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With just a few songs released, and no albums or EPs, South Africa’s youngest GRAMMY nominee, and Billboard Hot 100 charting popstar, Tyla, is officially a global superstar! Her breakout song ‘Water’ has taken the world by storm and we have covered her story in full on the PROFILED video at the end of this article.
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Tyla’s Early Life & Career
Tyla Laura Seethal, popularly known as Tyla throughout the world is a South African singer and songwriter born and raised in Johannesburg, a popular city in South Africa. She rose to fame with her debut single “Getting Late” featuring Kooldrink which saw her getting signed to Fax & Epic Records in 2021.
With over 6 million followers on TikTok as of November 2023, Tyla was already famous on TikTok before dropping her debut single “Getting Late” which was an instant hit.
More than anything its music video was one of the most creative and outstanding music videos of that year and caught Mzansi’s eyeballs earning her a nomination in South Africa’s biggest music awards, the SAMAs.
Following the success of her debut single she decided to drop out of the university where she was pursuing a Degree in Minning Engineering to focus on her music career full-time.
Since Getting Late she has been on an upward trajectory following up with a few more singles such as “To Last” “Overdue” “Been Thinking” and “Girl Next Door” before dropping the single that changed her life and put her on the big table in the music industry.
WATCH: Tyla: A South African Popstar Gone Global (Water) | PROFILED
‘Water’ Charting Globally
Released on the 28th of July 2023 through FAX and Epic Records, Water gained traction on TikTok in August 2023 when Tyla began posting videos of herself doing the signature dance of the song that was choreographed by South African dancer Litchi.
“Water” became Tyla’s first song to enter the UK Singles Chart, where it made it to the Top 10 in October 2023. The song debuted at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart becoming Tyla’s first entry on the chart, and at the time of this recording, it is peaking at number 18 just after her Grammy nomination which I shall talk about further in the video.
With this incredible milestone, she became the youngest South African and the first South African soloist in 55 years to enter the Hot 100, following Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968.
Not only did the song make it to global charts but it also got her interviews, performances, and nominations at the world’s biggest platforms such as The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and her first GRAMMY nomination.
Tyla rubbed shoulders with Kim Kardashian at the Milan Fashion Week and after the show, she was also invited to attend the star-studded exclusive dinner where she mingled with Kim Kardashian, J Balvin, Ashley Graham, June Ambrose, and other A-list attendees, including top international editors-in-chief, notable stylists and market editors.
She also joined Chris Brown as the opening act for the European leg of his Under the Influence Tour and was featured on a remix of “Girls Need Love” by Summer Walker in October 2023.
She performed “Water” live on The Bianca Show in Sweden and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States.
She also gained co-signs from many of her industry peers, including Givēon, Cardi B, Shenseea, BTS’s V, and many more.
She was nominated for her first GRAMMY in the Best African Music category making her the youngest musician ever in South Africa to get a Grammy nomination and I must say, she is very likely to win it.
Tyla on PROFILED (Special)
Below is a special coverage of Tyla’s story and her breakout song ‘Water’ on our YouTube channel.
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