Who Is Tyla? The South African Artist That's Taken Over TikTok With Song "Water"
If you’ve hopped on social media, particularly TikTok, lately, then you’ve probably heard Tyla’s song “Water.” So far, the song has been used in over 500,000 TikToks, and there’s even a “Water” dance challenge where people are mimicking the singer’s dance moves from her music video. The song’s virality has landed it at No. 9 on TikTok’s Viral chart. While “Water” would be considered her breakout hit, the South African singer has released other singles like her first song, “Getting Late,” in 2019, “Been Thinking,” and “Girl Next Door,” featuring Ayra Starr. She even opened up for Chris Brown on the European leg of his “Under the Influence” tour earlier this year.
The international artist opened up about her sound in an interview with Time. “I knew I wanted my sound to be a mixture of pop, R&B, Afrobeats, amapiano,” she said.
With all the talk on the internet about Tyla and “Water”’s popularity, it's time to find out a little more about the 21-year-old singer.
@tyla_ Dc @Litchi #tyla
Tyla’s South African
Tyla Laura Seethal was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, and she always had dreams of being a singer. “I’ve always been like a big dreamer, but it never used to be a reality for us, especially in South Africa,” she said in a video for Spotify Radar. “Like there’s not a lot of people that make it out. Growing up in Johannesburg gave me my edge, amapiano is growing, I’m so proud. Just being from South Africa, it’s just a flex.”
Tyla Revealed She’s A Little Shy
The “Water” video shows Tyla in a sensual light, which she revealed was somewhat out of her comfort zone. “I really wanted to create a video that felt organic. I wanted something that felt hot and steamy,” she told Essence. “This is something new for me. I was kind of shy, but I mean, we made it work.
Tyla’s Musical Inspirations Include Michael Jackson, Rihanna And Wants To Work With Drake
In an interview with Real Life Street Stars, Tyla revealed that her music inspirations are Michael Jackson, Tems, and Rihanna. Later, she further explained how she would like to model her career after the "Work" artist. “I look up to Rihanna. She’s done an amazing job, and I hope to one day be on that level and even bigger.” She also shared her dream of working with Drake, saying that “he’s such a diverse artist” who has successfully crossed over to multiple genres.
Tyla Likes To Draw In Her Spare Time
Outside of music, the “To Last” artist shared that she also likes to draw. “I draw…but I don’t say it because I always feel like one day people are gonna have a drawing competition, and then I’m like, now, put on the Picasso out, and I’m not on that level,” she said to Real Life Street Stars.
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London Alexaundria is the contributing editor for xoNecole. She is an alum of Clark Atlanta University, where she majored in Mass Media Arts and has worked in journalism for over ten years. You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theselfcarewriter
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
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Originally published on August 16, 2024