Raising the banner of her debut self-titled album already certified gold in the US for moving at least half a million units, South African global pop star Tyla has released visuals for “Push 2 Start”. The song was dropped along with several other new records for the deluxe edition entitled Tyla+, and the music video is the first from the deluxe to be converted into visual media and follows the release of the karaoke date-themed music video for “Breathe Me”.
Directed by Los Angeles-based director Aerin Moreno, the short film for “Push 2 Start” starts with a scantily-clad Tyla with her cohort of backup dancers, arrayed in denim bum shorts and ultra short miniskirts; alluring heels which either climb all the way up to the thighs or terminate at the soles to maximise the sex appeal of anklets; and lush hair that cascades down their backs, billowing in the bubble-decorated wind of the car wash. The “Water” superstar sports a tassel-embellished black bra, a bejeweled Everlast undergarment, and a saber tooth necklace which pays homage to her African roots.
The “Push 2 Start” music video builds the premise of the theme atop the foundation of the song using automobile parlance, juxtaposing the controlling metaphor of cars with the anatomy of a woman and the things which turn her on. With extensive imagery predicated on twerking and frames of arched behinds being caressed by rotating wash brushes, the artistic direction complements these shots by showing the rear lights of the cars the girls give a bit of soap treatment, tying thematic scope of the music video to the songwriting.
A still from “Push 2 Start” | SUPPLIED
The visuals also poke fun at the naysayers who have cast her race and classification into question, with Tyla’s calves, shins, and feet being colored blue with spray paint.
From the sunset-gold lighting which butters Tyla’s sweat-coated skin to the confidence which oozes from her feline-esque gaze, the Grammy-winning queen of popiano’s face and aura conjure up the ghost of Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive” from her good girl gone bad era. With her showing on “Push 2 Start”, the Jozi hitmaker not only seems confident enough in her own skin to own herself, she’s also bold to emulate the greats before her who blew up at around her age and dares to prophesy with her excellence that she’ll be on their level in the fullness of time.
With world dominance surely already checked off the list, the “Truth or Dare” singer’s newest visual presentation is yet another reminder that the Uppity African is not merely here to mark herself present but that she’s here to make a long-lasting impact and to be one herself.
Watch “Push 2 Start”:
