Why is Tyla nominated at the 2024 Grammys?
SJ speaks to music journalist Tecla Ciolfi about SA pop princess Tyla Seethal’s meteroic rise to worldwide fame ahead of the Grammys 2024 where she nominated in the 'Best African Music Performance category.
South African singer and songwriter Tyla Laura Seethal, known as Tyla. Picture: Instagram
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll be quite familiar with the locally produced ear worm 'Water' by Tyla.
It’s a global smash hit by Mzansi’s own Tyla Seethal who has taken the world by storm with the catchy, bum shaking Bakardi dance.
In less than a year, Tyla's runway success has bagged her a nomination for Best African music performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
But just who is Tyla? Where did she come from?
Tyla is a proudly Mzanzi girl and doesn't miss any opportunity to speak about her home-country in interviews abroad.
Her Afro-pop, Kwaito, Amapiano sound was largely influenced by her Joburg upbringing.
But Tyla has own niche called 'Pop-piano', which includes elements from her favourite artists like Aaliyah and Brandy.
The 22 year old has made it known she wants to be one of the world's biggest pop stars.
And with 4 million followers on social media, that star is firmly on the rise.
Music journalist Tecla Ciolfi says Tyla's back story has been nothing short of incredible.
"She stole her dad's phone to create an Instagram account and upload videos of her doing covers. That caught the eye of her then-manager. After a year, she released her debut single 'Getting late' in 2019."
-Tecla Ciolfi, music journalist
The Covid-19 pandemic put a spanner in the works with the release of her video.
But despite the global shutdown of the music and arts industry during the lockdown, she was still getting offers from international music labels.
After much consideration, she decided to sign with Epic records, which is a division of Sony Music.
Ciolfi says despite public perception, she was not an overnight success.
"There's been a few SA acts who signed to Epic and when they moved to the US, things fell flat. But her career seems to be a series of well orchestrated moves. I cannot fault her."
-Tecla Ciolfi, music journalist
It's not going to be easy for Tyla as she has some strong contenders in the 'Best African Music Performance' category. She goes up against Nigerian superstars Davido and Burna Boy as well as Asake, Olamide, Ayra Starr and South Africa's Musa Keys.
"I'll be honest, this is Tyla's one to lose. But I think she's good enough to play in mainstream catergories like 'Best New Artist' in future. I think there's so much momentum behind her and it's only going to get bigger abd better once she releases her debut album later this year."
-Tecla Ciolfi, music journalist
Tyla's debut album is due for release at the end of March 2024.
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