“old-school pop superstar transports us back to more carefree times”
“Polishing an already polished sound, Tyla’s second album adds reverb-heavy guitar and electronic production to frothy Afropop and amapiano log rhythms.”
“safe, polished pop that could’ve gone further”
“The South African singer followers her star-making debut with a tougher, grittier second effort.”
“Tyla’s APOP* feels like the kind of album that makes you understand why she’s become such an exciting name in pop and R&B. I was already aware of Tyla, but honestly, I first really noticed her through “Chanel” after hearing it all over TikTok. That song immediately caught my attention, so I was curious to see what she could do with a full album. What I like most about APOP* is how effortlessly Tyla blends pop, R&B, amapiano, and South African influences without making the album feel like it’s trying too hard to prove anything. She has a very distinct sound, and her voice gives the songs this soft, effortless quality that makes even the more upbeat tracks feel smooth. “Chanel” is still one of my favorites, but I found myself enjoying some of the deeper cuts more than I expected. There are definitely moments where the album feels a little repetitive, but overall, I appreciate Tyla leaning further into her own identity instead of simply chasing another viral hit. As someone who came into this album mainly knowing Tyla through “Chanel” and TikTok, APOP* gave me a better appreciation for her as an artist. It feels confident, stylish, and very much like Tyla is figuring out just how far she can take her sound. Not every song completely landed for me, but there’s enough here to make me want to keep listening and explore more of her music.”
“At first listen I had a lot of expectations for the album. I was expecting bigger vocals and better progression in the production but because of my expectations i was unable to see the uniqueness of the album. It does its job, DANCE! I can’t listen to the album without moving my hips. My criticism still stands, it doesn’t really go anywhere, it lack progression and many times the strongest part of the song is the beginning.”
