Billboard cover star Tyla talks about creating her viral hit "Water," the journey to creating her recently released debut album 'Tyla,' the diverse collaborations from Becky G, Tems, Gunna and Skillibeng, how her sound has evolved from R&B and pop to more Ampiano focused, how she feels to be the first artist to win a Grammy in the new African Music Performance category, how the South African dance Bacardi dance style inspired the viral "Water," dance, canceling her highly anticipated Coachella performance and tour due to injury and more.
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00:00 People are going to see me everywhere.
00:01 So if you don't like me, I'm sorry.
00:03 So the making of Water, I was wrapping up the album
00:24 and I was looking for sounds that I was missing
00:29 and I really felt like I was missing like a summer, banger, vibey type song.
00:34 So I ended up working with these people that we call the Fantastic Four
00:38 which is Ari, Kory, Mocha and Sammy Soso
00:42 and we came up with literally the exact song I had envisioned.
00:48 We recorded it in a bedroom literally
00:51 and I just remember repeating it and repeating it
00:54 and playing it for whoever would listen
00:56 and people that I played it for loved it.
00:58 I had a really good feeling, I started performing it before it was out
01:02 and the response was so good that I was like, wait, this could be the song.
01:07 But obviously the challenge and everything took it like to the world.
01:14 First of all, I love Bokardi.
01:24 I just really love bringing South African dancing to my performances
01:29 like all of them as much as I can.
01:31 And with Water, we were looking for a moment for the song
01:36 like we had to push, we were grinding, trying to make a plan
01:39 and we were doing that type of style for a different song
01:42 and it was getting good responses online.
01:45 So we were like, let me do this but for Water.
01:48 And we did and I poured water on my back
01:51 and that video flew, like it literally went and changed my whole life.
01:58 The first time I went to America, it was June 2022 and we went to New York.
02:06 I remember in that time where there was labels reaching out
02:10 and people wanting to sign me.
02:12 I honestly wasn't expecting it because I didn't know that people would see me
02:17 from like America, like labels and everything.
02:19 But when they started reaching out, it brought a different level of excitement
02:22 and a feeling that we were getting closer to the dream.
02:26 The songs I was making prior were very much pop and R&B
02:36 and I wanted to do that on an Amo piano beat.
02:40 And also in South Africa around that time, there wasn't many people singing on it.
02:44 It was mainly like chanting or instrumental.
02:48 So it was very new and it was literally us just playing around
02:51 and it ended up working.
02:52 And from there, I realized that that was my sound.
02:56 I don't know, like I don't really like putting a name to it just as yet
02:59 because I feel like it's still gonna get its name.
03:03 But pop piano, it's cute.
03:06 I've been making the album for over two years.
03:15 So it's been literally a while and I've gone through a lot of changes
03:20 physically, emotionally and even musically.
03:24 So I feel like this Tyler album is like me wrapping up that era of myself
03:30 and presenting it to the world as my introduction.
03:33 I really wanted to also have, like I said, expand the world,
03:41 like with Becky G, play around in the Latin world.
03:45 Obviously, Tamed, me and her, come on, like African girls killing it only made sense.
03:50 Ghana and Skilly, I feel like I also explored a bit more
03:54 because in that song, I was also very like talking my business.
04:00 And I felt like Ghana and Skilly were the type of people
04:04 to carry that narrative with me.
04:07 Everyone on the album, like, love.
04:10 Being honest, it's difficult because I want to go.
04:13 I mean, it's a moment that I've been waiting for, my team,
04:16 everyone's been waiting for for very long.
04:18 So it's not an easy decision, but it's the right decision.
04:24 And I'm happy that I took it.
04:27 And I know that when I come back and when I'm in the studio,
04:30 I'm gonna be like, "Oh, I'm so happy that I took it."
04:33 And I'm gonna be like, "Oh, I'm so happy that I took it."
04:35 And I'm gonna be like, "Oh, I'm so happy that I took it."
04:37 And I know that when I come back and when I'm dancing again,
04:41 I'm gonna be giving a whole spectacular show.
04:43 So it's not really all negative.
04:46 It's just gonna take a bit longer than we thought.
04:50 I think also what helped with that decision
04:54 is just me being confident in the project
04:57 and confident with what I created and what I'm gonna share.
05:01 Like the videos, the visuals, everything that we're doing.
05:04 I'm just really confident in what I created.
05:07 There's no way to stop me.
05:08 I'm always gonna find a way.
05:10 And I know it's still gonna be amazing.
05:12 - And the Grammy goes to Water, Tyla.
05:15 (crowd cheering)
05:17 - I cannot believe I won a Grammy.
05:21 I don't even know when it's gonna sink in.
05:23 But till this day, I cannot believe that I got a Grammy
05:27 at this age, so early in the career,
05:29 the first person to win the African Performance Grammy.
05:33 Like all of that is kinda a lot to take in.
05:38 That's definitely my pinch me moment.
05:40 (upbeat music)
05:46 It wasn't easy to get here.
05:49 Like obviously there's a very long way to go,
05:51 but still even getting here was very difficult.
05:54 And I can't imagine how much more difficult it was
05:57 for the people before me, like Wizkid, or Burna Boy,
06:00 or Davido, and all those artists that were able
06:03 to open doors for us.
06:05 I just wanna make it even easier for the next generation,
06:08 and the next generation, and just broaden our audience,
06:11 because Africa really has it.
06:13 And I really feel like it's gonna be the hub
06:16 for all things creative, you know?
06:19 (upbeat music)
06:26 Just literally my own tour,
06:28 like I was really looking forward to that.
06:30 I'm still really looking forward to it.
06:32 Headlining a tour, number one albums,
06:35 like I can't even wait for my next album.
06:37 And I'm thinking about fourth album,
06:39 how's my hair gonna be?
06:40 All this stuff genuinely excites me.
06:44 So literally everything, like I'm excited to even branch off
06:47 and try new things, like get more into fashion,
06:50 or makeup, or acting.
06:52 There's just a lot that I wanna do.
06:55 And I'm looking forward to doing that.
06:59 (upbeat music)