South African sensation Grammy Award winner Tyla has left fans intrigued with the mysterious collaboration, featuring Kelvin Momo after dropping her highly anticipated self-titled album. The 41-second intro, unlike Kelvin Momo’s usual long-form tracks, raised eyebrows and left many listeners puzzled.
In an exclusive interview with Apple Music, Tyla shed light on the unconventional choice, explaining her intention behind including the snippet:
“I really wanted to start with something proudly South African, something that is raw. The song is a voice recording that I took in a Kelvin Momo session so I love that you’re hearing the song, you’re hearing people talk – you’re hearing our accents, our language – and I just wanted people to also hear the roots of my sound, because obviously I’ve experimented a lot and it’s very much different from how original piano or afrobeats is, so I just wanted people to hear a raw South African session, and then take them through what I did with it [with the album].”
Some fans on Twitter (X) expressed disappointment, expecting a full-fledged song from the collaboration.
???????????????? pic.twitter.com/n39rYybZuZ
— Lesilo Rula (@kay_mahapa) March 21, 2024This is how netizens reacted to the snippet on social media:
@itsliketso wrote, “It sounds like a voice note from somebody who forgot they pressed record.”
@Chequess_ added, “Must have been a mistake or something because ain’t no way.”
@Kingzz_m, said I was about to tweet about this track. She missed a record the year. I hope this track will be released in due time.
Many hoped that the short snippet would evolve into a complete track in the future, showcasing the potential of the collaboration.
Reflecting on her journey to finding her unique sound, Tyla shared insights into her creative process:
“Since ‘Getting Late’ – since I discovered that I really enjoyed mixing pop with African music – I was kind of on a mission to find the perfect blend, the sound where I feel 100% about it, so over two or three years now I’ve been working towards perfecting the sound and just trying new things. I feel like when I got to ‘Water’, it was kind of the moment where we’re getting somewhere.”
Tyla’s bold experimentation with different musical styles and her commitment to crafting a distinct sound have earned her widespread acclaim. Her willingness to push boundaries and fuse genres demonstrates her artistic versatility and sets her apart as a trailblazer in the South African music scene.
