Recommended Tracks: “IS IT,” “SHE DID IT AGAIN,” “IS IT LOVE”
Similar Artists: Zara Larsson, Rihanna, Kehlani
Tyla knows how to dish out a hit. The 24-year-old’s chart-topping single “Water” bolsters billions of streams, bringing the South African star’s blend of amapiano, pop, and R&B to audiences worldwide.
Her sophomore album A*POP, however, misses in filling out the gaps between the hits. Fourteen tracks slither through her key ingredients. Her buttery smooth vocals melt through wavy synths and bumpy percussion, delivering a cocksure attitude of knowing she’s that girl.
Tyla does deliver some standout tracks. They come through in songs similar to her chart-dominating ones, where she holds a confident attitude. As an album altogether, though, the middle of the record loses steam due to some songs starting to sound too similar to distinguish them from one another. There’s a cohesive ambience, but overall, the album doesn’t elevate Tyla’s sound.
The album opens with “IS IT LOVE,” an ANTI-era, Rihanna-esque sound in which Tyla questions a lover’s true passion for her, all layered over scaling electric guitars. Tyla’s vulnerability here captures a different side of her from her typical fiery flair.
A jewel in the mix, “KISS” sets in through an electronic feel. Syncopated percussion bounces off her soft vocals. The song ends with a rave energy as her vocals echo through a warped tunnel of drums.
“IS IT” follows, during which Tyla asks whether it’s okay for her to show interest in someone. Jittery drums hold down her silky belts of, “Is it wrong / that I wanna get right / Wanna get right with you?”
Remaking Liquideep’s song “FAIRYTALE,” Tyla hooks in African pop with a song from home. The 2009 song once lived on most radio stations in South Africa, winning MTV Africa’s Song of the Year award. Tyla, then, went back to her childhood favorites to bring a softer side to the album. Synths ripple in the background while Tyla and Liquideep circle each other smoothly.
The middle of the album begins to lose the listener. Though good elements exist, there’s a missing ingredient that leaves you somewhat mentally checked out. A back-to-back trio briefly locks back, but in the end it glazes over again.
In “MR. NONCHALANT,” Tyla gives out marching orders to show that she gets what she wants. A Y2K moment shimmers through as groovy, pounding percussion echoes out. Tyla returns to her self-assured tone, which blends seamlessly into the next track.
Featuring Zara Larsson, “SHE DID IT AGAIN” effortlessly merges the pop duo’s vocals. A robotic voice chants “Deep down you want me” to set off each singer’s verse. Reverberating keyboards ripple through their flirtatious quips, their cocky lines showing that they know their worth and wouldn’t have someone forget it. “Got a body like a bottle, doesn’t mean that you should spin the block,” Tyla sings.
Rolled out as a single in 2025, “CHANEL” is a classic, glittery Tyla pop track. She claims that if she’s truly adored, then she’d receive Chanel: light snares splash across repeating lines of “How you say love me? / You ain’t put me in Chanel.”
The last three tracks end in highway hypnosis, driving through to the end without landing. Leaning more towards R&B, they feature synths that dance through her slowed-down vocals.
Ultimately, A*POP breathes when Tyla leans into her teasing variety of pop music. The overall album doesn’t hold that pop to reel you back in, but Tyla’s star power ensures listeners will come back for her faster-paced, flirtatious melodies.
A*POP is available to stream now:
