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‘It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing’: how Tyla set a new pop mood

Her song Water made the South African a global star, while her undulating dance moves inspired TikTok challenges. Now she’s ready to take her ‘popiano’ sound to the next level

After scattered singles and collaborations, she teamed up with veteran US hitmaker Tricky Stewart (who has worked with the likes of Beyoncé and Britney Spears) and the pair came up with Water, which was released last July and reached No 4 in the UK. “It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing.” Tyla advanced this mood, first with a remix of Water that featured rapper Travis Scott, and then with the follow-up single On and On, a warm R&B-inflected floorfiller on which she advises: “Let’s take it back in time/ Party like it’s ’95”. Making her debut album took two years and a handful of other pop stars – it features Nigeria’s Tems, rappers Gunna and Skillibeng and singer Becky G. “I grew and learned a lot,” Tyla says, “and I feel like I’ve opened up more.

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