Getting Late (Tyla song)

"Getting Late" is the debut single by South African singer Tyla featuring producer Kooldrink. It was produced by Kooldrink and Rogan Kelly, and released on 25 October 2019. Filmed during the pandemic lockdowns, the music video released in January 2021 racked up over 2 million views by May 2021 after its dance challenge received attention and secured Tyla a deal with Epic Records.^[3] Musically, the song combines Amapiano and pop music with Kooldrink's EDM beats over Tyla's smooth R&B vocals and elements of jazz and house music.^[4] Tyla stated she wanted to incorporate pop music into Amapiano to make it suit her more as she felt the genre had been "male dominated".^[5]

"Getting Late"
Single by Tyla
Released	25 October 2019 (2019-10-25)
Recorded	2019
Genre	Amapiano pop EDM contemporary R&B
Length	4:14
Label	Fax Epic
Songwriter(s)	Munashe Kugarakuripi Thato Nzimande Kooldrink Garth Von Glehn
Producer(s)	Rogan Kelly Kooldrink
Tyla singles chronology
"Getting Late" (2019) "Overdue" (2021)
Music video
"Getting Late" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Alternative cover used in international territories[2]

Background, release, and composition

"Getting Late" was originally released on 25 October 2019 independently by Tyla. After filming took place before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, Tyla released the music video on 28 January 2021, it would go viral in her home country of Johannesburg, South Africa and the US, racking up 40,000 views within 15 hours, months later she would sign to record label Epic Records.^[6][7] The song has elements of jazz and house music^[8] with a mixture of pop and amapiano, which would later become Tyla's signature sound that she would dub herself as "pop-iano".^[5][9] Tyla had said in an interview with Phoenix Magazine in 2021:

"Eventually, I’d like to release a small EP, hopefully by the end of the year, and then maybe an album next year. I want to take my time and I wanna put a lot of effort and attention into each detail."

She did end up releasing both an EP and album under Fax/Epic Records in 2024, entitled Tyla to critical and commercial success.^[10]

Music video

The music video directed by Tyla's then manager premiered on 28 January 2021, and centers around Tyla and her troupe of female dancers bringing to life 2000s R&B music video visuals in Johannesburg’s landscape. All paired with marching bands and cheerleaders, laser lights, lingerie and mansions.^[11][12][10]

Reception

The song received positive reviews upon release. Many complimented Tyla's sultry R&B vocals over the amapiano track and Kooldrink's EDM production.^[6][13]

"Getting Late" emerged as a success after a dance challenge on TikTok, started by Tyla in 2021 received heavy attention with videos racking up over 10.8 million likes on the platform by May 2021.^[14] Tyla told Headliner Magazine in 2021:^[8]

It just blew up, I never decided to get on TikTok just to promote my music. I enjoy making videos, it's something that I genuinely like doing. And the fact that I was able to broaden my audience through that and create a challenge that a lot of people are doing, it just took things to the next level. It helped me connect with my supporters from all over the world. So it definitely did play a huge part in the success.