Album Review: Tyla by Tyla

Tyla unleashes her self-titled debut album after the viral, platinum-selling Grammy win for the hit single “Water."

Courtesy of Fax Records/Epic Records.

Since 2019, the South African singer Tyla has been releasing songs with great success that fall somewhere between Amapiano, pop, and R&B. 2023 finally seems to be Tyla’s year: She has already performed at Milan Fashion Week, played in the opening act for Chris Brown, launched a global dance challenge on TikTok with her performance for “Water” and became the first South African solo artist entered the US Billboard Hot 100 for 55 years. On top of that, this year, she won a Grammy for Best African Music Performance. But Tyla doesn’t want to rest on her success. With the release of her self-titled debut album, she wants to prove that she’s more than just her “Water” TikTok hype.

In recent years, the R&B/Amapiano (or Afrobeats) sound that Tyla embodies has dominated the mainstream. The ever-changing landscape of popular music has shifted, leaving room for new and innovative sounds to capture listeners’ attention. With her undeniable talent and unique vocal style, many believe she has the potential to take the genre by storm. The pressure to become the next big R&B star is undoubtedly weighing heavily on the artist’s shoulders. Despite this, her supporters remain confident in her breaking through.

She released an EP before the album with “On and On,” “Truth or Dare,” “Butterflies,” and the unnecessary remix of “Water” featuring Travis Scott. “Truth or Dare” is one of the singles, and it speaks to a ​narrative of ​past neglect and ​newfound interest. ​There’s an undercurrent ​of empowerment ​and self-worth from ​Tyla, who recognizes her value ​as independent of ​this fickle relationship. With another early fan-favorite, “On and On,” the song captures the essence of a carefree night out with its lyrics that express a desire to escape the routine and relive the excitement of past parties.

Sammy Soso handles most of the beats on this project, which helps with excellent cohesion, even if some songs fall into the generic route. With a Kelvin Momo introduction that was placed for no other reason, Tyla’s self-titled album begins with “Safer,” a song that introduces a sense ​of foreboding ​joy as she acknowledges ​the allure of ​a new ​relationship while also ​sensing its ​potential to bring ​about pain, ​compared to past ​experiences. This ​duality is encapsulated ​in the ​feeling of falling ​for someone, ​which is ​frightening, especially when ​previous relationships ​have left scars.

Besides Travis Scott taking up space, Tems appears on “No. 1” to deliver one of the album’s catchiest tunes, Becky G joins in on the serviceable “On Your Body,” and Gunna makes his way through “Jump.” Skillibeng is also featured, but he only sings in the intro and outro of the song, which is disappointing as he could’ve done more to the music that’s admittedly short. On top of that, not all songs stick to the landing, as sometimes, the songs run together with “Priorities” and “To Last.” “ART” follows a similar territory to “Water” with the same key, but it’s still listenable.

While showcasing her immense potential, Tyla’s debut album did not quite live up to the unrealistic standards, and sadly, it doesn’t help that her tour was canceled due to her “illness.” As an introduction to Tyla’s artistry, it does serve its purpose. It offers a glimpse into her unique style and the direction in which she aims to take her music. With time and experience, Tyla can refine her sound, experiment with new ideas, and create music that truly resonates with her audience.

However, it is important to remember that this is just the beginning of Tyla’s career, and there is plenty of room for growth and improvement. Only time will tell if she will rise to the challenge and become the R&B superstar many believe she can be. For now, her debut album serves as a promising introduction to an artist with immense potential, and fans eagerly await to see what the future holds for this talented young musician.

Above Average (★★★☆☆)

Favorite Track(s): “No. 1,” “Butterflies,” “On and On”