tyla for coke studios
Tyla’s debut at Coke Studio wasn’t just a performance — it was a defining moment, a milestone that solidified her place as a global icon, carrying the rich sounds of South Africa onto an international stage. Tyla’s idiosyncratic sound that blends pop and amapiano catapulted her to global fame with the release of ‘Water’ in 2023, the first song by a South African artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years, which earned her a Grammy in the inaugural Best African Music Performance award earlier this year.
For Coke Studio, a platform that showcases incredible artists from around the world, offering behind-the-stage interviews and live performances, Tyla debuted a brand new track that’s a little different than what everyone expected.
“I feel like in a lot of my songs, I’m dancing a lot, so I just wanted a song that I could just sing,” tyla says.
The Coke Studio experience has already featured some of the biggest artists in the game including Peggy Gou, NewJeans, and Karol G and Tyla is the latest artist to join the list of superstars. The intimate experience that took place on Wednesday 4 December in Johannesburg was a crowning moment for the Johannesburg-born singer who shared some of her experiences and advice for up-and-coming artists in an exclusive interview after her performance. “Release what you want to release, do things the way you want to do it, and not worry too much about what other people think and what’s going to happen,” she adds. “My family uplift me. Whenever I feel down I just videocall the family group chat and we laugh about family gossip and drama. That always makes me feel better.”
Tyla worked with Stargate, a notable producer for the single, “Tears”, which she showcased on the evening. The sentimental, soothing song deviates from her signature amapiano pop-R&B sound, showcasing Tyla’s vocal versatility.
