‘Jozi stands together’: Trevor Noah and Tyla bond over global success and a curious common interest

The comedian Trevor Noah and singer Tyla share a few things in common. They are both global stars from Johannesburg who are nominated for a 2024 Grammy.

Trevor interviewed Tyla for Interview Magazine ahead of her performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the two talked about different topics.

Jozi stands together

The two bonded during the interview, with Trevor concluding it by saying, “Jozi stands together.”

Trevor asked Tyla several questions about her international success due to her song Water.

“A lot of the times when I make music, I get excited because I love it, but you never really know how people will react. But when I finished Water, I felt in my spirit that it was going to be crazy,” she said.

Tyla also shared her reaction to being the first South African to have a song on The Billboard Hot 100 since Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass in 1968.

“When I saw that stat, I was like, ‘No way’. The picture was even black and white. It looked like ancient times,” she said and laughed.

‘From SA to the world’

Trevor, being the comedian that he is, also asked the pop star some lighter questions, like how many people call her ‘Tyla Water’.

“People even saying in headlines, ‘Tyla of Water’, like I’m the Last Airbender,” she joked.

Tyla also took the opportunity to express her admiration to Trevor and asked him how it felt to have another South African “coming up in the game”?

“I absolutely love it,” he replied. “Especially generationally, because it’s amazing to see South Africans that do really well in different spheres.”

“I remember when Charlize Theron won an Oscar and how proud the country was. And the other day, when Black Coffee was playing at Madison Square Garden, it was so wonderful to feel that energy beyond South Africa,” he continued.

Love for roller coasters

Trevor and Tyla also bonded over their love for roller coasters, with both of them throwing shade at Gold Reef City.

“I always regretted not doing more fun things when I was in random countries,” Trevor said. “I know you’re a huge fan of roller coasters.”

“Literally everywhere I go, I ask, ‘Is there a theme park here?’… I went to Six Flags in L.A. As soon as I went on that first ride, I was like, ‘What the heck?’ Because I’m only used to Gold Reef City,” Tyla said.

“Yeah, you’re used to a roller coaster with one loop,” Trevor joked.

“Since Gold Reef City opened, we’ve had the same five rides. No updates. So Six Flags was the best thing ever. I’m a roller-coaster connoisseur now,” Tyla added.