Tyla Talks About Creating ‘Water,’ the Journey to Her Debut Album, Grammy Win & More | Billboard Cover

Billboard cover star Tyla talks about creating her viral hit “Water,” the journey to creating her recently released debut album ‘Tyla,’ the diverse collaborations from Becky G, Tems, Gunna and Skillibeng, how her sound has evolved from R&B and pop to more Ampiano focused, how she feels to be the first artist to win a Grammy in the new African Music Performance category, how the South African dance Bacardi dance style inspired the viral “Water,” dance, canceling her highly anticipated Coachella performance and tour due to injury and more.

Tyla
People are gonna see me everywhere. So if you don’t like me, I’m sorry.

Tyla
The making of “Water,” I was wrapping up the album. And I was looking for sounds that I was missing. And I really felt like I was missing like a summer, banger, vibey type song. So I ended up working with these people that we call the Fantastic Four, which is Ari, Corey, Mocha and Sammy Soso and, we came up with literally the exact song I had envisioned. And we recorded it in a bedroom, literally. And I just remember repeating it and repeating it and playing it for whoever would listen and people that I played for loved it had a really good feeling I started performing it before it was out. And the response was so good that I was like, Wait, this could be the song. But obviously the challenge and everything took a like to the wall.

Watch the full video above!