Tyla

Tyla is a South African singer-songwriter from Johannesburg whose public profile is tied to an amapiano-pop and R&B crossover sound. She reached a wider international audience with the 2023 single “Water,” won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, and, as of August 2026, the Recording Academy listed her with two Grammy wins in that category.

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About Tyla

Profile information current to 2026-08-10.

South Africa · Singer-songwriter · 4 affiliations

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Also known as: Tyla Laura Seethal
Known for: Amapiano-pop and R&B fusion; International breakthrough single “Water”; Grammy Award-winning Best African Music Performance artist; South African arts and culture public recognition
Country: South Africa

Singer-songwriter

At a glance

Tyla is identified in official South African and music-industry sources as South African singer-songwriter Tyla Laura Seethal, professionally known as Tyla.
Her recorded style is described as combining South African amapiano with pop and R&B elements.
“Water,” released in July 2023, became her international breakthrough and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 later that year.
She won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for “Water,” a win South African official sources described as both her first Grammy and the first award in the new category.
By July 2026, Sony Music Canada described “A*POP” as Tyla’s second studio album and announced it as available.

Johannesburg artist with an amapiano-pop profile

Music-platform and label biographies describe Tyla as a Johannesburg-born and raised South African singer-songwriter. Her public artistic identity has been built around a fusion of South African amapiano with pop and R&B, a description repeated across music-industry and press sources covering her early singles and debut album.

International breakthrough with “Water”

After early attention for “Getting Late” with producer Kooldrink, Tyla’s 2023 single “Water” became the central breakthrough in her international career. Billboard Canada reported that the FAX Records/Epic Records release debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated 14 October 2023, while RCA Label Group UK later stated that the track peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.

Grammy recognition and South African public response

Tyla won Best African Music Performance for “Water” at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture congratulated her as a proud ambassador of South African arts and culture, and the National Assembly later agreed to a motion congratulating Tyla Laura Seethal for the win and commending her for putting South Africa on the map.

Albums, collaborators and current industry position

Tyla’s self-titled debut studio album, “TYLA,” was released in March 2024 and was described by Grammy.com as a project fusing amapiano, pop and R&B; Rolling Stone Canada reported a 14-song track list with collaborators including Tems, Gunna, Skillibeng, Becky G, Kelvin Momo and Travis Scott. As of August 2026, her official website said she was signed to Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records and co-managed by We Make Music and Africa Creative Agency, while Sony Music Canada had announced “A*POP” as her second studio album.

Affiliations

Epic Records signed artist through a joint venture with Fax Records present
Fax Records joint-venture label connected to Epic Records release arrangement present
We Make Music co-management present
Africa Creative Agency co-management present

Timeline

2002-01-30 Apple Music lists Tyla as born on 30 January 2002 and from Johannesburg, South Africa.
2019 Released or emerged with “Getting Late” with Kooldrink, an early single tied to her amapiano-pop/R&B sound.
2023-07-28 “Water” was released on FAX Records/Epic Records.
2023-10-14 “Water” debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated 14 October 2023.
2024-02-04 At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Tyla won Best African Music Performance for “Water”; South African sources reported the win on 5 February 2024.
2024-03-05 South Africa’s National Assembly agreed to a congratulatory motion after Tyla’s first Grammy win.
2024-03-22 Released self-titled debut studio album “TYLA.”
2026 The Recording Academy lists Tyla as the 2026 Best African Music Performance winner for “PUSH 2 START.”
2026-07-24 Sony Music Canada announced Tyla’s second studio album, “A*POP,” as available.

Additional verified details

Current context

The Recording Academy artist page lists Tyla with two Grammy wins and two nominations. Award counts can change with future nominations or ceremonies.
Tyla’s official website states that she is signed to Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records and co-managed by We Make Music and Africa Creative Agency. Artist label and management arrangements are time-sensitive and should be rechecked before publication.
Sony Music Canada states that “A*POP” is Tyla’s second studio album and was available as of 24 July 2026. Current-discography fact as of the access date.

Biographical facts

South African official sources identify Tyla as Tyla Laura Seethal.
Apple Music lists Tyla as born on 30 January 2002 and from Johannesburg, South Africa; Sony Music UK says she was born and raised in Johannesburg.
Official and industry sources describe Tyla’s recorded style as combining South African amapiano with pop and R&B elements.
Tyla worked with South African producer Kooldrink on “Getting Late,” a 2019 single that Apple Music describes as rooted in amapiano and bridging pop and R&B.
“Water” was released on 28 July 2023 on FAX Records/Epic Records and debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated 14 October 2023.
RCA Label Group UK states that “Water” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
Tyla won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for “Water”; South African official sources characterized it as her first Grammy and the first award in the newly introduced category.
Tyla’s self-titled debut studio album, “TYLA,” was released on 22 March 2024 and was described by Grammy.com as fusing amapiano, pop and R&B.
Rolling Stone Canada reported that the 14-song “TYLA” track list included collaborators such as Tems, Gunna, Skillibeng, Becky G, Kelvin Momo and Travis Scott.
South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture described Tyla as a proud ambassador of South African arts and culture after her first Grammy win.
On 5 March 2024, South Africa’s National Assembly agreed to a motion congratulating Tyla Laura Seethal for winning her first Grammy Award and commending her for putting South Africa on the map.