I went on a self-discovery venture where I really wanted to find my own sound. “Musically, I don’t know if I seek out any inspiration anymore. Who have been among the biggest influences on your music? It’s always amazing to see how people take to my music, and the love has always been real so far.” That’s why my music can come across as so relatable because it’s all coming from a personal place. Because I’m a human being going through a journey and seeing things, it’s all a matter of growth and development. Next year, the music that will come out will be different from my music now because it’s all based on experience. I’m just sharing music that reflects my life at that moment, and that will never change. From the first song I ever made to the music I’m making today, all the songs I put out are just pieces and moments in time. “I’m always telling my story in my songs. How does it compare to your previous music? You dropped your latest EP, ‘If Orange Was A Place’, back in September. The gate is now wide open for new, incredible music. ‘Essence’ has created an interest in Nigeria, specifically the talent coming out of the country. Many people were trying to get on the song, and there are so many versions of that song I don’t even know about! I think Just Bieber’s remix is a testament to the song’s impact on American culture. It just shows how fun the record is and how much people really believed in it. Justin Bieber’s contribution to the ‘Essence’ remix helped push the song to an even bigger audience. It’s crazy how far the song has travelled.” Although we knew the song would be special, we didn’t think that people would receive it so well. We both have so much love and respect for each other. I always thought it was a special record because I felt like Wiz is someone I relate to on a human level. “No, I don’t think either myself or Wiz expected ‘Essence’ to be as big as it is. Were you prepared for the song to blow up? WizKid’s ‘Essence’ was the first time that many people were introduced to your work. I’m just doing my bit for the bigger picture.” I really feel there’s an evolution upon us, and I’m just excited for the music, the quality, the people and the talent that is coming out of Africa right now – it’s crazy. How does it feel to have seen the genre grow in popularity worldwide?
NME : You’ve been involved with the Afro-R&B scene since 2015. NME jumped on a call with the fast-rising star to talk about her latest project, the ever-growing Afrobeat movement and her big plans for 2022 and beyond. It’s clear, then, that Tems – who also featured on Barack Obama‘s 2020 playlist and received a high-profile co-sign from Rihanna at September’s Savage x Fenty show – is an especially exciting breakthrough prospect. Produced by GuiltyBeatz – one of the Afrobeat scene’s most beloved beatmakers – the five-song tracklist, which included a guest spot from Sonder frontman and R&B singer Brent Faiyaz, gave her fans a further glimpse into the wealth of talent that the Afro-R&B universe has to offer. The project also birthed the 26-year-old’s first national hit in ‘Damages’, which topped Apple Music’s Top 100: Nigeria songs chart, and even found a fan in SZA (“’Free Mind’ by Tems has me in a fucking chokehold … wow”, the singer tweeted last month).Īfter landing a major deal with RCA Records, Tems then dropped her ‘If Orange Was A Place’ EP back in September.
The primarily self-produced EP challenged many conventions of the rising west African alté sub-genre with its indie-leaning approach to songwriting and rich, rumbling basslines. Tems first came to prominence in September 2020 with her project ‘For Broken Ears’. The end result, ‘Fountains’, came across like a stripped-back sibling of ‘Essence’, but the collaboration was more notable for how it permitted the Nigerian artist to once again showcase her talents to the global music community. The 2020 track’s huge success across streaming platforms this year led to a subsequent August remix which featured guest vocals from Justin Bieber, before Tems was then tapped to feature on Drake‘s chart-topping sixth studio LP, ‘Certified Lover Boy’. O ver the summer, it felt impossible to go 24 hours without hearing Tems’ emotive vocals on WizKid‘s hit single ‘Essence’.