'TYLA' from Tyla - Debut Album Review

Taken by Jeremy Soma

The self-titled debut album TYLA from GRAMMY award-winning South-African artist Tyla is a body of work that transcends the traditional boarders of Amapiano, pop and R&B with fluidity to fashion a sound that is authentically Tyla.

The album features Travis Scott, Tems, Gunna, Becky G and Skillibeng with the aim of widening the album's reach globally, but without compromising the natural feel and sound that we associate with Tyla's soundscape.

'Jump' features Gunna and Skillibeng, explores a fusion of trap influenced rap, dancehall, whilst Tyla drifting from her usual sound to widens her net to reach from “Jozi to Ibiza”

The other features on the album include Becky G on 'On My Body' and the remixed version of ‘Water’ featuring Travis Scott.

“When I listen to the album, I’m so proud of it,” Tyla told Rolling Stone. “I just see our sound going so far: the culture, the words, the slang. Even just Joburg — the thought of people now singing about Joburg.”

Consisting of 15-track, the subject matter varies from self-love, to navigating romantic experiences, to enjoying oneself with friends and confessional introspective ballads.

The opening track is the ‘intro’, however leading into the pulsating ‘Safer’ Tyla displays self-awareness as she beginnings to acknowledge the extent of her romantic feelings in the beginning of a relationship, however haunted by a past relationship she thinks through the consequences.

The third track of the album, is it’s most recognisable, released in 2023 'Water' is arguably the song that opened up the world to Tyla. The fun, upbeat dance bop is addictive and playful.

Whilst the captivating 'Truth Or Dare' feels similar to ‘Water’ in terms of the Amapiano influence, its meaning is deeper.

It’s  is a story of miscommunication, and the strain that Tyla’s recent success had put the relationship under. Tyla sings “Tell me when is it gonna get through to you? Everybody needs somebody, but I can’t be a fool/When they ask you questions ‘bout me, tell ‘em how we could’ve gone places but you were too impatient.

‘No.1’ featuring is composed from a guitar loop and percussion. And being open, it feels as if it picks up from ‘Truth or Dare’ as tyla deals positively with the aftermath of the breakdown alongside Nigerian songstress Tems as she acknowledges “it wasn’t working”. The pair takes back their power, and choses self, enriching the track with expressive and silky vocals.

Leaning more towards R&B styled offering, the sweet and sensuous ‘Breathe Me’ is love at its best, followed by the tenderly delivered ‘Butterflies’ and ‘On and On’ which is easily reminiscent of a 90s Aayliah. There is however a return to the Amapiano sound with ‘ART’ a soft reassurance of gentle love from Tyla, as well as self-confident flex.

The Johannesburg vocalist reflects on ‘Priorities’ in a self-critical moment when the vibrancy of the project gives way to something more sombre and vulnerable as her flaws our unearthed.

Transitioning fluidly into ‘To Last’, the final track of the project she addresses the cause of her heartache delivering her words with a deep melancholic feeling against the Ampinao trance infused beat.

In pockets of the beat space is used expertly to allow the emotions to sit, and that’s where she leaves us as the music drifts out and we take in her finale.

Listen here