Breakout star Tyla needs no introduction (unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months.)
Tyla’s viral single, Water had the whole internet dancing and pouring water on their backs. Following the worldwide fame she gained for it, it’s clear she is fighting to prove she is much more than a one-hit wonder.
The South African Amapiano pop star (pop- piano as she fondly referred to it) has released her first album, named Tyla.
I’m sure we were all on our toes to hear how she transitions from a hit single to a full album. Good news! We don’t have to keep waiting; the album is here and the reviews are in!
Let’s dive right into the review
Introduction to Tyla’s new album
The fourteen-track album combines a unique blend of Pop, R&B, Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, and Amapiano. One thing is sure about Tyla– she has a unique sound.
On several occasions, the singer has spoken about how she is intentional about showcasing Amapiano in her songs. Perhaps, that might explain why most of the songs on this album sounded a little too similar (but I’m getting ahead of myself here.)
Let’s go into an extensive review of each of the fourteen songs on the album
The album opens up with the first song, Intro, with Kelvin Momo. The song has a smooth, catchy Amapiano beat playing against the background of muted conversations in the studio. In an interview with Apple Music, the singer said she wanted to show us her process of making music and working with the talented Kelvin Momo surely helped.
The album then goes into Safer, the opening song of the album. Tyla talks about wanting to feel safe in a relationship and knowing she is safer running from certain situations. Overall, it’s a sweet little song that introduces us to Tyla’s sweet sound.
Tyla’s new album then moves into Water, the viral sensation that needs no introduction. If you haven’t heard this song already, this would be a good time to do so.
The next song on Tyla’s debut album is Truth or Dare, a song that talks about how people are now eager to establish a relationship with Tyla now that she has made it. Next, we have, No1, which features the talented Afrobeats star, Tems.
On this track, Tems lends her mature vocals to the syncopated beats of the song. This just might be the best song of the album, but then again, I just might be biased because I think Tems sounds amazing on everything.
Breathe Me comes up next. To be honest, this choice of song arrangement wasn’t the best. It sounds eerily similar to the previous two songs and follows the same beat. I think it fell a little flat and uninteresting because it feels like I’ve heard this song ten times already.
Moving on, Butterflies is a perfect next pick because it’s a slower, more emotional song that makes us feel like we get to know a bit more about Tyla. She shows off her vocals on this song, and it is the perfect segue into On and On. which has more R&B and Pop influences. Tyla talks about not wanting the party to end. But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, just like this song does.
Next up is Jump, which features Gunna and Skillibeng. This is probably one of the songs with the most dynamic sound on this album. It showcases more Hip-Hop elements, with some influences of 90s music. Tyla sings and tells us exactly who she is– a girl from Joburg who is here to stay.
Tyla returns to her signature sound with Art, the next song on the album. She sings about how she wants to be treated like an ART piece, and she would be your peace (get it?) it’s a sweet little sound that sounds almost exactly like Water.
At this point, I can’t blame her for the repetitive sound. If you had a viral number-one song you would want to replicate it, wouldn’t you?
On My Body ft, Becky G was a collaboration we neither expected nor thought we needed. However, now that we have it, we can’t help but be thankful. The merger of Amapiano beats and Latin vocals blends in a beautifully unexpected sound
The next song on the album is Priorities, a song that talks about changing priorities. It’s the most vulnerable we have seen Tyla so far and quite honestly I loved it. It adds depth to the album and tells a story of switching her priorities to please others.
The album wraps up with To Last and finally, Water remix with Travis Scott, which were both released before the album drop.
Conclusion
For her first album, Tyla has tried to give us a blend of different vocals, sounds and beats while still maintaining her Amapiano roots.
You can tell she is still trying to find her sound. However, it’s evident she has secured her footing in the music industry and she has one message to pass with this eponymous album; Tyla is here to stay.