Two-Time GRAMMY® Winner Tyla Puts the “A” in A*POP
“Here the expectation would be for an African pop star to look or sound a specific way, on A*POP, Tyla is stepping out as a new type of music star from Africa, determined to explode those antiquated presumptions to smithereens.” —The Fader
Two-time GRAMMY® winner Tyla isn’t easing into her second album. On A*POP, she sounds like an artist having fun with just how many directions pop music can take her, while keeping the South African rhythms and musical identity that helped introduce her to the world firmly in the mix. “CHANEL” brings the confidence and attitude, while “SHE DID IT AGAIN,” featuring Zara Larsson, doubles down on pure pop-star energy with two distinctive personalities playing off one another. Or as Pitchfork referred to it, “Two pop princesses strutting up and down the throne room.” “KISS” and “RIGHT NOW” show different sides of Tyla’s approach to romance and attraction, moving easily between flirtation, intimacy and dance-floor momentum. Rather than trying to recreate her historic debut, A*POP feels like Tyla widening the frame and seeing just how much territory her sound can cover.
That range becomes even clearer deeper into the album. “THAT GIRL” has the kind of self-assurance its title promises, while “I DON'T CARE,” featuring South African vocalist Babalwa M, brings another voice from home into Tyla’s increasingly global pop world. Together with songs like “IS IT LOVE,” the album moves between polished pop, R&B and African influences without making those shifts feel forced. There’s a looseness to A*POP that works in its favor: Tyla can be romantic one moment, defiant the next and simply ready to have a good time after that. The result is a sophomore album that feels less concerned with proving she can follow up a breakthrough and more interested in showing us what else she can do.
South African singer and songwriter Tyla became an international breakout with “Water,” which earned her first GRAMMY® Award for Best African Music Performance in 2024 and helped introduce her blend of pop, R&B and South African musical influences to a worldwide audience. Her self-titled debut, TYLA, and its expanded edition, TYLA+, further established that sound, while “PUSH 2 START” brought her a second GRAMMY® Award in the same category. Beyond the music, Tyla has developed the kind of visual identity and performance style that makes the idea of a modern global pop star feel genuinely global. With A*POP, she isn’t leaving behind what got her here—she’s building her future, making the case that there’s plenty more Tyla for the world to groove to in the future.
For more information on Tyla and A*POP, visit TylaWorld.com.
REVIEWS
“Tyla is able to nimbly traverse genres and reference points thanks to a characterful voice that suits every mood.” —The Guardian
“Tyla is at the helm of a new generation of African stars… presenting themselves as they are to the world and positioning the music of the continent as the core of their work.”
—The Fader
“Album highlights ‘Is It’, ‘Chanel’ and the Zara Larsson-assisted ‘She Did It Again’ – all undeniable earworms.” —NME
“There’s something appealing about a pop diva who’s unreachable enough to keep us guessing and ambitious enough to keep us listening.” —Pitchfork
