Tyla is showing off her star power once again, this time on the cover of Nylon magazine’s April issue. At just 23 years old, the South African singer is not only dropping hit songs but also turning heads with her fashion. Her latest photoshoot is full of bold styles, sharp looks, and the effortless cool she’s known for.
In her Nylon interview, Tyla spoke about her journey to pop stardom and how she found her own sound.
“I never really studied specific artists,” she explained. “Whatever songs, performances, music videos I liked, I just obsessed over those individual things. It was very broad. Pop stars, rappers, R&B singers. It started with the sound of music I wanted to make, because I knew that I wanted to do something completely different from what I’ve heard before. I was making anything and everything. I have full-on rap songs. Full-on R&B. Full-on amapiano. I played a lot and found a mixture that felt like me.”
When asked what a Tyla rap song would sound like, she teased, “I’m not going to lie, it’s hot. I’m excited to show people that I’m more diverse than they think. I want to take my time with my artistry and give whatever feels right for that moment. So one day, you’re going to get that Tyla rap song.”
Right now, she’s back in the studio working hard on her next project. “Every day I can be in the studio, I’m there. I’m working on the new project currently. I’m super excited because even though I love my debut album, I feel like a totally different person. Everything that has happened forced me to grow very fast. I’m also the type of person that gets bored very easily. So I’m excited to see this new version of me and hear what it sounds like and just have fun with it — just bring back fun in music.”
With fame comes crazy rumors. Tyla laughed about one of the funniest ones she’s heard: “I’m apparently a CIA agent,” she said with a smile. “I’m an undercover agent in the Illuminati trying to divert people’s minds from the New World Order. That’s my favorite rumor. I’m not even mad about that one.”
Back home in South Africa, her family is feeling her success too. Tyla shared a funny story: “I got this one DM from this person who was like, ‘I’m such a big fan. Your music is so inspiring. I’m so happy — by the way, I met your mom.’ And then there’s a whole picture of my mother with this fan! I was like, ‘Ma, when did you do this?’ And she’s like, ‘They ask me for pictures, too, Tyla.’ I feel like my mom loves it.”
Opening up doesn’t come easy for Tyla, but her music helped her to be more vulnerable. She said, “Outside of all of this, I don’t speak about my business. Like, don’t ask me — I’m dealing with it by myself! I’m that type of person. But I started loosening up a little bit making this first album. I feel like with ‘To Last’ [a song about heartbreak], I convinced myself to release it because I was like, ‘Oh, my sister, my friend were going through this.’ I made it like it was about them. But it’s something that is really deep for me — I literally sang that in the shower. At the end of the day, [my fans] the Tygers, they care about me and really want to know what’s going on. And you have to be vulnerable in order to give the best art.”
As for advice on handling her 20s in the spotlight, Tyla shared, “Someone told me that everybody gets a chance to love their 20s. Your 20s are a time when you just have fun. You let loose and go out and get friends and go through drama. You’re more reckless with life — obviously in a safe way. I don’t want to let that pass me by and not have that. Even though I’m this pop star, I don’t care. I don’t want to look back and be like, ‘Oh, I spent my 20s worried about @Susan12345 saying I’m mad.’”
