Water (Tyla song)
Water is a song by South African singer Tyla, released on July 28, 2023 as the lead single from her debut album Tyla (2024). It mixes amapiano with pop, R&B and Afrobeats — what Tyla calls “popiano.” The track was produced by Sammy Soso, with production starting in London, finishing in Los Angeles, and vocals recorded in Cape Town.
Lyrically, Water is about wanting a passionate, intimate, trusting connection. Tyla has described it as a playful, naughty song about showing a partner what he has to offer.
Remixes of Water were released on November 17, 2023, including versions by Travis Scott and Marshmello. A remix video came out on March 18, 2024. The song became a global hit, earning multi-platinum certifications in many countries and a diamond certification in Brazil. It appeared on year-end lists for Afropop, and won major awards, including the Grammy for Best African Music Performance, Billboard’s Top Afrobeats Song, and MTV’s Best Afrobeats Video.
Water reached high chart positions around the world. In the United States, it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2024, making Tyla the youngest African solo artist to reach the Hot 100. It also performed well in the Philippines, Canada and the United Kingdom, and topped various Afrobeats and R&B charts. The track was a big driver of Tyla’s global breakthrough and helped fuel a TikTok phenomenon, with the Water Challenge generating hundreds of millions of views.
The official music video premiered on YouTube on October 6, 2023. Shot in New York City and directed by Child and C&P, it features Tyla at a beachside party and a sensual dance moment with her love interest. By September 2024, the video had hundreds of millions of views. A separate video for the Travis Scott remix followed in March 2024.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:47 (CET).