Tyla (singer)
Tyla Laura Seethal (born 30 January 2002), known mononymously as Tyla, is a South African singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Johannesburg, she signed to Epic Records in 2021 after the domestic success of her debut single "Getting Late" featuring Kooldrink. Tyla rose to international prominence with her 2023 single "Water", which was a top ten hit in the United Kingdom and the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years.
Tyla | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Tyla Laura Seethal[1] |
Born | [2] Johannesburg, South Africa | 30 January 2002
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 2019–present |
Labels |
|
Early life
Seethal was born in Johannesburg, South Africa into a Coloured[5] family with Zulu, Indian and Mauritian descent.[6][7][8][9] She matriculated from Edenglen High School in 2019 and was the head of culture in that year.[10] She started out posting original songs and covers to her Instagram account, as well as sending them out to a number of figures in the music industry, subsequently being discovered by her first manager who then organized her first recording sessions.[4]
Career
2019–2022: "Getting Late" and national success
In late 2019, Tyla released her debut single, "Getting Late" featuring production from Kooldrink, which achieved national success.[8] The accompanying music video was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 28th South African Music Awards in 2022.[11] She then signed a recording contract with Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records in the United States.[12][13] She followed up this effort with the singles "To Last" and "Overdue".[14][15]
2023: "Water" and international success
Tyla's debut performance came in 2023 during the Dolce & Gabbana afterparty at Milan Fashion Week,[16] following the release of her single "Been Thinking",[17][18] which earned Tyla her first chart placement of her career, on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[19] Heven Haile of Pitchfork described it as a "slick club anthem that channels the seductive pop-R&B hits of mid-2000s Ciara and Rihanna".[20] Tyla then joined Chris Brown as the opening act for the European leg of his Under the Influence Tour.[21] In May 2023, she released the single "Girl Next Door", featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.[22] She also later released the song "Water" in July 2023 as the lead single from her upcoming debut extended play.[23][8] After spawning a viral dance challenge on the social media platform TikTok,[24] the song entered the top 10 in New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[25] Entering at number 67, "Water" made Tyla the youngest-ever South African and the first South African soloist in 55 years to enter the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, following Hugh Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass" in 1968.[26] She performed the song live on The Bianca Show in Sweden and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States.[27][28] Its accompanying music video, released on 7 October 2023, accumulated 3 million views on YouTube in three days.[29] Tyla was then featured on a remix version of the song "Girls Need Love" by Summer Walker, released as part of the latter's Girls Mix extended play in October 2023.[30]
Discography
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SA [31] |
AUS [32] |
IRE [33] |
NLD [34] |
NZ [35] |
SWE [36] |
UK [25] |
UK Afro. [25] |
US [37] |
WW [38] | |||
"Getting Late" (featuring Kooldrink)[12] |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
"To Last"[14] | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Overdue" (featuring DJ Lag and Kooldrink)[15] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Blood & Water: Season 2 (Music From The Netflix Series) | |
"Been Thinking"[18] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —[upper-alpha 1] | — | Non-album singles |
"Girl Next Door" (featuring Ayra Starr)[22] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Water"[23] | 10 | 6 | 6 [39] | 6 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 46 | 21 | TBA | |
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Thata Ahh" (ShaunMusiq, Ftears and DJ Maphorisa featuring Young Stunna, Madumane and Tyla)[40] |
2022 | Thatha Ushaka |
"Ke Shy" (Major Lazer and Major League DJz featuring Tyla, Luudadeejay and Yumbs)[41] |
2023 | Piano Republik |
"Bana Ba" (Daliwonga featuring ShaunMusiq, Ftears, Tyla and TitoM)[42] |
Dali Dali |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Ngowam"[43] | 2022 | Kelvin Momo | Amukelani |
"Girls Need Love (Girls Mix)"[30] | 2023 | Summer Walker | Girls Need Love (Girls Mix) |
Awards and nominations
Year | Organization | Award | Recipient or nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | South African Music Awards | Music Video of the Year | "Getting Late" (featuring Kooldrink) | Nominated | [11] |
Notes
- "Been Thinking" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[19]
References
- Hendricks, Colin (1 April 2021). "YOU chats to singer Tyla". You. p. 70. OCLC 899366119. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- "Tyla Celebrates New Single & Birthday In Hollywood". AllAccess. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Campbell, Erica (8 March 2023). "Tyla: "I really want eyes on all African artists, because we need more attention"". NME. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Dunn, Frankie (3 April 2021). "Tyla is on a mission to become South Africa's biggest popstar". i-D. Vice. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Kelly, Jade (1 March 2021). "The Year of Tyla". Breakroom Africa. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Seethal, Tyla (23 September 2020). "#celebratemzansi let's see you guys join the challenge". TikTok. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "Biography: TYLA". FAX Records (Epic). United States: Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Kawalik, Tracy (20 September 2023). "Tyla: 'I'm a rock-star Barbie doll'". Rolling Stone (UK). Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- Murray, Robin (7 November 2022). "Track Of The Day 7/11 - Tyla". Clash. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Frans, Karien (3 March 2021). "Former Edenglen High learners releases music video". AWSUM School News. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- Shumba, Ano (7 June 2022). "South African Music Awards 2022: All the nominees". Music Africa.
- Canham, Tamlyn (26 May 2021). "'Getting Late' singer Tyla bags global record deal". East Coast Radio. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Coetzee, Nikita (26 May 2021). "SA star Tyla signs international deal". News24. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- Keila (6 November 2022). "Tyla Kicks Off With a Impressive New Single "To Last"". Out Now.
- Rashed, Ayana (7 October 2021). "Tyla Releases New Visual For "Overdue" Featuring DJ Lag & Kooldrink Out Now". Respect. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- "Who is Tyla? The South African beauty has a bright future ahead". Glamour (SA). 1 March 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Victoria, Kenyatta (3 March 2023). "Tyla Shares The Story Behind Her Viral Hit "Been Thinking"". Essence.
- "Lil Yachty, Rae Sremmurd and All the Songs You Need to Know". Rolling Stone. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: Week of May 30, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- Haile, Heven (9 February 2023). "Track Review: Tyla - "Been Thinking"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- "Tyla to support Chris Brown on massive UK & Europe tour". Hype Magazine. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Pierre, Alphonse (11 May 2023). "Listen to Tyla and Ayra Starr's New Song "Girl Next Door"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Gibson, Donte (1 August 2023). "Tyla Aims To Quench Our Thirst With 'Water'". Soul Bounce. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Iahn, Buddy (11 September 2023). "Tyla solidifies rising star status with viral hit 'Water'". The Music Universe. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "Tyla | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- Aradi, Gloria (10 October 2023). "South Africa's Tyla makes historic Billboard Hot 100 debut with Water". BBC News. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- Ontong, Joel (9 October 2023). "Tyla has her first TV interview in Sweden and talks about her 'song of the summer'". News24. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- Ontong, Joel (25 October 2023). "Tyla makes US TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". News24. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- Darangwa, Shingai (9 October 2023). "Tyla clocks 3 million views in 3 days, breaks all-time Spotify listeners record". iOL. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- Bowenbank, Starr (16 October 2023). "Summer Walker Enlists Victoria Monet, Tyla & Tink for 'Girls Need Love (Girls Mix)' EP". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- "South Africa Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- "Discography Tyla". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- "Tyla – Water". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 42". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- "Billboard Hot 100: Week of October 28, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- "Billboard Global 200: Week of October 28, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 20 October 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- "THATA USHAKA - Single by Shaunmusiq, Ftears". Apple Music (ZA). Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- Moloi, Atlehang (20 June 2023). "Watch Major Lazer And Major League DJz' Visuals For 'Ke Shy'". Silk on our Life. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- "DALI DALI - Daliwonga". Apple Music (ZA). Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Amukelani – Album by Kelvin Momo". Apple Music. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.