# Tyla

> Tyla (born Tyla Laura Seethal, January 30, 2002) is a South African singer-songwriter who made history when her debut single 'Water' became the first-ever Grammy Award-winning Best African Music Performance in 2024. Blending amapiano, pop, and R&B into a genre she calls 'Popiano,' Tyla broke onto the global stage at 21, charting higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 than any African female soloist in history. By 24, she had two Grammy wins, a platinum-certified self-titled debut album, and a highly anticipated second album A*POP on the horizon — cementing her as the defining voice of Africa's pop moment.

- **Role:** Recording Artist at Epic Records / Fax Records
- **Organizations:** Epic Records, Fax Records
- **From:** Edenvale, South Africa
- **Nationality:** South African
- **Education:** High School Diploma (Head of Culture), Edenglen High School, Edenvale, Mining Engineering (incomplete — left for music career), University (unnamed)
- **Known for:** 2x Grammy Award winner — Best African Music Performance (2024 for 'Water'; 2026 for 'Push 2 Start') — youngest African artist to win two Grammys, First South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years, Highest-charting African female soloist on the Billboard Hot 100 (#7)

## Career timeline

- **2019** — Graduated Edenglen High School as Head of Culture; self-released debut single 'Getting Late' feat. Kooldrink
- **2021** — 'Getting Late' goes viral in South Africa; signs with Epic Records — first South African female artist on the label; first trip outside South Africa for Dubai songwriting camp
- **2021-2022** — Releases 'Overdue' and 'To Last'; records debut album across 7 countries
- **2023** — First public performance at Dolce & Gabbana Milan Fashion Week; releases breakthrough single 'Water' (July 28); TikTok Water Challenge amasses 446.8M views
- **2023** — 'Water' peaks at #7 on Billboard Hot 100 — first South African soloist on Hot 100 in 55 years, highest-charting African female soloist in Hot 100 history
- **2024** — Wins inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for 'Water' (66th Grammy Awards, February 4)
- **2024** — Releases self-titled debut album Tyla (March 22) — #1 UK R&B, 84/100 Metacritic, Pitchfork 8.0
- **2024** — Performs at Coachella 2024; wins BET Best New Artist, 3 MTV EMAs, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 4 SAMAs
- **2024** — Releases deluxe edition Tyla+ (October 11) with 'Push 2 Start'
- **2025** — 'Water' surpasses 1 billion Spotify streams (February); performs at Coachella 2025; named Pandora Global Ambassador
- **2025** — Releases WWP (We Wanna Party) EP (July 25) feat. Wizkid; 'Chanel' hits #15 UK, #43 Billboard Hot 100
- **2026** — Wins second Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for 'Push 2 Start' (68th Grammy Awards, February 1); announces A*POP album
- **2026** — Releases 'She Did It Again' feat. Zara Larsson (April 17); A*POP album scheduled July 24, 2026

## Achievements

- 2x Grammy Award winner — Best African Music Performance (2024 for 'Water'; 2026 for 'Push 2 Start') — youngest African artist to win two Grammys
- First South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years
- Highest-charting African female soloist on the Billboard Hot 100 (#7)
- 'Water' certified 3x Platinum USA, 4x Platinum Australia/Canada/South Africa, 2x Diamond Brazil
- Self-titled album: most-streamed album by a Black female musician on Spotify in December 2024 (1.565 billion streams)
- 'Water' surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams (February 2025)
- BET Award: Best New Artist (2024), Best International Act (2024)
- 3 MTV Europe Music Awards: Best African Act, Best Afrobeats Artist, Best R&B Artist (2024)
- 2 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Afrobeats Video (2024, 2025)
- 2 Billboard Music Awards: Top Afrobeats Artist, Top Afrobeats Song (2024)
- 4 South African Music Awards (2024): Best Pop Album, Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, International Achievement
- iHeartRadio World Artist of the Year (2025)
- NAACP Outstanding International Song — 'Is It' (57th NAACP Image Awards)
- First South African female artist signed to Epic Records

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Released 'She Did It Again' feat. Zara Larsson — first single from upcoming album A*POP
- **2026-02** — Won second Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance ('Push 2 Start') at 68th Grammy Awards; announced A*POP from the stage
- **2025-10** — 'Chanel' released — #15 UK Singles Chart, #43 Billboard Hot 100
- **2025-07** — Released WWP (We Wanna Party) EP featuring Wizkid collab 'Dynamite' (#1 UK Afrobeats)
- **2025-04** — Performed at Coachella 2025; named Pandora Global Ambassador
- **2025-02** — 'Water' surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams

## Links

- Website: https://www.tylaworld.com/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Tyllaaaaaaa
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tyla
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyla/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tyla_

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tyla
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-24