Trending in Tyla’s World
Latest Single
IS IT
Released Jul 11, 2025
Trending Globally
US
US
US
US
Story
Quick Facts
Born
2002
2002
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Tyla Laura Seethal was born on 30 January 2002 in Edenvale, Gauteng, South Africa. She comes from a “Coloured” family, that is, a multiracial heritage including Zulu, Indian, Mauritian, and Irish roots. Her parents are Sharleen and Sherwin Seethal, who have been supportive of her musical ambitions. Growing up in Johannesburg, she spent her school years at Edenglen High School, where she was “Head of Culture” and graduated in 2019.
After high school, Tyla briefly studied mining engineering (at or linked with the University of the Witwatersrand) before deciding to focus fully on music. Even while in school, she was active: posting covers and original songs on Instagram and reaching out to people in the industry. Her first manager, Garth von Glehn, saw her early work and helped organize her initial recording sessions.
Tyla’s career officially began in 2019, with her debut single “Getting Late” (produced by Kooldrink). The song found domestic success in South Africa, and the accompanying music video, released in early 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, helped build her visibility. Over the next couple of years (2021-2022), she released more singles like “Overdue” and “To Last.”
The big breakthrough came in 2023 with her single “Water.” The song went viral, helped in part by a dance challenge on TikTok, and entered the top ten in multiple countries, including her native South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Notably, “Water” became the first song by a South African soloist in 55 years to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 following Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968. Her debut self-titled album was released in March 2024.
She won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2024 for “Water.” She became the youngest African artist to win a Grammy. Her crossover success in multiple markets (US, UK, etc.) and charted in the top 10 in several countries.
Outside of music, she has an interest in Fashion, and this has been part of her trajectory: she has taken part in fashion events, worked with fashion brands, and her personal style is noted in media pieces.
As of now (2025), Tyla is alive and continuing to build her career. Her rapid rise, especially with “Water,” has made her one of South Africa’s most internationally visible young artists. Her work is often seen to contribute to broader global awareness of African music genres like amapiano, and she is seen as a figure pushing the fusion of local sound with global pop sensibilities.
