Tyla Laura Seethal (born 30 January 2002), known mononymously as Tyla, is a South African singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Johannesburg, she signed to Epic Records in 2021 after the domestic success of her debut single “Getting Late” featuring Kooldrink. Tyla rose to international prominence with her 2023 single “Water”, which was a top ten hit in the United Kingdom and the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years.

Early life and career

Seethal was born in Johannesburg, South Africa into a Coloured family with Zulu, Indian and Mauritian descent.

She matriculated from Edenglen High School in 2019 and was the head of culture in that year. She started out posting original songs and covers to her Instagram account, as well as sending them out to a number of figures in the music industry, subsequently being discovered by her first manager who then organized her first recording sessions. She had been studying a degree in mining engineering before she decided to commit to her music career full time.

Career

2019–2022: “Getting Late” and national success

In late 2019, Tyla released her debut single, “Getting Late” featuring production from Kooldrink, which achieved national success. The accompanying music video was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 28th South African Music Awards in 2022. She then signed a recording contract with Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records in the United States. She followed up this effort with the singles “To Last” and “Overdue”.

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2023: “Water” and international success

Tyla’s debut performance came in 2023 during the Dolce & Gabbana afterparty at Milan Fashion Week, following the release of her single “Been Thinking”, which earned Tyla her first chart placement of her career, on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Heven Haile of Pitchfork described it as a “slick club anthem that channels the seductive pop-R&B hits of mid-2000s Ciara and Rihanna”. Tyla then joined Chris Brown as the opening act for the European leg of his Under the Influence Tour.

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In May 2023, she released the single “Girl Next Door”, featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr. She also later released the song “Water” in July 2023 as the lead single from her upcoming debut extended play. After spawning a viral dance challenge on the social media platform TikTok, the song entered the top 10 in New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. Entering at number 67, “Water” made Tyla the youngest-ever South African and the first South African soloist in 55 years to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, following Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968. She performed the song live on The Bianca Show in Sweden and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States. Its accompanying music video, released on 7 October 2023, accumulated 3 million views on YouTube in three days. Tyla was then featured on a remix version of the song “Girls Need Love” by Summer Walker, released as part of the latter’s Girls Mix extended play in October 2023.

Parents and family

Tyla parents are Mr and Mrs Seethal. She was born into a Christian family in South Africa.

Tyla has three or more siblings. She has an older sister named Whitney, a younger brother named Tyrese, and a younger sister named Sydney.

In an interview with the Guardian Newspaper, this is what she has to say;

Tell us about yourself, who is Tyla?

“I’m Tyla, a 20-year-old singer, and songwriter from Johannesburg, South Africa. I grew up always loving to sing and perform for my family so I’ve always known this would be my journey.”

What was your childhood like?

“I was artistic. I used to make up songs and shows, where I’d perform for my family, but I didn’t really take it seriously then. I just genuinely enjoyed it. As I got older, I saved up and bought a mini studio, where I made some music — I made music for myself, but sometimes, I’d share with my siblings or on social media via Instagram.”

Partner/ Husband

Tyla is currently single and not dating or in an open relationship for now.

Is Tyla married?: No, Tyla is at the moment not yet married.

Children

Singer Tyla has no kids for now.

Net worth

Tyla has an estimated net worth of around $1 million – $3.5 million.

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