On the night before the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, South African singer Tyla felt surprisingly calm. This evening was significant, as she was set to deliver a surprise performance at the Prelude to the Olympics, hosted at the prestigious Fondation Louis Vuitton. The event, curated to set the tone for the global occasion, was attended by notable celebrities like Zendaya and LeBron James. Tyla recalls being personally invited by Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director, saying, "I was asked to do the event by Pharrell, so it was insane—an instant ‘Yes.’” Although she usually feels nerves before big performances, this time Tyla was looking forward to the show throughout the day, reveling in the anticipation rather than anxiety.
For the performance, Tyla wore a bold look from Louis Vuitton Men’s unreleased Spring 2025 collection. She styled herself in an oversized black and yellow jersey, paired with spandex shorts and thigh-high boots—a style that captured her edgy yet polished persona. She sang four songs, including her hit “Water,” to an audience of VIPs. Reflecting on the crowd's reserved demeanor, she shares with a smile, “I felt hot. When I got on, I knew it was going to be that type of crowd: professional, don’t dance much. But regardless, I had so much fun.” Ever the entertainer, she even teased the audience onstage, saying, “You guys are stiff,” a playful dig that lightened the atmosphere.
Just days before her Paris performance, Tyla had been in London, preparing for an array of upcoming shows, including her debut at the famed Chicago music festival Lollapalooza. Additionally, she was working on both a deluxe album for her self-titled debut EP and new music. At just 22, Tyla has experienced one of the most rapid ascents in the music industry, transforming into a true African pop icon with a global following. Ezekiel Lewis, president of Epic Records, the label that signed Tyla, says of his first impression of her, “I just started seeing stars. It was a grand opportunity to help collaborate and make something truly original.”
Only a few years ago, Tyla—born Tyla Laura Seethal—was a high school student in Johannesburg, the vibrant city where she grew up on the east side. As a child, she was drawn to music and began posting videos of herself covering songs by Justin Bieber and other pop icons. When she began creating her own music in high school, she experimented with different styles, blending R&B and pop with her favorite genre: amapiano, a distinct style of South African house music. She recalls her introduction to amapiano's unique sound at the age of 14, when she first heard the log drums on “Iskhathi (Gonggong)” by Kwiish SA. “When amapiano would come on, we would see everybody’s moves just change. Seeing the energy of it…it felt so spiritual,” she says. “I always wanted to mix it with other styles that I enjoy, like R&B and pop—and make it my own.” With her music, Tyla aims to bring her country’s unique sound to the global stage, encouraging listeners to explore its roots.
Her family was instrumental in nurturing her talents and ambitions. Tyla’s mother, who dabbled in various creative ventures from making jewelry to selling real estate, believed in her daughter’s singing abilities. Her aunt, a professional dancer, taught her how to belly dance, while her grandmother, who competed in singing contests, encouraged her by pushing her to practice until she perfected each song. “She’d make me sing a song 20 times until I got it right,” Tyla remembers fondly.
Despite her early confidence and determination to become a pop star, Tyla also possessed a playful, grounded side. While she auditioned for school plays, her true passion was music. “It’s something I always really wanted, for myself, and for Africa, and for the world. Something different, something original,” she explains, adding humorously, “I also just wanted to dress up. I’m not always inspirational, guys!”
Looking back, Tyla finds some of her early internet videos “cringey,” but back then, they were an outlet for her creativity. She recorded her first songs during her final year of high school, navigating the challenge of singing in a studio with excitement. “I heard myself on a song—I said, ‘There’s no way I’m not gonna do this.’ It felt like I was supposed to do it. Even though that song was not the best,” she laughs. Although her parents initially hoped she would pursue further education, they eventually supported her passion for music. To this day, Tyla sends her new music to her family group chat before releasing it publicly. When she won a Grammy, she recalls her parents’ joy, saying, “They came backstage after I won; my mom was crying. Because it’s so surreal.”
The release of “Water,” her seductive single, marked a defining moment in her career. The track quickly went viral, with fans everywhere performing its hip-rolling dance—a nod to South Africa’s Bacardi dance style. Following its success, Tyla went on to collaborate with high-profile artists like Summer Walker, Tems, and Travis Scott. “Initially we weren’t going to have a remix, but after Travis asked, I was like, ‘Duh,’” she says with excitement, adding that she shares these career milestones with her family first. “Whenever I get people mentioning that they want to collab, and it’s people that I’ve listened to all my life and been a fan of…It’s like, ‘Yes—like, yes, yes, yes.’”
Tyla has also noticed a shift in attitudes toward African music and Entrepreneur in America. “I heard it wasn’t cool to be African in America, and I didn’t really know until I started being on social media in school,” she shares. She recalls that some of her live broadcasts were met with harsh comments, but the acceptance of African music has been transformational. “I love that now people are showing more love and being more open to it and learning more about it. And just enjoying the music.”
Her debut single, “Getting Late,” was her first step toward “popiano,” her term for the fusion of amapiano and pop. The song gained significant popularity in South Africa, and its music video has amassed millions of views on YouTube. With the release of her debut album in March, Tyla became the first South African solo artist to hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years and won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance for “Water.” She also starred in her first major Business campaign for Gap.
As she reflects on her year, Tyla shares how she’s grown personally and artistically. She has become less concerned with public opinions and comparisons to stars like Rihanna or Britney Spears. “Initially I used to care. Recently I’ve just been feeling, ‘They’re gonna say what they wanna say, and it doesn’t even matter because I know it’s not that,’” she says. She has also started posting less on social media, sometimes deleting the apps for extended periods.
Looking forward to the next year, Tyla is eager to continue her artistic journey with a sense of freedom. “This year was me introducing myself. Next year I’m just gonna have fun,” she says. “Do whatever, wear whatever. I’m just playing around a lot, and bringing a lot of my roots into my music. It’s still gonna be me, still sweaty vibes, but evolved.”