South African recording artist Tyla Seethal, along with Sony Music Entertainment and British producer Samuel “Sammy SoSo” Awuku, is facing a newly refiled lawsuit over royalty and credit disputes related to her 2023 breakout hit “Water.”
Songwriters Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro allege in a complaint filed on July 25, 2025, in a U.S. federal court that they were improperly denied producer credits and fair royalty compensation for their contributions to the track. The suit accuses the defendants of engaging in deceptive practices and breaching implied contractual obligations stemming from a March 2023 recording session in Los Angeles.
According to the complaint, Zucca and LoMastro worked alongside producer Rayan “Rayo” Goufar and Sammy SoSo during the session that produced foundational elements of “Water.” The track would go on to spend 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 7, and ultimately earning a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.
While both plaintiffs are listed as co-writers, they claim they were cut out of production credit by SoSo, who allegedly negotiated directly with Tyla to claim sole producer status. Zucca and LoMastro say they were then presented with a contract that misrepresented their role and unfairly reduced their publishing royalties to 10% each, while SoSo retained 15% and all producer fees.
“Although plaintiffs tried for months to resolve the matter with Awuku, Awuku refused to cooperate and, instead, engaged in a pattern of deception designed to conceal his nefarious actions,” the complaint states.
The pair initially filed a similar suit in March 2025, but that case was voluntarily dismissed on July 24. The new filing comes with updated legal representation and expands on the original claims, including allegations that Epic Records President Ezekiel Lewis was unaware of any co-producers on “Water,” suggesting that SoSo may have misrepresented the recording arrangement internally.
Legal Remedies Sought
Zucca and LoMastro are seeking the following legal relief:
- Official producer credits on “Water”
- Retroactive and ongoing royalty adjustment to 12.5% each
- A producer fee commensurate with industry standards
- Compensatory damages for revenue already generated
The complaint estimates the song has already earned over $10 million and could ultimately generate in excess of $50 million based on ongoing commercial performance.
As of publication, Tyla, SoSo, and Sony Music have not responded publicly to the lawsuit.
The case highlights increasing scrutiny over production credits and royalty splits in the music industry, particularly in cross-border collaborations involving emerging global artists.
