Tyla has never been shy about where she comes from. Since ‘Water’ became a global phenomenon, the South African superstar has used her rapidly expanding platform to bring the sounds, rhythms and creative energy of home to audiences around the world. On ‘A*POP’, she continues that mission. This time, however, she sounds more settled in her own lane and more willing to explore just how far she can take it.
The album feels like the work of an artist who has honed in on her sound. Tyla has found a comfortable space between pop, amapiano, R&B and Afrobeats, but rather than simply sitting comfortably in that space, she continues to push at its edges. There is a confidence to the project that comes from knowing exactly what makes her different and understanding that she doesn’t need to dilute that identity to appeal to a global audience.
That is perhaps the most exciting thing about Tyla’s rise. She isn’t simply participating in global pop but rather helping reshape what global pop sounds like.
On ‘A*POP’, that comes through particularly strongly in the way she continues to spotlight South African talent. Collaborations with local artists including Mawhoo and Babalwa M are another reminder that Tyla’s global platform is creating space for more African voices to be heard by an international audience.
Then there’s ‘Fairytale’. Tyla’s take on the Liquideep classic is an instant highlight, and one that feels particularly meaningful for South African listeners. The original is a beloved piece of local music history, and hearing Tyla reinterpret it for a new generation, and potentially introduce it to listeners around the world who may never have encountered the song before, is a genuinely special moment.
I’m particularly glad that the world gets to hear ‘Fairytale’ for the first time through Tyla’s influence. It is exactly the kind of cultural exchange that makes her position as a global South African star so important. She has the reach to take music that has lived in the hearts of South Africans for years and give it an entirely new audience.
That spirit runs through ‘A*POP’. While Tyla is undoubtedly making music for an international audience, the album never feels disconnected from her roots. Instead, she is showing the world that African music doesn’t need to be repackaged to be understood. It can exist on its own terms, travel across borders and sit comfortably alongside the biggest sounds in pop.
If there is one criticism, it’s that an album titled ‘A*POP’ perhaps sets up an expectation for a few more high-production, full-throttle bangers. Much of the album sees Tyla taking a cooler, more chilled approach, leaning into groove and atmosphere rather than chasing huge pop moments. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it plays directly to her strengths, but I would have loved to see her push the dial a little further in places.
Still, there are plenty of moments that hit the mark. ‘Is It’, ‘Chanel’ and ‘She Did It Again’ remain standout moments, while ‘Kiss’ and ‘Fairytale’ are instant highlights that add even more depth to the project.
Ultimately, ‘A*POP’ feels like a natural progression for Tyla. She has moved beyond the pressure of proving that ‘Water’ wasn’t a fluke and into the more exciting phase of her career: figuring out what she wants to do with the global platform she has built.
The answer, it seems, is to keep pushing African music forward while making the world dance along with her, and if Tyla continues to use her influence to shine a light on the artists and sounds that shaped her, her impact could extend far beyond her own catalogue. ‘A*POP’ is another step in that direction, and a strong reminder that one of South Africa’s biggest global stars is still only getting started.
