South African pop sensation and Billboard’s Women In Music 2025 Impact honoree, Tyla, is gearing up to release her sophomore album later this year.
In an exclusive interview with Billboard, the 23-year-old hitmaker promised fans a fresh sound that’s “different, but still Tyla.” She opened up about her evolution as an artist and remains committed to her roots and her mission to bring African music to the global stage.
An Unstoppable Ambition
Tyla burst onto the music scene in 2023 with her infectious smash hit “Water”, which soared into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s success marked the beginning of an unstoppable rise for the amapiano trailblazer, culminating in her self-titled debut album Tyla in March 2024 — a vibrant fusion of amapiano, Afrobeats, pop, and R&B.
While her ambitious career faced a setback when a back injury forced her to cancel her highly anticipated debut Coachella set and first international tour, Tyla’s determination never wavered. She made a triumphant return just months later, debuting at the Met Gala in a stunning sand-sculpted Balmain gown, which became the talk of the town, and delivering a show-stopping performance of her song “Push 2 Start” at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The sweltering, reggae-infused track from the deluxe version of her debut album became her second Hot 100 entry, proving her resilience and artistic versatility.
This year, Tyla will join the ranks of icons like André 3000 and Usher as a member of the Costume Institute Benefit Host Committee, celebrating Black style at the prestigious event.
Honoring African Artistry
Tyla has been vocal about the challenges of genre labeling, or mislabeling, especially when her music is often classified as “Afrobeats.” Addressing the debate in her latest interview with Billboard, she emphasized the fluidity of genres.
“Genre is so fluid, so it’s become difficult to categorize it. If people see it as the influence that the artist is using in their music getting its recognition, it’ll help more [with perceptions].”
While Afrobeats influences her sound, Tyla made it clear that her music represents a broader spectrum of African artistry. She is committed to showcasing the richness of South African music and pushing amapiano into mainstream recognition, dispelling misconceptions about African artists being limited to one genre.
Making History and Loving Home
Tyla made history in 2024 when “Water” won the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance, making her the youngest African artist to take home the coveted award. Following that milestone, she secured wins at the BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards, solidifying her status as a global icon.
Throughout her rise, Tyla has never lost sight of her roots. “The fact that what I’ve been doing has impacted people all over the world, especially African artists, is special,” she said, reflecting on her journey, as she remains determined to spotlight African music and bring her native South African amapiano to the world’s biggest stages.
Recently, she performed massive headlining shows in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria, describing the experience as incredibly fulfilling.
“I haven’t really done much there since everything happened with ‘Water’ blowing up. Those were the biggest headlining shows I’ve ever had. It was fun being able to have that much control over the stage, the dancing, the lighting, the song arrangements. It was really cool to create something from scratch and give home a whole show that I’ve never been able to give them.”
The Evolution Continues
As Tyla teases her new album, she hints at a departure from her previous sound while staying true to her signature essence.
“I’ve changed a lot in a short amount of time because I was kind of forced to with how fast I had to adapt to everything,” she said. “I don’t think it’s going to be the same energy [as Tyla] at all, especially with what I’ve started making. It’s different, but also still Tyla.”
Drawing inspiration from artists like Tems, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, and Aaliyah, Tyla continues to blend influences with her unique voice, pushing the boundaries of what African pop can be. With her long-awaited Coachella performance just around the corner, 2025 promises to be another groundbreaking year for Tyla as she solidifies her status as a trailblazer for African music on the world stage.
This full story appears in the March 22, 2025, issue of Billboard.