It’s Tyla’s world and we’re all living in it! The 21-year-old R&B sensation is taking the world by storm thanks to her viral smash hit ‘Water’ which has gained attention from a-listers like Cardi B, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, aeapa and more. As the song gains momentum around the world, the track made it’s historic debut at number 67 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
‘Water’ is the first solo song by a South African musician to appear on the chart since jazz legend Hugh Masekela’s ‘Grazing in the Grass’ 55 years ago – an impressive feat for the young star. Masekela’s song was number one for two weeks on the chart in 1968.
An excited Tyla has reacted to the news on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m a South African girl born and raised in Johannesburg. This is crazy,” she said.
‘Water’ fuses a mix of genres, including Afrobeats, pop, R&B, and Amapiano, a South African style of electronic dance music that has the whole world in a trance.
The song has blown up on TikTok, and has inspired the viral water dance challenge, resulting in it being used more than 500,000 times in videos posted on the app. The dance routine, which was created by the South African dance choreographer Lee-ché Janecke, involves a dancer making a series of vibrant movements, including shaking of the hips, belly dancing, twerking and legwork while pouring water down one’s back.
Outside of “Water”Tyla has released hits like ‘Been Thinking’, ‘Getting Late’ with Kooldrink; ‘Overdue’ featuring DJ Lag and Kooldrink (from the second season of the South African Netflix TV series Blood & Water); ‘To Last; (along with a remix featuring DJ Maphorisa and Young Stunna); and ‘Girl Next Door’ with Ayra Starr. She has also collaborated with the likes of Major Lazer, Daliwonga, Marioo and Kelvin Momo.
Tyla also opened up for Chris Brown on his 2023 ‘Under The Influence’ European tour.