Tyla creates music that is at once indelibly South African and ambitiously global. It’s a unique balance, one molded by the sounds she heard as a child growing up in Johannesburg. Not only did Tyla (born in 2002) listen to plenty of homegrown music, including Kwaito and Afropop, but she was also exposed to ’90s American R&B greats like Aaliyah and Brandy. As with so many artists coming of age in the 21st century, the motivated teenager utilized social media to showcase her swiftly evolving talent; she then teamed up with South African producer Kooldrink for “Getting Late.” The 2019 single is a mesmerizing realization of Tyla’s love for bridging styles. The killer rhythm track is rooted in amapiano, and the singer’s translucent vocals reveal stunning versatility: hypnotic enough for dance music yet packed with pop’s effortless catchiness and R&B’s undiluted soulfulness.