1 day Ago By Alexis Mikulski Ruiz
Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled its new CLA model at a star-packed event in Rome, Italy, but the car’s best-in-class features and innovative design weren’t the only surprises the automobile company had in store for guests. Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla made an unexpected appearance at this World Premiere and performed some of her biggest hits for attendees (in front of a drone-covered skyline), including her viral song “Water.” After the mini-concert, Rolling Stone sat down with the South African musician to discuss everything from her pre-show rituals to what her dream Mercedes-Benz would look like ( psst .
, it includes a stripper pole). Read our interview with the Queen of Popiano below, and find out how she can still slow down and enjoy life, even when things feel like they’re moving in the fast lane. $41.
99 $44.99 7% off When Mercedes-Benz first approached Tyla about the CLA performance, the answer for her was obvious. “I’ve always loved Mercedes, my first car was a Mercedes.
I literally saved up, and I got an old-school convertible, and I love it so much,” she told Rolling Stone . “So when they (Mercedes) reached out about this event, it just made sense. And I’ve never been to Rome, so this was my first time — I feel very fancy.
” So, if you’re still stashing away cash to afford a Mercedes of your own (like Tyla once was), we suggest grabbing this LEGO model in the meantime. It has over 800 individual pieces, and once built, it will become a keepsake car replica that you can display on your desk or bookshelf. $29.
60 $32.16 8% off Picture this: you’re driving in your brand-new Mercedes-Benz, the windows are down, the air is blowing, and you feel on top of the world (because you are). But what are you listening to on your Hi-Res speakers? Tyla’s debut album, of course ( which you can buy here ).
“With my music, I’m just really proud of it, and I really feel like its tailored to me,” she told Rolling Stone about the EP. “I’ve heard a lot of things before and I was inspired, but I just wanted to make this my own. The music that I make is really Tyla.
I don’t have a set process for creating music, I go with what I feel.” First released in 2024, Tyla features award-winning songs like “Water,” “Jump,” and “Breathe Me.” And even though this was the first studio LP for the singer, she quickly shot to stardom and learned many important lessons along the way.
“The hardest thing to learn about all of this is detachment. Knowing that once it’s out, and there’s no control, you have to learn how to let it go and not dwell over it,” she said. “Because nothing you can do is going to change what happens.
Early on, I would overthink a lot of things, and that made me enjoy it less. Once I started detaching, I started having more fun and allowing myself to make mistakes.” $149.
95 Mercedes-Benz already has an impressive lineup of cars in their convoy, but if Tyla were to create her own model, it would include some pretty pumped-up perks. “I would probably have a huge, custom Mercedes party bus,” she said. “Like Pimp My Ride .
A stripper pole in the middle. Lights. Banging speakers.
A whole thing. It would be black on the outside because nobody must know what’s going on inside.” Mercedes-Benz crafts its car speakers to provide comprehensive sound quality, customizable features, and the highest audio standards available.
However, if you don’t have access to this type of premium setup, JBL offers an impressive portable speaker (like the one pictured here) that you can easily take with you on your road trips. $110.00 Before making her debut in Rome, Tyla attended Paris Fashion Week, where she rocked a bubble gum pink tweed set that was paired with Chanel jewelry.
But there’s another type of accessory that’s been on Tyla’s mind lately, and that’s toe rings (yes, you heard that right). “Right now, I really want to get toe rings,” she told Rolling Stone . “Toe rings are back for me, but I don’t know if they ever left.
I like mixing silver and gold together.” If you want to take a page out of Tyla’s fashion playbook — and you should — get this 14k gold toe ring on Amazon for less than $120. $22.
00 Whether she’s performing for Mercedes-Benz or having an all-night session in the studio recording, the number one thing Tyla always keeps with her? Lip gloss. “I’m not that organized; I’m not going to lie. In my purse, you’ll find papers, perfumes, and a lot of lip gloss,” she said.
“For lip gloss, I don’t mind about the brand, but it just has to be thick. Whatever clear lip gloss is really thick and stays, that’s what I get.” And if we’re following Tyla’s simple rules listed above, Fenty Beauty’s Lip Gloss Bomb is the only product we’re going to add to our carts.
$159.95 Every musical artist has a different pre-show ritual. Keith Richards eats Shepard’s pie.
Taylor Swift delivers an inspirational speech. But for Tyla, it takes a soothing, warm beverage to get her going. “I like playing music before a show, having tea, and praying with everybody,” she told Rolling Stone .
“Me and the dancers jump around and scream, and we just hype ourselves up. I really love performing when I know I’m prepared and I’m in it. I don’t really like performing when it’s chaos, and my head is just everywhere.
So when I’m happy about my outfit, my hair, my makeup, and I feel confident, then that’s when I enjoy it the most.” This ornate teapot by cult-favorite brand Mackenzie-Childs can help you with your pre-show ritual at home — whether that means hyping yourself up for work or preparing for your next big date. You can take it all on, Tyla style.
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