Tyla

The South African pop star on staying true to herself; dancing all night, and her Belieber past

- LARISHA PAUL

When Tyla was making her hit single “Water,” she had a simple goal in mind. “I just wanted a summer song that everybody could vibe to and have fun to,” the South African singer told Rolling Stone last year. “The meaning of the song is frisky: It’s me letting a guy know, ‘Show me what you got to offer. I’m done with all the talk.’ ”

Her plan worked, to the tune of 382 million Spotify streams, the first-ever Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, and a career with as much forward momentum as anyone’s in 2024. As she readies her debut album, Tyla, she is still set on making you sweat, making you hotter — and making you remember what it’s like to watch a pop star rise to the top.

She’s also trying to rewrite some narratives in the music industry. “A lot of artists have shown love for African music and African culture, which is amazing, but I’d love to see a lot more African artists showcasing that and being at the forefront of it,” Tyla, 22, tells Rolling Stone now over Zoom. The record — which features star-studded collaborations with Gunna and Tems, among others — is the culmination of years of work, despite what Tyla’s apparent overnight success might lead you to believe.

She’d like to create a “perfect blend” between African and Western music. “Pop stardom is just being huge — huge songs, huge influence, and making history, and being remembered for something,” Tyla says.