Tag: POP

Singer Tyla‘s sexy song “Water” has been dripping in success ever since it dropped earlier this year.

“First of all it’s a banger, like it’s a crazy song,” Tyla, 21, tells PEOPLE of her Afrobeat-tinged breakout about a steamy romance, which climbed to No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The tune has been an even bigger winner on social media, with thousands of fans using it over their own videos and testing their skills with the Water Dance Challenge based on the star’s impressive moves in her music video.

“Even before the challenge started, before the video went viral, people were loving the song. But I think what really took it to the edge was my performance of it,” says Tyla. “I worked with my choreographer in South Africa and we made that dance and when I performed on stage I just threw water, like I didn’t even think about it.”

Most recently she dazzled Jimmy Fallon and his studio audience, making her American television debut performing “Water” live on The Tonight Show. It’s been a whirlwind year for the young South African star and she’s just getting started.

Here are five things to know about Tyla:

She was born Tyla Laura Seethal in Johannesburg, South Africa

Tyla, pronounced TIE-Luh, “grew up listening to Afrobeats, amapiano, house Kwaito and all of that,” says the singer of popular genres in her home country. “But also a lot of R&B and pop also played in my house and I looked up to a lot of R&B and pop artists.”

As for her American influences, “I really looked up to Michael Jackson as a performer specifically. I also looked up to Rihanna and Aaliyah as well.” But when it came time to figure out her own sound, she says, “I knew that I wanted my culture in it. I made my first amapiano song ‘Getting Late’ and added pop and R&B melodies to it. With ‘Water’ I’d describe it as the perfect blend. Being from South Africa is the reason why my sound is what it is.”

In school she studied mining engineering before focusing on music

“Music was always the plan, but when I consciously started working towards it, I was in my last year of high school,” says Tyla, who kickstarted her career by posting singing videos to social media. “I was studying and writing my final exams but every weekend I made sure to go to the studio and just record, experiment, shoot pictures and just go for it.”

That said, her parents weren’t always going for it. “When I finished school my parents asked me what I’m going to study and I told them immediately I want to go into music,” she says. “After a lot of convincing they allowed me to do just that.”

She has over 6 million TikTok followers, and loads of admirers

Tyla isn’t new to social media, but she’s the first to admit things have changed. “I grew up on social media,” she says. “Like maybe at age 12 or 13 I would borrow my father’s phone to make social media accounts. I wasn’t supposed to be on it at that age but I just fell in love with pictures and making videos and musical.ly.”

These days, after going viral with both of her singles, “I am starting to feel the pressure of social media now because the numbers are rising much faster and I just understand the influence that I have now,” she says. “I have to be more careful and use my platform right.”

As for wishful suitors shooting their shot and expressing interest in the beautiful star on social media: “My DMs are always active honey! I’m telling you, there’s always someone in there that I wouldn’t expect, so yeah, it’s booming!”

The viral music video for “Water” almost didn’t happen

Tyla fans can thank themselves for bringing “Water” to life on camera. “We weren’t actually going to shoot a video, and then the song just went viral,” explains Tyla. “We were like ‘Oh my word!’ We ended up working with [music video director] Child and I’ve always wanted to work with her so that was exciting. It was a little bit stressful, but I had so much fun on set.”

That didn’t stop the rising star from having jitters ahead of the video’s release. “I was so nervous,” she says, “like I literally couldn’t sleep. I was just waiting for it to drop. But after I saw the response was good it was such a relief. I just felt so much better after all that.”

When she’s not singing and dancing, she loves lounging and scrolling

“I love to just lay down,” says the star, “close the curtain, maybe go on TikTok. Sometimes I watch TV or when I’m at home I love to just chill with my family.”

For Tyla, there’s no place like home, and especially a particular place in her home. “We do this thing where we just sit on our parents’ bed and we just talk about anything and everything. That’s something that I really enjoy doing. Basically, I just chill.”

Introducing Drax Africa, the dynamic twin duo, Golden Mumba and Kelvin Mumba, originating from

the vibrant town of Luanshya in Zambia, often referred to as “the garden town of the copperbelt.” Their

upbringing in this culturally rich city, nestled in the heart of north-central Zambia, has deeply influenced

their music, art, and worldview.

Drawing inspiration from legends like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, Drax

Africa masterfully blends pop, afrobeats, and reggae genres. Their melodious voices resonate with

the spirit of the emerging Gen Z generation, while honoring timeless influences such as Zamrock and

reggae music. In 2019, Drax Africa made a striking entry into the music scene with a double release

featuring consecutive No. 1 hits, “Turn Around” and “Heart Of Mine.” These songs earned them

recognition as Artist Republik’s Songs of the Summer in both 2019 and 2020.

Their momentum soared in 2021 when “Turn Around” received the prestigious title of Best Indie Track

globally and in Africa at the Djooky Music Awards, an honor celebrated by industry Esteemed judges,

including Grammy nominee Patrice Rushen, producer Sasha Skarbek (known for his work with James

Blunt and Miley Cyrus), Justin Gray (collaborator with John Legend and Mariah Carey), and producer/

engineer Brian Malouf (with an illustrious roster including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Stevie Wonder

and Queen).

Drax Africa’s artistic journey is marked by remarkable collaborations with fellow artists across the

continent, including a notable partnership with Jamaican reggae luminary General Degree for their

2020 single, “Fine One.” As the sole independent duo in Zambia to claim the coveted Djooky Global

Music Award, Drax Africa offers a fresh perspective and a resonant voice that transcends geographical

boundaries, delivering a unique musical experience to the world.

Recently, Drax Africa achieved a significant milestone as their entire music catalog was featured on

Spotify editorial playlists “Viral Hits” and “Hits Italiane” for one week, garnering overwhelming support

from fans worldwide. Their recent single, “New Nyemu,”https://ffm.to/draxafrica-newnyemu  was release on December 1, 2023, serves

as a prelude to their forthcoming EP, “Afro In Space” In this emotionally charged composition, the duo

bravely explores the struggles faced by individuals striving to find their place in a challenging world,

addressing themes of mockery, rejection, and perseverance on the path to victory and renewal. Drax

Africa invites you to join them on this captivating musical journey, one that promises to touch hearts and

inspire minds.

Get ready to groove to the beat of the one and only Inamorato Ciardi (I.C.)! With a unique blend of words and sound, this musical genius creates a timeless symphony that will capture your heart. I.C.’s music is like a time machine, transcending age and transporting listeners to a world of wonder!

Audiences have been raving about his latest EP, “Heartbreak before the Love,” and his newest sensation, “The Greatest Time of Year,” is a musical hit, spreading joy and cheer wherever it’s played.

It’s hard to believe that this prodigy has been singing and dancing since the age of two, but his undeniable talent is a testament to his passion and dedication. I.C. is destined for superstardom, and we’re thrilled to be a part of his journey. Brace yourself for an unforgettable experience, because I.C. is here to stay!

https://youtu.be/Md6oXuUQdz4

Walter Hansen is a composer, singer, and award-winning multi-instrumentalist currently producing innovative synthwave and chillwave music. His complex, often unexpected instrumentations and warm, distinctive vocals are the product of a lifetime of diverse musical experience. Composing and arranging since he was a young child, he thinks and feels in melodies and expresses his full self with abandon. The result is expertly mixed and mastered music that blurs genre lines and grooves like a live performance. 

His first EP, 2016’s instrumental Perspective, is a delicious display of his artistry as a jazz saxophonist. Hansen is connected with his instrument in such a way that the soulful sound flowing forth seems at times to be more like a voice than a horn. A captivating chorus of organic instruments, synth soundscapes, and stripped-down vocals showcase the symphony that lives within him. Hansen’s more recent vocal-centric work is electric, energetic, and delightfully dynamic. Earnest storytelling pieces and experimental dance tracks alike feature his sundry instrumentation, deft production, and invariably smooth, expressive voice.

The world of music has always been spiced up when exceptional artists come along and surprise us. Once again, the world of music has been blessed by Hello Fiasco. Hello Fiasco is a fire-brand Pop Rock group of five that comes from both Canada and the USA. They are on the rise and without flattering them too much, Hello Fiasco is great! Their tracks have tons of lyrical quality and their overall sound is epic. Apart from the uniqueness that can be found in their tone, you might think they are Cold Play.

Their debut album titled “Find the Shoreline” is an absolute worldie and so is the first single from the album: “Hold me Close.” “Hold me Close” is not just a hit song in my opinion; it goes beyond that. It is a banger and a mix of indescribable artistic beauty all at once. The highly-rated and emerging band were fortunate enough to have worked with some of the best of producers and sound engineers in the music business, and the result is songs like “Hold Me Close.” Much to the delight of fans, topafricmusicvideo did an interview with Hello Fiasco, and this is what they had to say about themselves:

Q & A

Q: Can you please tell our readers your real name as well as your stage name?
We are a 5-piece Pop Rock band named Hello Fiasco from both Canada and the US.

Q: At What age did you start making music?
There are five of us so all different ages.

Q: what genre would you consider yourself?
We are definitely a Pop Rock Band.

Q: Tell us about your latest track or Video ( what is it all about)–Please explain the concept or message
We just released a song called “Hold Me Close” in May. It’s the lead-off single from our debut album and we are super excited that the song already hit 300,000 streams on Spotify and 100,000 views on YouTube, before we even release the album. The album itself, titled “Find The Shoreline, is officially released on August 4 but it has already had 1,000,000 plays on Spotify and been added to over 2,000 playlists there as well.

Q: Who wrote it and what was the inspiration behind it
The track was written by all 5 band members and our producer John Paul Peters. He writes and produces everything with us.

Q: If you were given a chance, which Artist would you love to perform with?
Well, that is a tough one, but there are a few of us in the band that would for sure like do a show with either The Killers, Muse, Pearl Jam, The Arkells or Cold Play.

Q: Where can fans find you? List all your social media links
SPOTIFY
APPLE
WEBSITE
YOUTUBE
LINKTREE
TIKTOK
INSTAGRAM
FB
TWITTER

The Track: Hold Me Close

Since the track was released early to Spotify on the 5th of May, Hold Me Close has been streamed over three hundred thousand times of major streaming platforms. The album itself, “Find The Shoreline” now has 1,200,000 plays, even though it is only set to be released worldwide on August 4.

The song “Hold Me Close” is flavored with rhythmic synth beats, well timed rimshots and drum kicks, beautiful piano syncopation and a powerful but sonorous voice to match it all. At first, the song starts with a syncopation of synth beats as the voice of Hello Fiasco emerges into the background.

Fast forward to the end of the first verse, there is a moment of beauty, as the song explodes and spirals into the chorus. The sudden wave of sound hits differently and sends you straight to cloud 9. Click the link below to stream the track.
.

Hold Me Close Lyrics

Lyrically, “Hold me close” is a masterpiece and can be found on Hello Fiasco’s official website. Overall, the hook of the song “We do the things that we’ve done over and over before, a new experience is all that I’m asking you for” paints the perfect picture of the what the song is trying to say. After all, we all remember that feeling of being locked inside with our partners during COVID, and we also remember how the whole experience of COVID caused strain on our personal relationships. Even more so, we also remember that feeling of wanting to escape and do something outside. This video is a beatiful representation of that sentiment.

Below is the lyric of the song

[verse 1]

Why don’t we step outside -Take a car ride

Why don’t we catch a flick – Maybe we will click

Like we used to way back when we were new

We do the things that we’ve done over and over before

A new experience is all that I’m asking you for

[chorus]

Hold me close and help me remember

Can you hold me close like there’s no other

I wish you would hold me close like there’s nothing else

[​verse 2]

Should I have shared the shame

Have I been wrong to blame

My courage it comes in waves

And then it pulls away

I never say a thing – I never say a thing

​We do the things that we’ve done over and over before

A new experience is all that I’m asking you for

​[Chorus]

Can you hold me close and help me remember

Can you hold me close like there’s no other

I wish you would hold me close like there’s nothing else

Can you hold me close and help me remember

Can you hold me close like there’s no other

I wish you

I wish you would hold me close like there’s nothing else

Like there’s nothing else

Hold Me Close Video​

On YouTube, the official video of Hold Me Close has recorded over one hundred thousand views since it premiered in May. The video has also received a lot of positive reviews from fans and music lovers alike. Visuals of the hit track involve alternating scenes of a couple who are struggling, but eventually they find their way to happiness. It’s great that you get to see the band performing the song in different scenes. All of this was somehow crammed into 3 minutes and 42 seconds of absolute delight.

Here is the video below

About the Artist

Prior to 2021, ex-members of The Mailman’s Children collaborated with other Canadian musicians to record 23 original songs. The freshly formed Pop Rock band, Hello Fiasco, made their public debut at the beginning of 2021. Hello Fiasco is primarily Canadian, but the music band is also referred to as a “North American” band  because their lead singer Eric LaBossiere was born in Canada and now resides in the US. The rest of the crew including Joel Couture on bass, Joel Perreault on lead guitars and supporting vocals, Ivan Burke on drums and backing vocals, and Guy Abraham on keys and Ableton all reside in Canada.

On August 4, “Find The Shoreline,” the group’s debut album, will be made accessible globally (2022). John Paul Peters, a renowned Canadian producer, and frontman Eric LaBossiere collaborated on its co-production.

Topafricmusicvideo.com

Dr. Alban releases the single ”CHANGE (I Have a Dream)” that addresses the current state of the world with a message that freedom is a human right, not a privilege, and that you should raise your voice against injustice and oppression. The lyrics for the song is inspired by one of his personal heroes, Martin Luther King. The single also features the GRAMMY-award winning artist/songwriter Whitney Peyton. With over 16 million sold albums that includes hits like ”It’s my life”,” Hello Africa and “Sing Hallelujah”, Dr. Alban continues his mission to spread the word about unity, that is beautifully manifested in the lyrics; ” We’re one people, one nation, one world”.