Friday, April 11, marked the highly anticipated first day of Coachella, one of the world’s biggest and most iconic music festivals.
For fans and artists, the festival is a highlight of the year that showcases some of the most talented acts in the industry.
For Tyla, it was more than just a festival, it was the perfect stage for her Coachella debut performance, a moment she had been looking forward to for years. And she did not disappoint.
The chart-topping artist stepped on the Coachella stage in a 2000s Dolce & Gabbana bra and fringe skirt, topping it with a white off-shoulder cropped top.
As she stepped onto the stage, Tyla fired up the crowd with her presence and dance moves.
With hits like “Push 2 Start”, “Shake Ah” and “Jump”, she delivered an unforgettable performance that had the audience completely glued to her. From her effortless amapiano dance moves to her vocals, she left many fans in awe.
One of the standout moments of her performance came when the 23-year-old singer performed a seamless blend of her hit single “On and On” with the late Aaliyah’s classic “Rock the Boat".
The mashup, which was first introduced on TikTok by JayBeatz in 2023, excited a lot of Tyla and Aaliyah fans.
Tyla’s incorporation of Aaliyah’s iconic choreography from the original “Rock the Boat” music video added an extra layer of nostalgia to the performance. She also kept the original backing vocals, which made the mashup sound magical.
Tyla performing "On and On” & Aaliyah’s “Rock The Boat” mix at Coachella.
— AALIYAH LEGION (@AaliyahLegion) April 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/FbAjqxRnqO
Fans were impressed with the mashup. X user @LeonaNicholeBLK commented: “She did such an amazing job at Coachella! Our rising pop star 😍”
She did such an amazing job at Coachella! Our rising pop star 😍 https://t.co/U9Fwxr5O8e
— Leona Nichole Black 🌞🍯🌊 (@LeonaNicholeBLK) April 12, 2025
@stoppfeenin commented: “Tyla doing Aaliyah’s rock the boat choreography! I loveeeeeeeeee 😍”
She did such an amazing job at Coachella! Our rising pop star 😍 https://t.co/U9Fwxr5O8e
This was not the first time the Grammy award-winning artist has paid homage to the late R&B legend. Earlier in 2024, she walked the MTV VMAs red carpet in a stunning blue and black Roberto Cavalli dress that drew inspiration from Aaliyah’s iconic black and yellow look.
Her love for Aaliyah’s music has been evident in her performances, and she has opened up about Aaliyah being one of her biggest inspirations.
By incorporating elements of Aaliyah's style and choreography into her work, Tyla is not only showing her love for the late singer but also introducing her music to a new generation of fans.
Tyla’s Coachella run is far from over as the star is set to take the stage again on Friday, April 18. Her fans were incredibly excited by her debut performance and are eagerly anticipating her next one.