TYLA BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Tyla — born Tyla Laura Seethal — is a South African popiano star who became a global sensation with her 2023 breakout single "Water." Born on January 30, 2002, in Edenvale, Johannesburg, she blends amapiano, pop and R&B into a sound she calls popiano.

Nicknamed the "Queen of Popiano," Tyla made history as the youngest-ever African artist to win a Grammy Award. Below is her full biography — her age, career journey, biggest songs and key facts.

Tyla Biography & Facts 

Name: Tyla Laura Seethal
Born: January 30, 2002 (age 24 in 2026)
Birthplace: Edenvale, Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation: South African singer-songwriter
Genres: Amapiano, pop, R&B — dubbed the "Queen of Popiano" for her fusion of pop and amapiano
Labels: Fax and Epic (Sony)
Years Active: 2019–present
Breakthrough: "Water" (2023)
Biggest Hit: "Water"

According to Wikipedia and PAPER Magazine (October 2026), Tyla has won two Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, two BET Awards and three MTV Europe Music Awards. She released the EP WWP (2025) and her second studio album A*Pop (2026), which spawned the Billboard Global 200 top-20 single "Chanel."

Early Life 

Tyla was born Tyla Laura Seethal on January 30, 2002, in Edenvale, Johannesburg, South Africa, and grew up in Johannesburg. She started singing at a young age and was still a teenager when she released her debut single "Getting Late" in 2019.

Career & Rise to Fame 

Tyla released her debut single "Getting Late" in 2019, introducing her amapiano-tinged sound to South African audiences. Her international breakthrough arrived in 2023 with "Water," a sultry popiano single that went viral around the world.

"Water" made Tyla the first South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years, and it won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. She followed it with her self-titled debut album Tyla (2024), which reached the top 25 in six countries, including the US — cementing her status as the youngest-ever African artist to win a Grammy.

Biggest Songs & Awards 

Tyla's biggest song remains "Water," the record-setting 2023 single that became the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years and earned the first Grammy ever awarded for Best African Music Performance.

According to Wikipedia and PAPER Magazine (October 2026), Tyla has won two Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, two BET Awards and three MTV Europe Music Awards. Her later releases include the EP WWP (2025) and her second studio album A*Pop (2026), whose single "Chanel" reached the top 20 of the Billboard Global 200.

Watch the Official Video 

Watch the official music video for "Water" below:

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Tyla's real name and how old is she?
Her real name is Tyla Laura Seethal. She was born on January 30, 2002, which makes her 24 years old in 2026.

What is popiano?
Popiano is Tyla's signature sound — a fusion of pop music and amapiano, the South African house-music genre. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Popiano" because of it.

What record did "Water" set?
"Water" became the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years, and it won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.

How many Grammys has Tyla won?
According to Wikipedia and PAPER Magazine (October 2026), Tyla has won two Grammy Awards. She is also the youngest-ever African artist to win a Grammy.

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