Tyla Explains Dropping Out of Coachella: ‘It’s the Right Decision’

Just a couple weeks before Tyla‘s hard work culminated in the release of her self-titled debut studio album, the 22-year-old artist announced that she’d hit a roadblock: an undisclosed, worsening injury that would force her to pull out of all of her upcoming live shows, including a career milestone set at this year’s Coachella.

In her Billboard cover story published Thursday (March 28), the “Water” singer opened up to Billboard about making the final call to cancel her performance at the April music festival. “It’s difficult because I want to go,” she said. “It’s the moment that I’ve been waiting for.”

“It’s not an easy decision, but it’s the right decision,” added the South African star.

Tyla first announced that she was not only departing from the Coachella lineup, but also canceling her North American tour dates and rescheduling her shows in Europe, in an Instagram post earlier this month. The 30-plus-date trek had been slated to kick off March 21 in Oslo.

“As much as this is something I would rather have dealt with privately, it’s important that I share what I have to share with you today,” she wrote at the time. “For the past year I’ve been silently suffering with an injury that has tragically worsened. I’ve seen doctors and specialists with high hopes but the pain has only become more agonizing as has the severity of the situation.”

“I am absolutely heartbroken to have to say this but as of right now I won’t be able to proceed with the tour,” she continued. “In consulting with medical professionals it’s become increasingly clear that continuing any festival or tour dates would jeopardize my long-term health and safety.”

Just two weeks later, she dropped Tyla, featuring collaborations with Tems, Gunna, Becky G, Travis Scott and more. The set includes her viral hit “Water” — which reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs, Rhythmic Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts — as well as 12 other tracks.

“I’m really confident in what I’ve created,” she told Billboard of her debut. “Now’s a time where I can showcase a performance style where I’m not really dancing as much. Maybe I strip back a little bit more and I’m just serving vocals. But there’s no way to stop me. I’m always going to find a way.”

Read Tyla’s Billboard cover story here.