Tems

thumb|Tems on NdaniTv session Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June, 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid's 2020 single Essence, which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of a remixed version with an additional feature from Justin Bieber, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on Drake's song, "Fountains". Tems is the first Nigerian to win two Grammy Awards to her name. Quotes It is about showing people they can be who they are truly, without the masks and pretenses. You are a human being, and you can find yourself. Expressing her EP release (11 February) Frank Ocean played a huge part; the first song that I’d heard by him was “Swim Good.” I used to also listen to Lil Wayne and Aaliyah. Lauryn Hill’s “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” was very, very spiritual. I could feel the energy on it. Songs like those made me want to release. The songs that all of these artists sing are releases and the expression of their spirits. Songs that resonated with her spiritual level I got exposed to a couple of studios, and I met a few producers and started seeing the process of music being made. It made me question, “What is this?” I’d been only exploring piano and guitar at the time, and now you’re telling me I can do more than I’m already doing? Her relationship with music production I love, love, love guitars and chords. I like things that are based on the instruments I originally learned—violin, flutes. I like things that sound raw and pure. When it comes to drums, I like them very percussion-heavy and in my own way. I enjoy hard kicks and tight snares. Talking about what defines her sonically (February 2021) I used to write poems a lot – I’ll just sit down and write things I’m feeling, and it’ll come out so poetic, even if I’m just talking about breakfast. Talking about what she does to get off her mind about her parents' divorce (27 September) That sense of being an outcast continued into high school. “I just wasn’t popular; I cried a lot, I was very shy. I would cover my head with a blazer. I wouldn’t be able to talk – I just was a loner. And my only escape was the music room. How she was able to escape loneliness during her high school days I was very naive. I didn’t know that people lie, I didn’t know that people didn’t write their own songs. Music has always been my expression of how I felt. It’s always been my life. During an interview with THE FACE (24 May) Music is my happy place. Music is the only thing that makes me feel truly at home. If I'm sad, it's the only thing I can run to. If someone says to me "here's a billion dollars, just chill" I would still do music. I mean, I'd collect the billion dollars and then do music. That's how bad it is. That's how much I love it. Her happy place It was just very easy, it wasn't something I had to try for. So I understood music to be my thing and no matter what it was going to take, I had to end up in it. The point in time she decided to pursue music Freestyling, for me, feels like a release. A lot of things I feel, I can't explain, I just sing it. So it was one of those days when it was just inside me. I don't know where it came from. By the time I finished, I knew I had something special. The story behind her song Try me Everything happened organically. The fact that so many people resonate with it makes me feel really good. I'm happy they can feel it. Her reply when asked if she envisioned the popularity of the song Try me It was just really crazy. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. That was when I realized things have actually changed. The most memorable experience so far in her career Locally, I'm definitely hoping for Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Niniola. I'm also hoping for my friend, Dami Oniru. I'm hoping we can release some of our collaborations. Internationally, I'd like Stormzy, Ms Banks, and maybe Khalid. This is the longest shot ever but I want to work with Frank Ocean. Koffee as well! She's top on my list. Artistes she is hoping to collaborate with in the near future Well, I’ve never felt more connected with my fans like that before. It just felt like we were all in one room and it was a lot of people, but it felt like we might as well have been in a big ass living room, just vibing. I really felt like that experience and the presence was just incredibly intense. I haven’t let go so much as I did before that day in terms of performing. Talking about what made the night performance at the Somerset House so special for her (19 July) I had a show the night before, so on Friday I was just sleeping the whole day. Talking about her collaboration with Beyoncé on the album Renaissance (21 September) But I wasn’t thinking about how to be better in the limelight, I was just thinking of how to be a better person in general, the best possible version of myself. And I think once you start being visible, a lot of these things that you didn’t know existed start coming to light, you start knowing yourself more, too. Reflecting on the way she and her life has changed since becoming one of the most popular artists from Africa in four short years. (29 November) What I hope that God does through me, is for the image of the African woman to be changed to something luxurious, or desired, or sought after. For the demand of the African woman to go up… Let us not be chasing foreign things, let us be something to be chased. And that can’t just happen with me; it’s a together thing. It has to happen with a whole industry of women already doing real and amazing things. That’s the future. Her outlook on the future The more power the people have, the greater we become as a whole. Quoted from one of her interviews (29 November) I don’t want to be somebody that follows; I don’t want to be the ‘after’ person. Talking about how she wants her song to sound and authentic (29 November) When I see any one of you gracing a stage, I feel like that’s me. We’re all winning and we’re about to move in like a tsunami… know that love lives on this side. As we show the world how it’s done. Showering praise on a host of west African women in music who inspire her. I think the perfectionism is definitely a Nigerian thing. For me, it’s definitely Lagos. Because if you check around the world, Nigerians are always the best at whatever they’re doing, whether that’s braids, hair, make-up, doctors… They’ll give you food and it’ll be over good, so that when you’re paying them, you know why. Her core and resolve for greatness It’s not necessarily people, it’s really just a system. But once you’re an artist you’re not really an artist, you’re an entertainer – your life is entertainment for people. It’s a system of distraction. Talking about being a singer, and what the society expects I can understand, when it's the speaking. Talking about how she understands Yoruba (audibly) but doesn't speak it (June 2024) When did I realize I was blown? When I got a DM from RiRi. Referring to a direct message from Rihanna as to when she realized she had 'made it' (June 2024) “I think it’s important to be real with yourself and the people around you.” My songs are mostly from experiences https://thenationonlineng.net/tems-my-songs-are-mostly-from-experiences/ “Everything was perfect with that song — it was an honour.” Tems: ‘I don't want to be idolised, but if people idolise me, I can't help it' standard.co.uk (22 January 2026) “Real music will always win.” Tems: ‘I don't want to be idolised, but if people idolise me, I can't help it' standard.co.uk (22 January 2026) “Me baring my soul? I don’t know any AI that can do that.” Tems: ‘I don't want to be idolised, but if people idolise me, I can't help it' standard.co.uk (22 January 2026) “I’ve tried to change, but I can’t change.” Tems: ‘I don't want to be idolised, but if people idolise me, I can't help it' standard.co.uk (22 January 2026) “The best advice I’ve ever been given is ‘Seek God first’.” Tems knows the true secret to happiness dazeddigital.com (6 March 2026) “My childhood dream was to be seen and to be heard, as I was a quiet child.” Tems knows the true secret to happiness dazeddigital.com (6 March 2026) “Everybody is equal and everybody’s shy sometimes.” Tems knows the true secret to happiness dazeddigital.com (6 March 2026) “I only remember Nigeria.” “This Is Where I’m Meant To Be”: Tems On Nigeria, New Music, And Not Seeking Validation vogue.co.uk (11 July 2026) “I feel something and then I sing it” “This Is Where I’m Meant To Be”: Tems On Nigeria, New Music, And Not Seeking Validation vogue.co.uk (11 July 2026) “I don’t really think I’m a singles kind of artist,” “This Is Where I’m Meant To Be”: Tems On Nigeria, New Music, And Not Seeking Validation vogue.co.uk (11 July 2026) “Not at all. I didn’t actually know what was happening.” What Went Down: Tems at Spotify Surround Sound, Lagos pausemag.co.uk (October 2, 2026) “I want them to remember that they’re human.” What Went Down: Tems at Spotify Surround Sound, Lagos pausemag.co.uk (October 2, 2026) “I want them to feel alive with my music.” What Went Down: Tems at Spotify Surround Sound, Lagos pausemag.co.uk (October 2, 2026) “Reflective.” What Went Down: Tems at Spotify Surround Sound, Lagos pausemag.co.uk (October 2, 2026) “My goal with the Leading Vibe Initiative is to help discover and support talented young women who have the potential to redefine the industry.” Tems Launches The Leading Vibe Initiative, Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Music .recordoftheday.com (3 July 2025) “By providing access, tools and opportunity, we’re creating space for them to find their voices, step into their power and shape the future of music across the continent and globally.” Tems Launches The Leading Vibe Initiative, Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Music .recordoftheday.com (3 July 2025) “I realised that there’s always a cost. There’s always a price that you pay and a lot of those prices I wasn’t willing to pay and there wasn’t a lot of options.” Grammy-winning Afropop star Tems: 'Women are not respected in the industry' BBC (12 August 2025) “I think it’s important to have an idea of what you want for yourself, what your brand is, what’s your boundary.” Grammy-winning Afropop star Tems: 'Women are not respected in the industry' BBC (12 August 2025) “It’s not everybody that sings that loves music.” Grammy-winning Afropop star Tems: 'Women are not respected in the industry' BBC (12 August 2025) “Leadership is service.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Real leadership means asking, ‘Who else can I bring with me?’ and then doing the work to make sure they’re not just in the room but thriving in it.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Early in my career, I navigated the industry largely without a strong support system – self-producing, teaching myself the craft amid scarce resources and limited access,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Seeing the first group come together in Lagos, support each other and grow through experience, reminded me exactly why this matters,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “We’re building pathways for women to lead, thrive and take up space across the global music industry.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “My goal with the LVI is to help discover and support talented young women who have the potential to redefine the industry,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “By providing access, tools and opportunity, we’re creating space for them to find their voices, step into their power and shape the future of music across the continent and globally.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “I longed for a sisterhood of women who understood the unique challenges and opportunities within our space,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Despite the global rise of African music, those structural gaps remain. Launching LVI now is a strategic response to this landscape, designed to build a sustainable, supportive network that accelerates the next generation of female artists, producers and songwriters.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) Focus relentlessly on mastering your craft,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Expertise is your most powerful currency. Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Equally important is cultivating authentic, supportive communities that can champion you, challenge you and navigate the complexities of the industry alongside you. Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “Success is rarely solitary. It is a collective journey made possible by shared visions and a strong community of support. Never underestimate the power of lifting others as you rise.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “LVI is a movement, it’s a network,” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “It’s a wave built for women by women, from the continent to the world.” Tems: Turning up the volume on women’s voices theceomagazine.com (25 August 2025) “I wanted to spotlight the incredible women across the Nigerian music industry who have navigated their careers on their own terms” Tems is uplifting women to smash sexism in music. Can the industry change its tune? The guardian (27 August 2025) “Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am.” Quotes that define Tems’ musical journey, growth vanguardngr.com(October 26, 2025) “There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers — but they’re not even visible… So, I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music.” uotes that define Tems’ musical journey, growth vanguardngr.com(October 26, 2025) “I might have been an accountant or a mathematics teacher.” Tems reveals career she might have pursued if music failed The guardians ( 27 Nov 2025) “I was always in my own little world. I wasn’t very social.” Tems opens up on being bullied for how her voice sounded while growing up The pulse (16 January 2024) “All the other girls had these sweet, high voices, and my voice had bass.” Tems opens up on being bullied for how her voice sounded while growing up The pulse (16 January 2024) “If you think I sound like a man, I think that’s pretty cool—I’m gonna sound more like a man, I started to want that deepness. I wanted to lean into my weirdness.” Tems opens up on being bullied for how her voice sounded while growing up The pulse (16 January 2024) “I took a leap.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “Like, I jumped off the cliff. I didn’t know whether I would get wings. I didn’t know whether anybody would pick me up. I just jumped.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “I left the room shaking but I felt relieved, like ‘OK, now I’m starting my real life.’” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “Music is meant to make you feel something. And a lot of music now is for utility, it doesn't necessarily make you feel something.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “I really want to feel it in my chest! I want to feel sad, I want to feel happy, I want to feel motivated.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “Every time I stay true to myself, it just always goes right. It’s just always pure.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “I knew what I was doing was going to change something, but I just didn’t know how it would manifest.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “It was night in my life, for so long, that I just thought it was never coming.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “Things were always going wrong in my life from the moment I was born.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) “I think if anyone feels how I felt at the time, hold on.” Tems remakes R&B in her image with ‘Born in the Wild’: 'I really want to feel it in my chest!' npr.org (June 8, 2024) External links Category:Women singers Category:Women songwriters Category:Music producers from Nigeria Category:Women from Nigeria Category:1995 births Category:Living people