South African star Tyla is one performer who just slays the stage single every time! The 21-year-old rocked the house like nobody’s business when she performed her mega hit “Water” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It was her US television debut, but Tyla sure didn’t sound like a rookie! The R&B star treated fans to some heavenly vocals with a big serving of soul. Tyla hit the stage with a quartet of backup dancers, and wow, she can really put on a show as well.
There are some performers who are just 100% naturals at commanding the stage, and with her killer vocals and stage presence, Tyla is definitely one of them. You can really see the South African singer is in her element on stage, and it makes the performance a joy to watch. She may be new to the game, but with performances like this, The Music Man is confident in declaring that Tyla is shaping up to be an icon in the making.
Tyla’s performance on The Tonight Show quickly went viral on YouTube and has since blown up to 20 million views. Viewers had plenty of praise for her US debut and added comments such as “Tyla reminds me of the ‘90s when R&B artists could really sing and had stage presence and passion” and “It’s so natural, it’s like she’s dancing and singing from her heart. Literally got chills watching her do this!”
Tyla blew up massively with “Water” in 2023, but she’s since shown that she’s got a lot more hit-making potential in her career. The South African singer made a big splash on The Late Show on April 9, 2024, with her live performance of “Art.” This live rendition showcased some ethereal vocals and honeyed high notes from Tyla, and of course, she didn’t disappoint with her dance routine.
Tyla released “Water” on July 28, 2023. She co-wrote the song with a dizzying array of nine other songwriters and co-produced with three other producers. The small army of songwriters and producers that went to town on the song evidently paid off, as “Water” became a smash hit that gave Tyla her international breakthrough.
“Water” stormed charts worldwide, going three times Platinum in the US and Canada, as well as Diamond in Brazil. After the success of “Water,” the media dubbed Tyla the Queen of Popiano. This nickname refers to her hitmaking fusion of pop and amapiano, with the latter style being a South African genre that integrates elements of house music, jazz, and soul.