Tyla: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Tyla's Popiano blends Johannesburg's amapiano log-drum with the gloss of early-2000s R&B pop, a lineage she has repeatedly traced herself in interviews from her Epic signing onward. This mix runs from the divas she grew up imitating through Gauteng's kwaito and Bacardi-house undergrowth, the choreography and couture that frame her visuals, and out into the global amapiano wave her breakthrough accelerated.

The Kynda mix for Tyla

• Key Influence · Good Girl Gone Bad by Rihanna (2007). Tyla has named Rihanna as her central idol since her earliest press, citing the Barbadian singer's model of a non-American pop star exporting a home accent to the world. Good Girl Gone Bad is the template: Caribbean cadence welded to radio-grade pop production, a style pivot built around dance singles and image reinvention. Tyla's own move from Johannesburg amapiano singles to Epic-era global pop follows that arc almost beat for beat.{}
• Influencia Obscura · It's About Time by Boom Shaka (1993). Before amapiano there was kwaito, and Boom Shaka's Lebo Mathosa invented the template Tyla now occupies: a young South African woman fronting township dance music with unapologetic sexuality and choreography at the centre. Largely unknown outside South Africa, the group's slowed-house grooves and dance-crew staging established the lineage of the Johannesburg pop-dance diva that runs through Tyla's visuals and live show.{}
• Local Roots · Memeza by Brenda Fassie (1997). Johannesburg's original pop icon: Fassie's "Vul'indlela," from Memeza, remains the country's defining crossover record, proving a South African singer working in local idiom could dominate the nation's charts without Anglophone compromise. Tyla, raised in Jozi two decades later, inherits that precedent — the Madonna-of-the-townships model of a local-language dance hit carrying a singer to continental celebrity.{}
• Beyond the Medium · Black Is King by Beyoncé (2020). Tyla's visual language — South African dance crews, precision group choreography, Afro-diasporic styling as narrative — sits downstream of the moment Black Is King put South African movers, including the viral dancers of the "Already" sequence, in front of a global audience. The film reframed township choreography as high-gloss cinema, exactly the register Tyla's "Water" video works in.{}
• Peer · 19 & Dangerous by Ayra Starr (2021). Ayra Starr emerged on the same timeline as Tyla — teenage African singer, major-label infrastructure, Afropop built for streaming — and the two were repeatedly bracketed together in coverage of the continent's new female pop vanguard. 19 & Dangerous does for Lagos what Tyla's early singles did for Johannesburg: translates a local club sound into first-person adolescent pop without surrendering its rhythmic accent.{}
• From the Canon · Water by Tyla (2023). The pivot of her career and the reason the mix exists: the first song by a South African solo artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in fifty-five years, and winner of the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Its genius is structural — amapiano's log drum and shaker pattern compressed into a three-minute R&B hook, with a choreographed dance move engineered for replication. Popiano, defined in one record.{}
• Key Collaborator · Astroworld by Travis Scott (2018). Scott appeared on the official remix of "Water," the version that pushed the song deeper into the American top ten and signalled US hip-hop's embrace of amapiano. Astroworld is his own high-water mark and the best illustration of what he brought: an atmospheric, bass-heavy sense of space that sat surprisingly naturally against the log drum. The collaboration marked the point Tyla's record stopped being an import and became a crossover event.{}
• Legacy · Mnike by Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za (2023). Rather than a disciple — Tyla is far too recent for those — this is the wave her breakthrough carried. "Mnike" exploded internationally in the same window as "Water," and the Grammy's new African Music Performance category plus Tyla's chart run reframed amapiano for programmers and playlist editors worldwide. Her success is now the commercial precedent every Gauteng producer's international ambitions are measured against.{}

What influenced Tyla

• Aaliyah by Aaliyah (1989). The article lists Aaliyah among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Beyoncé. The article lists Beyoncé among Tyla’s inspirations. (also via Black Is King) “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Tems. The article lists Tems among the African artists who inspired Tyla. (also via For Broken Ears) “[ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake , [ 118 ] and other African artists such as Wizkid , [ 119 ] Tems , [ 120 ] and Freshlyground .” (Wikipedia)
• Wizkid. The article lists Wizkid among the African artists who inspired Tyla. “[ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake , [ 118 ] and other African artists such as Wizkid , [ 119 ] Tems , [ 120 ] and Freshlyground .” (Wikipedia)
• Good Girl Gone Bad by Rihanna (2007). Good Girl Gone Bad (Rihanna) — titan for Tyla “Heven Haile of Pitchfork described it as a "slick club anthem that channels the seductive pop-R&B hits of mid-2000s Ciara and Rihanna".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Freshlyground. The article lists Freshlyground among the African artists who inspired Tyla. “[ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake , [ 118 ] and other African artists such as Wizkid , [ 119 ] Tems , [ 120 ] and Freshlyground .” (Wikipedia)
• Shakira. The article lists Shakira among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Janet Jackson (1966). The article lists Janet Jackson among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Ariana Grande. The article compares an aspect of Tyla’s sound to Ariana Grande’s. “She also mentioned starting out posting Justin Bieber covers on social media, [ 124 ] and her sound carries echoes of Ariana Grande 's starlet coquetry.” (Wikipedia)
• Britney Spears. Tyla names Britney Spears as a model for the pop star she hoped to become. “When I was a kid, I always hoped that a pop star like Rihanna, Britney Spears or Michael Jackson would come out of South Africa.” (Wikipedia)
• Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston (1963). The article lists Whitney Houston among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Drake. The article lists Drake among Tyla’s inspirations. “[ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake , [ 118 ] and other African artists such as Wizkid , [ 119 ] Tems , [ 120 ] and Freshlyground .” (Wikipedia)
• Michael Jackson. Tyla names Michael Jackson as a model for the pop star she hoped to become. (also via Off the Wall)
• Off the Wall by Michael Jackson (1979). Off the Wall (Michael Jackson) — titan for Tyla “== Artistry == === Influences === Tyla's biggest musical influences are Michael Jackson, Rihanna, and Britney Spears.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Black Is King by Beyoncé (2020). Black Is King (Beyoncé) — culture for Tyla “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Shakira, Cassie, Drake, and other African artists such as Wizkid, Tems, and Freshlyground.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Rihanna (1988). Tyla names Rihanna as a model for the pop star she hoped to become. (also via Good Girl Gone Bad)
• Cassie. The article lists Cassie among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Umlando by Toss (2022). Umlando (Toss) — ghost for Tyla (musicbrainz.org)
• Doja Cat. Tyla (Tyla) — legacy for Doja Cat (via Tyla) (musicbrainz.org)
• Alchemy (Spring/Summer 2019 collection) by Thebe Magugu (2019). Alchemy (Spring/Summer 2019 collection) (Thebe Magugu) — culture for Tyla
• It's About Time by Boom Shaka (1993). It's About Time (Boom Shaka) — ghost for Tyla
• Sarafina! by Darrell Roodt (1992). Sarafina! (Darrell Roodt) — culture for Tyla

Peers and kindred spirits

• Zara Larsson by Zara Larsson (2008). Tyla discusses making a song and video with Zara Larsson for “She Did It Again.” “And having a song and a video with her and everything is just fire, it’s like working with your friend. It’s like a group project.” (NME)
• Summer Walker by Summer Walker (2017). A contemporaneous report documents Tyla’s contribution to Summer Walker’s “Girls Need Love (Girls Mix).” “American R&B luminary Summer Walker has collaborated with South African superstar Tyla, and American singer-songwriters Tink and Victoria Monét, to reinvent her hit single from 2019, ‘Girls Need Love’.” (Zkhiphani)
• WizTheMc by WizTheMc. Forbes Africa identifies WizTheMc and Tyla as collaborators on the “Show Me Love” remix. “Earlier last year, Bees & Honey, a five-person global musical collective, along with South African-born WizTheMc, collaborated with Grammy-winner Tyla on a remix of their hit Show Me Love , amassing billions of listens across platforms.” (Forbes Africa)
• Cardi B by Cardi B. Billboard identifies “Nice Guy” as their collaboration and reports that they performed it together. “The Queen of Amapiano performed her “Nice Guy” collaboration with Cardi B, which landed on Bardi’s sophomore album, Am I the Drama? , as well as her 2025 hit “Chanel.”” (Billboard)
• When I'm with You. Tyla featured on Lisa’s song. “LISA and Tyla unveiled the scorching music video for their collaborative single, “When I’m With You,” on Friday (May 16).” (Billboard)
• Justin Bieber. The article says Tyla posted covers of Justin Bieber’s music. “Twitter (X) user, Musa Khawula , shared a clip from the interview where Tyla reacted to her video from 11 years ago singing a cover of Justin Bieber's Fall , from his 2012 Believe album.” (Briefly News)
• Bees & Honey by Bees & Honey. Tyla featured on a remix of Bees & Honey’s song. “On 18 April 2025, a remix of the WizTheMc and Bees & Honey song " Show Me Love " featuring Tyla was released.” (Wikipedia)
• DS4Ever by Gunna (2022). DS4Ever (Gunna) — collaborator for Tyla “She went on to win the most awards at the 2024 BET Awards, tying with Usher and Victoria Monét at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, where she delivered a live performance of "Jump" for the first time alongside Gunna and Ski…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Chris Brown. Tyla opened for Chris Brown on his tour. “Tyla then joined Chris Brown as the opening act for his Under the Influence Tour . [ 35 ] In May 2023, she released the single " Girl Next Door "” (Wikipedia)
• For Broken Ears by Tems (2020). For Broken Ears (Tems) — peer for Tyla “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Shakira, Cassie, Drake, and other African artists such as Wizkid, Tems, and Freshlyground.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• MaWhoo by MaWhoo. Tyla recalls making and recording a song with MaWhoo. “Mawhoo also, we made that song just by literally having a party in a room, and while the party’s going on, we’re trying to record.” (NME)
• 19 & Dangerous by Ayra Starr (2021). 19 & Dangerous (Ayra Starr) — peer for Tyla “In May 2023, she released the single "Girl Next Door", featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Sean Paul by Sean Paul. Tyla describes collaborating with Sean Paul on “Push 2 Start.” ““It was like a childhood pinch-me moment, because Sean Paul – obsessed! And even now, he still feels like the 2000s. He got it! Like, he got the swag down, he’s cool, he’s chill, the voice, he still got it. You know what I mean? And what…” (NME)
• Liquideep by Liquideep. Tyla identifies “Fairytale” as her reworking of a song with Liquideep. “And with Liquideep, that’s just the song that I grew up on, and I always wanted to redo that song. I feel like it’s such a wedding song. Like, guys, get married to that song! Guys, if you have a wedding? ‘Fairytale’, by Tyla and Liquideep.” (NME)
• Memeza by Brenda Fassie (1997). Memeza (Brenda Fassie) — geography for Tyla (musicbrainz.org)
• Brik Pan Brik by Skillibeng (2021). Brik Pan Brik (Skillibeng) — collaborator for Tyla “She went on to win the most awards at the 2024 BET Awards, tying with Usher and Victoria Monét at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, where she delivered a live performance of "Jump" for the first time alongside Gunna and Ski…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Asylum by Uncle Waffles (2022). Asylum (Uncle Waffles) — peer for Tyla (musicbrainz.org)
• Astroworld by Travis Scott. Astroworld (Travis Scott) — collaborator for Tyla (musicbrainz.org)
• Sghubu Ses Ex by Focalistic (2020). Sghubu Ses Ex (Focalistic) — geography for Tyla
• Scorpion Kings by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (2019). Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa) — geography for Tyla

Who Tyla influenced

• Funk 55 by Shakes & Les (2023). Funk 55 (Shakes & Les) — legacy for Tyla
• Mnike by Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za (2023). Mnike (Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za) — legacy for Tyla