BY Grant Moyo In a period of time where numbers are the benchmark, Cape Town alt-pop singer Tyler Page is certainly counting her trajectory to the top — getting an unsubtle glimpse of the out-and-out forward gesture of her blazing music career in a genteel manner to say — “I’m becoming almighty, astronomical and phenomenal”.
Itching for all the success in the face of the pressure that comes with being in the public eye, the 19-year-old spring-flowering vocalist is singing her way up — very much alive and kicking, knowing the drill — with little room for error. Getting to see her pedigree and what she is all about as she builds up to her first body of work signed under global record label Warner Music South Africa (WMSA), Page recently delivered crunchy cinematic visuals for her up-to-the-minute piece of music titled WAGMI — a code for “We Are All Gonna Make It”.
In South Africa, Page became the first pop artist this year with two songs on the Top 10 Nightly Chart of 5FM — a South African FM radio station that follows a Top 40 music format and is owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the public broadcaster. As WAGMI slingshot its way up securing pole position, respectively, Page’s other record called Teenage Werewolf — which previously mounted to number 1 — set on number 9.
WAGMI, which is firmly becoming a favourite among fans, has made its way onto numerous playlists, including the cover of Spotify’s Salt. Serving one of the gigantic tasks of humanity buoyed up by a raw vocal talent ascribed to the likes of American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, Barbadian singer Rihanna and New Zealand singer Lorde — Page’s post on video-focused social networking service Tik Tok featuring her live rendition of the latter sound, has amassed over 12 million views and counting.
Up until this point, with the decision falling much on her shoulders, it is quite clear that the high flying ultimate charismatic South African alt-pop gem is here to guide and profit — through the ups and downs — an equally charismatic audience as well as outback figures profusely lacking a little bit of a kick, so as to see multitudes most likely than not fitting into each other’s lives.
Making networks and creating inbounds, Page is fain leaning on the recording deal holding firmly to the opportunities rendered by Warner Music South Africa, an affiliate of American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate — Warner Music Group (WMG) — which is a division of the American film studio, Warner Bros.
Prior to officially dropping the music video for WAGMI — her first single since signing with the latter global record label — Page took to Instagram — an American photo and video sharing social networking service — to tease a 30-second exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ clip of the visual communication.
Ensuring that her fans feel the pulse of her masterful production, the cryptic post captioned — “Guess what?” — was an accelerated boon facing the backwash of the presumptive news of the video’s formal release.
Thinking out of the box, the spic-and-span cinematic visuals for WAGMI begin with Page sitting on a red bed in a room lit in pink. The vocal music opens up with the line: “I was in a daze when I first saw you, even though we just met.” As the camera pans, it becomes crystal clear that the alt pop star is probable addressing a love affair.
An inherent depth to the visuals creates suspense as her love interest — played by her actual boyfriend — gazes out of a gloomy window while writing a love note. The chemistry between the two young love birds is palpable with every interaction captured through this world-class hammy visual offering rooted in a grungy, cinematic world by Cape Town-based director Ryan Hing.
“The WAGMI video was shot with the motive to create a production that can resonate internationally. The strong visuals catch the eye, creating an experience for the viewer that makes them feel connected to Tyler Page’s music,” Hing said.
The musical composition which is about a holiday romance that has the potential to become something much more — believing and hoping that this love will live on once the holiday is concluded — speaks volumes to how blue-blooded the Capetonian vocalist is, in espousing her intense effort to put to design and bring attention to inscrutable detail.
“I’m so happy to have been a part of the entire process (shooting the visuals of WAGMI). My vision was to emphasise the start of a great love story and celebrate all the emotions that go along with new love, with hope that it lasts forever,” Page said.
Foraying into the music scene with no wall up — poised by the audacity of not weaving her journey if it is not precision — the sound cruises through Page’s howling lyrics with a bathetic certainty that is riveting. Hypothetically, she is intertwined with the genesis of ultramodern composers and vocalists soul-stirring audiences with congenial yet thought-provoking evocative offerings — goaded by a distinctive stifling expressive style.
- Grant Moyo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on Twitter: @TotemGrant