South African music sensation Tyla Seethal and producer Samuel Awuku (Sammy Soso) are facing a lawsuit in California over their Grammy-winning hit, “Water.”
Co-composers Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro have filed the lawsuit, claiming they were wrongfully denied full top-line producer credit and royalties. Despite being listed as co-writers, they argue that Awuku has attempted to take sole credit for production, depriving them of their fair share.
The Lawsuit’s Claims
• The plaintiffs assert that during the song’s Los Angeles recording session (March 8-9, 2023), they contributed critical instrumental elements (piano, bass, guitar, etc.).
• They claim they transferred these audio files to Awuku’s computer, assuming equal credit.
• They argue that Awuku negotiated a producer agreement with Tyla without informing them and allocated himself 15% of publishing royalties, leaving them with only 10% eachinstead of the expected 12.5% share.
• Despite months of negotiations, Awuku allegedly refused to adjust the split.
What They’re Demanding
Zucca and LoMastro want the court to officially declare that:
✔️ They are top-line producers of “Water” and deserve full credit.
✔️ They are owed 12.5% of publishing royalties each.
✔️ They should receive retroactive and prospective master/record royalties and producer fees.
Why This Matters
“Water” has become a global sensation, amassing 1 billion Spotify streams and over 350 million YouTube views. The Grammy-winning track has been a defining moment in Tyla’s career, but this lawsuit could affect its legacy.
Will this legal battle lead to changes in the song’s credits and payments, or will Awuku and Tyla’s camp push back? Only time will tell.
