South African pop sensation Tyla returns with IS IT, her third single of 2025 and strongest statement yet. Following the sultry Bliss and Sean Paul-assisted Push 2 Start remix, this latest offering doubles down on her signature popiano formula while hinting at bold new directions for her anticipated sophomore album.
IS IT cleverly subverts its party-ready marketing with surprisingly introspective lyrics. While the infectious amapiano rhythms and polished production suggest pure club energy, Tyla uses the track to explore relationship vulnerability, questioning her emotional decisions with raw honesty. Her usual blend of log-drum basslines and R&B melodies provides the perfect backdrop for this internal dialogue, enhanced by subtle dancehall flourishes that recall Push 2 Start‘s Caribbean energy.
With 29.6 million monthly Spotify listeners and a Grammy already under her belt, Tyla faces the classic sophomore pressure: innovate or replicate? IS IT walks that tightrope skillfully, offering enough new flavour to keep critics interested while maintaining the accessibility that made Water a billion-plus stream phenomenon.
The real question isn’t whether IS IT will be a hit, it just might. It’s whether Tyla can continue evolving her sound as rapidly as the Afro-fusion scene around her. With artists like Burna Boy pushing boundaries on projects like No Sign of Weakness, standing still isn’t an option.
IS IT proves Tyla’s artistic maturity, wrapping vulnerable relationship questions in irresistible pop production. The contrast between its danceable surface and emotional depth, embodied in lines like “Is it wrong that I want to get it right with you,” showcases her growing sophistication as a songwriter. It’s the kind of dual-purpose track that works both in the club and on late-night playlists.
