Tyla – A*Pop
Tyla builds on the international breakthrough that quickly turned her from an emerging South African voice into a global pop phenomenon with ‘A*Pop’. Where her earlier work revolved around a fresh blend of amapiano and R&B with a relatively spontaneous energy, this second studio album feels more deliberately constructed and clearly aimed at a broader pop audience. The result is a record that is sleekly produced but at times lacks the raw edge that made her initial success so compelling.
From the opening track ‘Pressure Lines’, it becomes clear that the album leans into controlled dynamics. The production is clean and glossy, with log drums subtly present while synth layers take the lead. Tyla sings with relaxed precision, yet often holds something emotionally distant back, as if the focus is more on form than urgency. In ‘Push 2 Start (Rewired)’, that tension reappears, with a reworked version of her earlier style that deliberately moves towards international pop radio without fully abandoning its amapiano roots.
In the middle of the album, Tyla explores more variation. ‘Midnight In Jozi’ stands out as one of the more atmospheric moments, with a darker undertone and a minimal beat that leaves space for her voice. The track works mainly because of its simplicity, although it remains slightly too controlled to truly sink in emotionally. ‘Glass Hearts’, on the other hand, is clearly designed with hit potential in mind. The chorus is strong and easy to sing along to, but the production is so polished that the song offers few surprises.
The album reveals a clear tension between identity and ambition. In tracks like ‘Sway Culture’ and ‘Velvet Summer’, there is an attempt to merge amapiano rhythms with Western pop structures, but the balance is not always fully natural. At times, the production feels like it moves ahead of the emotion, resulting in songs that are technically impressive but less emotionally lasting. Still, Tyla remains a steady presence throughout. Her voice has a light, fluid quality that holds up even in the busiest arrangements.
Towards the end, ‘Afterglow’ provides a moment of calm that allows the album to breathe more naturally. Here her vocal performance comes to the forefront while the production steps back, giving the track a warmer and more human feel. It becomes one of the moments where it is clear how effective her music can be when less is more.
‘A*Pop’ is ultimately an ambitious but uneven album. It shows Tyla aiming to strengthen her position on the global stage, but also that this ambition sometimes comes at the expense of spontaneity and emotional immediacy. The record is consistent in production quality, but mixed in impact, leaving open the question of how her sound will continue to evolve between commercial pressure and her own artistic identity. (6/10) (Epic Records)
