At just nine years old, Sandton’s newest musical sensation Layla Mpho Mokoena aka Chayuta, was recognised as having a sensational voice.
It was a regular day at her primary school when her music teacher heard something extraordinary – a powerful, captivating voice coming from a young girl in the choir, and it was Layla’s.
The teacher called Layla’s mother about her incredible talent and soon after, her journey into the world of music began.
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From classical training to a unique blend of Afrobeats and R&B, she is now ready to take her sound to the global stage.
Born to a Ghanaian father and a South African mother, her roots naturally draw her to the rhythmic beats of Afrobeats and the contagious energy of amapiano.
But this versatile artist refuses to be confined to one genre. “I love to experiment,” she said, reflecting on her fusion of Afrobeats and R&B.
“Being African, I gravitate towards Afrobeats and amapiano, but my love for R&B comes from my desire to express myself through writing and melody. So instead of choosing, I decided to fuse the two.”
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The result is a unique sound that effortlessly crosses borders, blending the vibrant African rhythms with the soulful introspection of R&B.
At the age of 14, she made a bold decision that would forever change her musical path. Determined to create and release original music, she embarked on the challenging but rewarding process of developing her sound.
“I wanted to write and release original music, so I stopped the classical training and started working on my sound.”
Her diverse cultural background has also shaped her musical identity.
Though she is deeply rooted in her African heritage, she spent her early years in Europe, exposing her to a wide variety of cultures and music genres.
“Living in Europe gave me a better understanding of music. It helped me create a sound that can cross borders.”
Her latest single, Drop, is a prime example of her ability to connect deeply with her audience.
Written about the frustration of receiving mixed signals from a love interest, Drop is a song many can relate to.
“It is based on a personal experience. When we were in the studio working on Drop, I was talking to someone who was giving me mixed signals. Instead of getting upset, I channelled that frustration into a song.
“I am saying, if you don’t want to be in a relationship, just be honest about it. Don’t leave me wondering.”
What sets Drop apart, however, is not just its relatable lyrics but its genre-defying sound.
Produced by the renowned Phantom, known for his work with major artists such as Burna Boy, Tekno, and Davido, the track explores Afro bounce, a relatively new genre that’s still evolving.
“It was very exciting to work on Drop with Phantom. We experimented and explored Afro bounce, which is a fresh sound for me.”
For this young artist, the fusion of R&B and Afrobeats offers a fresh perspective on expressing emotions.
“R&B is such a great genre to express feelings, love, heartbreak, everything. But combining it with Afrobeats makes it even more versatile. People can listen to it anywhere, whether they are at home or in the club.”
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