Tems. If you’ve never heard this name before, you’re probably living under a rock. It’s not an exaggeration, it’s a statement of fact. Tems is arguably one of the Nigerian music industry’s greatest export.
Known for her unique voice and unforgettable hooks, Tems is the poster girl for a new sound in the Nigerian space, she has been known to call the type of music she does ‘Spirit’. And that’s certainly not far-fetched, there’s something spiritual about her lyrics and the kind of music she makes.
Born Temilade Openiyi, the first time anybody heard of the girl called Tems was in 2018, when she released her debut single, Mr Rebel. In a time when the Alte scene was buzzing and carving a space for itself in the music industry, Mr Rebel was the new wave within the new wave. It didn’t take long before people took notice of Tems and started paying attention. Heavy on the chords, Mr Rebel questions the existence of a mister, it also shows Tems’ belief in herself as she declares, ‘I’m the sound on the ground/I’m the leading vibe’.
Her feature on Falling, a track on Ladipoe’s debut album opened her up to not only the alte scene but the rap scene as well. Her following started to grow and her fans gave themselves a name; Rebel Gang, derived from Mr Rebel.
Looku Looku was next. A song about how oversabi put someone in trouble, Looku Looku built on the sound that Mr Rebel had introduced and formed into something new. It was different but still Tems.
Then came Try Me, the song that catapulted Tems into stardom. Try Me is till date, one of the most iconic Alte songs that made it into the mainstream market. Every Tom, Dick and Clary were belting out Try Me at the top of their lungs. It became synonymous with Tems. If people were paying attention to Tems before, they were full-on captivated by her this time.
Her debut EP ‘For Broken Ears’ was released in late 2020, adapting the sound of her earlier work but molts out of the melancholic aura they possessed. The record combines her powerful voice with gripping lyrics, making something hauntingly beautiful. With its synths and faerie-like harmonies, For Broken Ears is an R&B project with a smattering of other genres. The lead single ‘Damages’ could be called Afro-Dancehall, and ‘The Key’ is less of the upbeat that qualifies as Afrobeats and more quiet musings. It’s not surprising that the genre line is blurred with Tems, she has mentioned that she listened to and made music without paying attention to what genre was.
What followed was a smattering of features, seeing Tems hopping on tracks with Show Dem Camp, Lady Donli, Blackmagic, Odunsi, Mannywellz, Oddio Tribe and DRB Lasgidi. Her most prominent feature at this time was the Know Your Worth remix with Khalid, Disclosure and Davido. Her verse on the track brought some melancholy and soul to the somewhat upbeat track. What makes Tems features unique, apart from her voice is the way she manages to infuse her own element into the song, and still stay on track with whatever theme the song is going with.
Then came Essence, the Afrobeats song of the summer and the song that has made Tems into an international sensation. With her hook and her chorus on the Wizkid track, the singer had everybody vibing to her lyrics and is well on her way to becoming the celeb’s celeb. Her presence on the remix with Justin Bieber opened her up to a wider audience, setting her on a trajectory she certainly would have reached on her own, but was fast-tracked by the release of the remix.
A feature on Drake’s album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ preceded the release of her sophomore EP, If Orange was a place. Released almost a year after its predecessor, If Orange was a Place explores similar themes as For Broken Ears; a search for love, peace and a clear mind. Unlike For Broken Ears, however, If Orange was a Place has a different mood and texture, seeming like an experiment with sounds and lyrics highlighting Tems diversity.
With her current path, Tems has the potential to be at the forefront of the new ‘Afrobeats to the world’ movement even though she’s not strictly an Afrobeats artist. Currently selling out shows in NYC and London and continuing on what seems to be a world tour, it’s obvious that the tenure of Tems, is just beginning.
