Tyla is on fire, and she’s not afraid to blaze her own trail. At just 22 years old, this rising superstar is gracing the cover of Cosmopolitan’s Summer 2024 Issue, and she’s bringing her South African flair to the forefront like never before.
In a candid conversation, Tyla opened up about the whirlwind journey since the release of her chart-topping hit, “Water” – and even addressed those comparisons to one of the industry’s Mose revere artists, Rihanna.
From humble beginnings in South Africa to the glitz and glam of the global stage, her life has undergone a dramatic transformation. “So many things have changed,” she reflected. “I still live in South Africa, but I was able to move my parents, my family. Now they’re in a safer area. My family came to Dubai with me. I was able to bring them to Europe.”
But with fame comes speculation, and Tyla isn’t immune to the rumors swirling around her. Addressing whispers that she’s part of the Illuminati, she laughed off the notion, reaffirming that her success is rooted in faith. “People already think I’m in the Illuminati? Oh, now. I know some people think that’s the only way, but it really isn’t,” she quipped. “God is the center of everything that we are doing, and clearly, it’s working.”
However, fame isn’t without its challenges. Tyla recently faced a setback when she had to postpone her highly anticipated tour due to a back injury. “Yeah, unfortunately, I had to postpone the tour,” she shared. “Obviously, I wanted to do all the shows, but it didn’t really make sense considering the injury and the recommendations from the doctor.” Despite the setback, Tyla remains resilient, focusing on her recovery and trusting in a higher power to guide her through.
One thing that sets Tyla apart in the music industry is her unwavering commitment to her roots. She proudly embraces her South African heritage and refuses to conform to a more American sound or style. “People know how much I love my culture and where I’m from,” she declared. “It’s never been something where I would even want to, because the source is in South Africa.”
Tyla’s ambition knows no bounds, and she’s determined to break down stereotypes and pave the way for future African pop stars. “An African pop star [is what was missing],” she asserted. “People have an idea of Africa and it is very stereotypical. They see it as animals everywhere or think we’re hungry, we’re thirsty. It’s just so boring! We want to change that narrative.”
Despite her rising star status, Tyla remains grounded, recognizing the influence of her predecessors. She’s flattered by comparisons to Rihanna but is quick to assert her individuality. “It’s flattering because Rihanna is Rihanna. It’s a compliment. But at the same time, I’m my own artist. I’m Tyla,” she affirmed. “And as people get to know me and my music, they will see me as just Tyla. So I’m fine with it now.
People want to tie me to something familiar to them, cool. But at the end of the day, we’re doing something no one’s done before, and it can’t really be compared to anyone.”
At the core of it all, Tyla represents possibility. “I represent people that didn’t know they could make it in America,” she explained. “That’s why I loved Rihanna, because I was like, ‘Okay, she came from somewhere else and she did it.’” With her sights set on greatness and her spirit firmly rooted in authenticity, Tyla is poised to leave an indelible mark on the music industry—and the world.
