August 1, 2025 |
Get ready to feel the heat – Skyla Tylaa is about to cook up a storm at Skepta’s Big Smoke Festival.
Kickstarting August 9, the two-day affair bills major artists like Central Cee and Skepta himself, with the budding DJ set to bring her amapiano heat to the Crystal Palace Bowl. A multi-genre celebration of sound in South-East London Tylaa’s bass-driven sets, which are known for fusing South African rhythms with an underground flair that pays homage to her UK roots, it’s a performance you won’t want to miss.
Already co-signed by Wizkid and Rihanna, Tylaa’s rise has been rapid. She has graced the stages of major festivals including Afro Nation, Wireless, Piano People, Promiseland in Australia and Nativeland, holding her own alongside heavyweights like Major League DJz, Rema and of course, Rihanna herself. One thing’s for sure, when she’s behind the decks, the London-based DJ commands the crowd with a presence that’s magnetic, exciting and knows how to put on a party.
This April saw the release of her debut single, Bombshell, a rich amapiano record featuring Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz and South Africans Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison and DJ Exit. Shot on location in South Africa, the music video channels pure party energy – think electric dance moves, white bandana waving and all the energetic thrills of a night you won’t forget. The song itself, a gripping, percussion-driven melody that pulls you onto the dancefloor and urges you to shake a leg.
At Big Smoke, Tylaa is poised to ignite the stage with hard beats, full volume ambience and main character energy. But that momentum doesn’t stop there. Tonight, Tylaa is bringing her high-spirited, eclectic sound to Dream Park Festival for an hour-long groove session starting at 7:30pm. Then, later this month, Tylaa’s next single Black Music will land on streaming services globally (she has been teasing the track in her live sets over the summer).
Skyla Tylaa’s skyrocketing career is one to keep a keen eye on. Here, we sat down with the artist to learn about her first memory of amapiano, the TikTok sounds she mixes into her sets and what’s going to be in her rider when she takes to Big Smoke.
1. Who is Skyla Tylaa?
I’m just a girl… no just kidding, I am an international DJ.
2. If an alien was to stumble upon your music, how would you describe your sound to them?
Electrifying and just a sound that anyone can dance to. The aliens would probably be dancing to it as well. They would love it, they’d be two stepping.
3. Tell us about the newest single. Where was your head at when you made it?
Bombshell was my first single and it had an incredible response and introduced me to the world as an artist. It was amazing working alongside artists like Diamond Platnumz, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison and DJ Exit.
More recently I have been teasing my new single Black Music in my sets over the summer and it’s been having such a good reaction. It’s something for the club, dance floor vibes, one for the DJ’s. That one will be coming out next month.
4. What is your first memory of Amapiano?
It began during our time living in Ghana. We spent over two years there and completely fell in love with the place, it became a second home. Around 2021, when Amapiano was really taking off, I got introduced to it at just the right moment. I remember one day vividly, I was home, sick and on a drip, while Wiz[kid] had a writing camp going on. From the studio, I could hear Amapiano blasting, and something about it just clicked with me. I was instantly drawn in. That same day, I ended up meeting Major League DJz, DJ Maphorisa, and Uncle Vinny and they really embraced me. They offered so much support and guidance. Major League, especially, were instrumental. I even stayed with them for a while when I first toured SA, and pretty much shadowed them everywhere, learning so much along the way.
5. What/who has inspired your sound?
I would say growing up in London has had the biggest influence. You’re surrounded by so many cultures, it’s inspired my broad taste in music. My mentors like Major League, Marphorisa, Uncle Vinny inspire me a lot but also I get inspired by DJs I see play every week. When I played at Honey Dijon‘s Ibiza night recently watching her set or when I was in Toronto at Bambii‘s set. Everywhere I go I’m inspired.
6. Who would be your dream collaborator?
I would like to work with Charli xcx, she is a very cool girl.
7. Next month you’re set to perform at Skepta’s Big Smoke Festival. What are you most excited for?
I’m looking forward to Skepta’s DJ set on Sunday.
On the Saturday, I’m excited because we are doing a collab with Ed Hardy and Steelo and we have created these personalised custom tops and me and 20 of my friends are going to be wearing them, so it’s just going to be a crazy Skyla mob take over situation.
8. What’s in your rider?
If I’m in America, Chick-fil-A, if I’m in Canada, Canada Dry which is ginger ale but if I’m in London just Tequila, reposado only and cranberry juice to chase.
9. What are the most unusual and obscure sounds or samples you’ve mixed in your music?
If it’s a young crowd I love mixing in Tiktok sounds and surprising them. There was this one called She Was a Fairy and I mixed it into an amapiano track. I like to be playful with it.
10. What’s next for you?
New music is coming very soon. Lots of amazing shows all over and I’m looking forward to experimenting with my sound, pushing it as far as I can take it and challenging myself.
Photography by Nathan Amaning-Ampong.
