Born in South Africa, and now a global pop star that has the Billboard charts as a second home, Tyla is a talent that is undeniable. From the singer’s breakout moment, “Water,” she has been driven to make her mark on the world. Shaped by a genuine love for music and intentional artistic development, Tyla has told her story to anyone willing to listen, and it has been more than a few.
Delivering a unique take on Pop and R&B, she has been a breath of fresh air on the music scene. The singer’s eponymous debut album was a notable exclamation point for not just her career but African pop music. It proved that “Water” wasn’t just a fluke, and what was also clear from the 14 track project was that Tyla wasn’t just a creator but a fan of music.
TYLA was an absorption of all the sounds the singer loved, reshaped in her vision, and delivered as an ode to present moment in global pop. Unapologetically South African. This love affair with music is once again at the heart of A*Pop, a sophomore album that mirrors her debut but yet on a parallel timeline.
A*Pop has its inspiration rooted in the neon era, the bright coloured and maximalist 2010s (with just a sprinkle of the 90s). A time when Electro-pop and EDM dominated the global airwaves, and South African House was the theme music of the continent.
Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night,” Keisha’s “Tik Tok,” Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love” on the global charts and DJ Sbu & Zahara’s “Lengoma,” Heavy K & Mpumi’s “Wena,” Mi Casa’s “Jika,” DJ Kent’s “Spin My World” and everything Liquideep touched in African hearts.
Tyla finds a way to bridge these worlds together, and while A*Pop may be inspired by the past, it is still very much forward facing. Heralded by: the upbeat “Chanel” – a bouncy track that saw Tyla declare that if its love then she has to be spoiled, the captivating “Is It Love” – a love song that asked the question that can it be love without pain, and the infectious Zara Larsson assisted “She Did It Again” – a song that declared Tyla’s love as dangerous as propane; A*Pop had a striking introduction.
Now while its singles were easy to digest for the rest of the world, the album’s core content is one best understood by a palate that has been consuming South African music for more than a decade. A*Pop has production and tone that journeys through South African music’s metamorphosis.
There is a taste of the Progressive House grooves and huge synth drops that global ears remember from the 2010s, but the album is awash with the sensuality of South African House music from the same period.
This is alive in the rebirth of Liquideep’s “Fairytale,” with Tyla and Ziyon singing “Can I be your fairytale? Promise I will love you well.” It is present in the Amapiano tinged “Crazy Of Me” which sees Tyla and MaWhoo’s voices beautifully blending together, and underlies the Babalwa assisted “I Don’t Care,” which has a sultry air while ironically declaring a lack of attraction.
In “Kiss” the the singer delivers a peppy Disco record that is not only seductive but a call to the dance floor: “Please me, hold my body like you wanna read me/Let our bodies do the talking.” This is echoed in the distortion heavy R&B anthem “Right Now” which is desire in softly sung vocals. The groovy “Mr Nonchalant” feels anything but as Tyla sings “I like your eyes ’cause they match my thong/Hug on me, why you hugging up on the wall?
The Popiano which endeared itself to the world on TYLA is a regular presence on A*Pop, but more soulful and emotive. Mood drives the music and Tyla is intent on making a connection, making us feel, a resonance beyond the music’s sonic makeup.
In artistic intention Tyla makes a noble effort in marrying together both global sounds and the sonics from the place she calls home. The album doesn’t quite pop like the singer’s debut, particularly in the songwriting, but its explorations of love and sound are more than worthwhile. It exudes an R&B that feels nostalgic yet also right for the moment.
Africa’s Pop princess showcases a much softer side to herself. The image of a romantic, not hopeless but more realist, and not lacking in self belief.
