Tyla is going blue — Smurf blue.
The 22-year-old South African singer, born Tyla Laura Seethal, has landed a spot on the soundtrack for the upcoming Smurfs movie, a glossy animated feature set to hit theaters on July 18, 2025. The news was confirmed by Roc Nation, which is distributing the album alongside Paramount Pictures.
It’s a high-profile nod for the amapiano breakout star. Her track, Everything Goes With Blue, is included on a soundtrack stacked with global heavyweights: Rihanna, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Shenseea and James Corden, to name a few.
The full album drops June 13 and is now available for pre-order. The project is drawing early buzz not just for its all-star line-up but for its genre-blurring, globe-spanning vision — a mix of pop, dancehall, hip hop, amapiano and more.
Rihanna kicked off the rollout with Friend of Mine, a sweeping lead single that dropped earlier this year. Higher Love, a collaboration between DESI TRILL, DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi, soon followed. Both tracks hint at the eclectic, festival-ready sound the album aims for.
For Tyla, the moment is personal and professional. After her 2023 viral hit Water propelled her onto international charts, she’s seen a steady climb — from touring with Chris Brown to award show appearances in the U.S. Now, she’s making her mark in Hollywood, with a song tied to a major studio film.
It’s not just a soundtrack gig either. The Smurfs reboot is shaping up to be one of the biggest animated releases of the year. Rihanna — yes, that Rihanna — voices a central Smurf character and is also one of the film’s producers. Papa Smurf, meanwhile, gets the gravelly vocal treatment from veteran actor John Goodman.
The plot follows the Smurfs as they venture into the human world on a mission to rescue their leader after he’s abducted by not one but two villains: Gargamel and Razamel.
James Corden, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Nick Offerman, Octavia Spencer, Daniel Levy, and Marshmello round out the cast. Chris Miller is directing, with a screenplay by Pam Brady. Behind the scenes, Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Ryan Harris are producing.
The film — a Paramount Animation and Domain Entertainment co-production — is based on the original characters created by Belgian artist Peyo. It’s had a bumpy release schedule, initially slated for December 2024, then pushed to February 2025, before finally settling on July 18.
Alongside Tyla’s Everything Goes With Blue, the soundtrack features:
- Friend of Mine – Rihanna
- Higher Love – DESI TRILL ft. DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania & Subhi
- It’s My Party – Shenseea
- Always On The Outside – James Corden
For Tyla, the project marks a rare leap for an African artist into mainstream Hollywood animation. It’s also a signal of the industry’s shifting center — where amapiano, once local to Johannesburg townships, now pulses beneath blockbuster credits.
