Temilade Openiyi popularly known as Tems is a fast-rising Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer who is currently making waves on the music scene. She has attained an almost meteoric rise in the past few months with her Grammy Award nomination, NAACP Awards and BET Awards win, as well as numerous international endorsement deals.
Here are some things to know about Tems;
1. Tems was born in England, and when she was only five years old her parents separated. She was brought up mainly by her mother with whom she shares a very close relationship, as evident on her debut EP, ‘For Broken Ears’, where her mother’s voice occupies the entirety of track 4 – Temilade Interlude.
2.She attended Dowen College in Lekki and graduated in Economics from Monash University, Johannesburg.
3. Growing up, Tems found an escape in the music room where she was noticed by her music teacher. She also learnt to play the piano and guitar. Outside of school, Tems would play mini-concerts in her brother’s room, leaning on musical inclinations from Out Kast, Kate Nash, Green Day and Lauryn Hill.
4. Tems biggest musical influences are Frank Ocean, Asa, and Lil Wayne.
5. She is very private about her love life and is currently single.
6. Tems loves Anime, naming ‘Attack on Titan’, ‘Darker Than Black’ and ‘Demon Slayer’ as some of her recent favourites.
7. In addition to writing and singing her songs, Tems also produces her own music which is a very rare thing to see in the music industry. She began producing her songs at the age of 20 and released her first single “Mr Rebel” in 2018.
8. When Tems and WizKid merged forces for ‘Essence,’ the song catapulted the Nigerian singer into unexpected stardom. The song quickly went viral, topping charts and Tems got her first billboard 100 listing. Despite having already cultivated a following within the Alté scene with her 2018 release of ‘Mr Rebel’ and ‘Try Me,’. Tems’ global breakthrough proved explosive, leaving everyone wondering – who is the songstress behind the lush, warm vocals we’ve been singing along to all summer?
9. In 2019, after performing at a concert in Uganda which according to Tems, unknowingly failed to abide by COVID-19 guidelines, the singer spent two days in prison. Despite the extremity of the situation, she said the experience gave her a new perspective on life, gaining a deeper appreciation for the love fans showed her.
10. The year 2022 has undoubtedly been the best year of Tems career by far with her song ‘Essence’ getting a Grammy nomination. She also won an NAACP award for her collaboration with Drake and Future as well as made history as the first Nigerian to win a BET award.
