24 Jul TOP TO TAIL: I Do Not Play About TYLA
written by: Anathi Mngxekeza
”I want us to be able to say the biggest pop star in the world is South African,” are the words Tyla wrote online just two years before her lead single. Her debut album took the world by storm. If you are reading this, it means her sophomore album A*POP is finally out.
To truly understand where Tyla is taking us, is to understand how deeply proud she is of where she is from. Her eponymous debut has Amapiano at the heart of it. To make indigenous African sound synonymous with popular music has been no popular music has been no small feat, and the Joburg native has the Grammy awards to back it up. She flies the SA flag high from the very beginning on Intro with ‘N’wana Wa Mutsonga’, Kelvin Momo.
With a run time of just over 38 minutes, Tyla tells the world that this is not just her debut, but proof that she’s here to stay. Opening with her record-breaking hit, Water, the first act is the build up. Think of it as the ‘pres’, as in pre-drinks. It’s the party before the party. Truth or Dare was the second single and No. 1 boasts the first featured vocalist, Tems, joining Tyla on this girl-power anthem. “I’ve gotta put me number one,” the ladies who have put African music on top sing.
The second act is punctuated by two of my absolute favourite songs on the album. Breathe Me introduces a different register of Tyla’s voice to the world. There was no shortage of live performances of Water, different variations and a signature dance sequence familiarising us with her mammoth stage presence. This segment of the album, however, solidifies her as a vocalist. Delivering airy high notes and flexible runs, Tyla is absolutely floating on this track and into Butterflies. She reflects on the blessing it is to make her dreams come true, and follows it up with On & On which was complemented by a COLORS performance shortly before the album dropped.
Jump featuring Gunna & Skillibeng is one of the main reasons I don’t play about this album. A music video shot in South Africa, A BET award show live performance, and millions of TikTok videos online; this song rippled throughout the US and the Caribbean. The features Tyla has on this album are sheer genius, bringing home the message that her sound is global.
Tyla’s versatility is unmatched. She doesn’t want to be boxed into any one genre. After delivering this album, no one should dare to. On My Body features Latin music darling, Becky G, and the back and forth between her and Tyla is the perfect note to dance to. The energy switches up in the final act on this album. Priorities and To Last take on a slightly melancholic tone in the lyrics, but the log drum in the percussion on To Last reminds us that Tyla is here to make people dance again. Rounding out the album is Water (Remix) with Tyla’s label colleague, Travis Scott.
TYLA is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It made me a fan of Tyla for life. I look forward to following up with a review of A*POP as I gladly lend her my ears again. Tyla has been a steady feature in my Apple Music Replay roundup for three years running. That was with only one album released, and I look forward to seeing how she continues to raise the bar. Have you given this album a listen? If not, I’m lowkey jealous. I would do anything to hear ART for the first time, again.
