When Water went viral, the world saw a 21-year-old South African sensation riding the crest of Afrobeats’ new wave.
But behind the polished performances and chart-smashing success, Tyla says she was still finding her voice—and fame came too fast for comfort.
Speaking on The Dotty Show, Tyla admitted, “God obviously rushed that process for me.” One moment, she was performing for small crowds in Johannesburg; the next, she was touring internationally, sharing stages with global stars like Chris Brown.
“I was still learning myself as an artist,” she confessed, adding that she wished for more time to develop privately before the world got a glimpse of her “rough drafts.”
In another candid chat with Variety, she peeled back the curtain further: “When ‘Water’ happened, I wasn’t ready… I became obsessed with the idea of doing things ‘right.’ I wanted more time to make mistakes to fully figure out who I am as an artist.”
Her honesty highlights a reality few see—that overnight success can be as overwhelming as it is exhilarating, leaving little room for the trial-and-error that shapes an artist’s true identity.
