ghana’s Fallen Ministers
