Tyla’s debut is “ART”

Photo: Epic Records

Addictive beats begin blaring through the speakers of my dance studio. One of my friends requested the song “On and On” during technique class. She begins dancing along to it and I too find myself moving to the song’s compelling bass and silky vocals. 

“On and On” is the eighth track on South African singer-songwriter Tyla’s debut album “TYLA,” released on March 22. Known for her viral song “Water,” which made a splash on TikTok as a dance trend, Tyla melds pop, rhythm and blues and South African amapiano music (a variation of house music using synthesizers and a percussive bass) into a unique music style, reflected in the 14-track album. 

The album begins with “Intro,” a 41-second track made in collaboration with South African amapiano producer Kelvin Momo. At first, I questioned the reason for including this section as Tyla simply vocalizes in the background while Momo talks seemingly unintelligibly; however, I later realized the lyrics of the song are actually in Zulu. The song is actually a secret voice note that Tyla recorded in a session with Kelvin Momo, her favorite amapiano producer.

“I loved hearing the people in the session, speaking, hearing the language, the accents,” Tyla said to Apple Music. “It was so raw and real.” 

This track is meant to give context to Tyla’s background and serve as her “intro” to the world. It adds much more personal connection, which was something that I thought the album lacked on first impression.

Throughout the album, Tyla always stays connected to her South African roots and amapiano music. However, some songs on the album can also feel repetitive. The bass and even chorus in the songs “Safer” and “Water” sound incredibly similar.  Based purely on sound, “Safer” feels like a copy of her viral hit, so it doesn’t add to the diversity of the music production on the album whatsoever. 

The song “Truth or Dare,” which was previously released as a promotional single, is the best example of staying true to amapiano music without seeming redundant, utilizing the signature deep bassline of amapiano without overpowering her vocals. Additionally, this track shines through its clever lyrics that are directed to an ex-lover who comes crawling back after the other person has already moved on and is doing better outside the relationship. “Truth or Dare” is fun to dance to both because of its strong bass and its empowering lyrics. It doesn’t stray far from her roots but creates a newer sound.

Meanwhile, “Butterflies” begins very carefree and light, lacking the strong bass that characterizes amapiano music and most of the other songs on the album. However,  the lack of a strong bass highlights the poignant lyrics about falling in love and getting “butterflies.” It is similar to the track and single “ART” as both are love songs, but “Butterflies” has a more unique production that makes it sound ethereal. Even though it strays from amapiano, the song pushes the boundaries of what Tyla can do as an artist, adding to the diversity of the album’s sound and helping her expand as a global artist. 

The last few songs of the album, besides the “Water” remix with American rapper Travis Scott, are more ballad-like. Although none of the songs are truly ballads, the lyrics reflect heartbreak and sadness. “To Last” is the most melancholic song on the album, with the synthesizer adding to the sadness of the truly heart-wrenching lyrics that seemingly beg a lover and question if they even thought the relationship would survive. Meanwhile, there is still a good bass in the background that stays true to her amapiano inspirations. The words “to last” echo and fade into instrumentals that people can still dance along to. 

However, this song was originally released as a single in 2022, which makes me wish that she had another more recent song that uses these types of hard-hitting lyrics. No other song is as vulnerable as this; “Priorities” is the closest, but its lyrics still fall short. Adding another song like this would add so much more personality and connection with fans. 

Overall, I’d rate the album a 4.5 out of five stars, a nearly perfect debut album. While there is some mild repetition in sound and a slightly missed opportunity for more vulnerable lyrics, overall Tyla makes a skillful introduction to the world. She maintains an artful balance of staying to her roots of amapiano music while creating new sounds that distinguish her unique style in the music industry.