South African pop star Tyla made a powerful statement with her debut performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 11 April in Indio, California. Known for her global hits like Water and Push 2 Start, Tyla wowed the crowd during her first-ever appearance at the famous festival — a dream she has had since she was young.
Speaking to Vogue, Tyla shared how much this moment meant to her.
“When I was younger, I used to binge-watch performances,” she said. “It’s definitely a milestone that I’ve always wanted to hit. The amount of people that came to my set was really exciting and warming.”
Tyla made sure her Coachella debut was unforgettable. She opened her set with Push 2 Start, one of her songs that made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, and closed it with her biggest hit, Water. Her performance included other fan favorites like Truth or Dare, Shake, Art, and Jump.
There were also plenty of surprises during her show. She brought out American singer Becky G as a surprise guest, performed a fun mash-up of On and On with Aaliyah’s classic Rock the Boat, and even covered South African artist Daliwonga’s Bana Ba.
Tyla told Vogue that she wanted her performance to be full of energy and celebrate her roots.
“I wanted it to be really high energy—a lot of fun and dance,” she explained. “And culture: I had my South African dancers. I was really excited to have family back, and to do it like old times.”
Not only did Tyla deliver an exciting performance, but she also turned heads with her stage outfit. Working with Dolce & Gabbana and stylist Ronnie Hart, Tyla chose a bold vintage look straight from the Italian brand’s Spring 2000 runway collection. She wore a sparkling crystal mesh bra under a cropped white T-shirt, paired with a tiny red and white brocade mini skirt, decorated with black glass fringe.
“As soon as I saw the skirt, I fell in love,” Tyla told Vogue. “The skirt is barely anything—and that’s just how I like it.”
To add her own modern touch, Tyla completed her look with ripped fishnet tights, belly chains, hoop earrings, and leopard print boots by Burju. She also wore jewelry from Pandora, a brand she represents.
“Ripping up the stockings was so last minute, and probably looked crazy—but I just wanted to do it,” she laughed.
Tyla will return to the Coachella stage for a second performance on 18 April, and after her stunning debut, fans are already eager to see what surprises she will bring next.
Tyla does her thing at Coachella — stage presence, vocals, and vibes on 100! A star in every sense. #Tyla #Coachella2025 #WaterVibes #GlobalStar pic.twitter.com/RhdpphCdzq
— INSIDE AFROBEATS (@InsideAfroBeats) April 13, 2025Never speak on her live vocals ever again, Tyla is showing so much growth and I’m here for it🤭❤️#Coachella2025 #Tyla pic.twitter.com/CMgTgsoYtf
— Haartfel🥀 (@Haartfel) April 13, 2025
