The duo Liquideep experienced strong emotions after hearing Tyla's reimagining of their iconic hit 'Fairytale' during an exclusive listening session held in Portugal, six months after anticipation.
Liquideep will be featured on Tyla's upcoming second studio album titled 'A*POP'. The global star reworked the beloved South African hit 'Fairytale,' originally released in 2009 and remains one of South Africa's most cherished songs, sung by fans nearly two decades later.
The recognized duo Liquideep consists of producer and DJ Thabo 'Ryzor' Shoglo and vocalist-producer Jonathan 'Ziyon' Hamilton. During the listening session, when the reworked version of 'Fairytale' played, a wave of nostalgia swept over everyone present. For many who grew up with the original, it was a goosebump-inducing moment, as Tyla breathed new life into the song while preserving its essence.
Tyla did not aim to completely reinvent the song but rather paid tribute to the original. She layered her unique vocals onto the track, carefully maintaining the foundation that made 'Fairytale' a timeless masterpiece. Attendees confirmed their delight: the song was replayed during the session and could likely be heard many more times.
One of the members, Ziyon, could not hide his feelings. He told IOL: 'It was a surreal experience. As musicians, you just want to be heard. You never expect music to connect across generations. This whole journey for us since September has been a surreal dream.' He added that the collaboration confirmed Liquideep's mission to unite people through music, emphasizing their motto: 'Through music, through vibrations, under positivity and love, this is our guiding light.'
For Ryzor, the moment of hearing the finished version after recording in January was special. He noted: 'When we heard the track and saw the reaction in the room, everyone was so happy. We were ecstatic too.' Ryzor was pleasantly surprised that Tyla decided to keep the song almost as it was in the original, which, in his opinion, demonstrated her genuine love for the classic. He believes Tyla's version gave the song a second life, and it will now be heard worldwide following the release of 'A*POP' on July 24, 2026.
An exclusive listening party for Tyla's new album, titled 'A*POP', took place in Portugal, leaving a strong impression. For the artist, who was traveling outside of South Africa for the first time, this work-related trip was particularly memorable.
Sony Entertainment Africa and Tyla invited event attendees to watch Tyla's performance at the Afro Nation festival in Portugal and to be among the few who heard her second studio project, 'A*POP', before its official release. Tyla performed as the headliner on the Litowa stage, directly before Burna Boy. The audience on Praia da Rocha beach was captivated by her dance moves, highlighting Tyla's status as one of South Africa's biggest global exports.
The day after the performance, attendees visited an intimate home party organized by Tyla's management and Sony Music Entertainment to create an 'A*Pop' atmosphere. The event was decorated with balloons, inflatable toys, and graffiti dedicated to 'A*Pop', created by a local artist. When the manager, Collins Gale, founder of Africa Creative Agency, collected the guests' phones, it became clear that something special was about to begin.
Tyla warmly welcomed the guests to her party. During the listening session, under the Portuguese sun, she presented the album, which consists of 14 tracks. After listening to 'A*POP' in full, it became evident why she confidently claims the title of pop star. The artist explained that the name 'A*POP' reflects her firm belief that she is a pop star, which she has always desired as a girl from South Africa.
Despite often being told what she should be throughout her career, Tyla is now firmly standing her ground, and her music reflects this stance. The album was created globally but finalized at home in South Africa, which was very important to her. To finalize her second project, she organized a camp where all participants were brought to the cradle of humanity, using 'hadedas' sounds in the background.
The album includes several local guest artists and dance compositions. Guests replayed some tracks, shared moments of dancing with Tyla, and the arrival of her dancers, who are friends, turned the event into a full-fledged party. Tyla is proud to be from South Africa and stated that she will never want to give up her sound, regardless of fame. She noted: 'I think we always make sounds like yo and hayi. I like it. I just love self-expressing through things that are not real words.'
In 'A*POP', Tyla sings more, and she is interested in fans' opinions on this change. She said: 'I use my voice a little more than on the first one.' In addition to musical success and setting records, Tyla has also become a force in the world of fashion. Her exclusive party in Portugal demonstrated a vibrant atmosphere that left a lasting impression. She has firmly established herself as a Y2K style pop fashion icon, taking risks and attracting attention with her bold looks at events such as the Met Gala, Grammy Awards, BET Awards, VMAs, and the Jacquemus show.
Tyla stated: 'I think the little inner girl in you always loves to dress up and just try new things. I think it's a good way to show music in physical form and just play a character.' She collaborated with stylist Ron Hartleby and worked with renowned stylists such as Lou Roach and Lee Trigg. She enjoys presenting herself in different versions, such as 'What would an emo Tyla look like?'
Tyla's performance at Afro Nation differed from her previous appearances in Johannesburg at the Coke Studio event. From her performance at the World Cup to her show in Morocco, it is clear how much attention she pays to creating each presentation. She shares that she has always enjoyed creating such things because she is a very visual person, and ideas come spontaneously. She admits that she often gets into trouble because everything happens last minute, and the team rushes. Tyla emphasized that her imagination is constantly working, and she always has desires to realize.
The artist admits that she cannot manage alone and thanks her team, including the makeup team, dancers, and choreographers, who help bring her ideas to life. She notes that 'all our brains work together so well that we always come up with something that feels like Tyla.' Tyla is a global star, and the trip to Portugal to see her perform, listen to the album before release, and socialize proves this. The album 'A*Pop' will be released on all digital platforms on July 24, and fans expect it to be a sensation.
