Tems in the GLAMOR interview: “I wouldn’t change a single thing about my life”

Musician Tems in an interview about her homeland Nigeria, her career and sweet sponge cake

Rule of thumb: If you receive culinary recommendations at the end of an interview with a world star, then the conversation must have gone well. Maybe it just says a lot about Temilade Openiyi - Tems for short - that after forty minutes together in a video call, she gives me her favorite foods from around the world, sometimes for the soul and sometimes for physical health. But before I tell you which oneDessert is her favorite and which onebest warms the soul, we should perhaps start at the beginning.

Tems: Singer between Afrobeats and R&B

“When I was nine or ten years old I first started experimenting. I tried out melodies and also started writing songs. But the love for music has actually been there for as long as I can remember.” Temilade, as Tems, has been one of the most exciting artists between Afrobeats and for a few years nowknown, has often told how her path to music began. This afternoon she is in London, where she always feels at home for a few days or weeks when she is not traveling the world. She seems to me, as best one can tell through the filter of a mediocre internet connection, exhausted and in good spirits at the same time. And she has every reason to.

The world first began to take notice of Tems in the fall of 2020. In general, one could say: 2020 was the year in which Temilade's life began to change at a breathless pace. First there was DJ Edu, self-proclaimed “African Music Ambassador” and curator of the BBC radio show “AfroSounds”. His claim that Tems was “an artist to watch” would come true. Tem's first EP was only released in September, after a few loose singles“For Broken Ears”. And then came their first major global chart success: the irresistible “Essence,” to date one of the most successful exports from the vibrant music scene of Lagos, Nigeria.

At the side of Wizkid, who in turn was at the side of almost two years earlierAfter being introduced to the global mainstream pop crowd (“One Dance”), she sang her way into people’s hearts, silky-soft and uber-cool at the same time. Not to mention the fact that she ended up on the radar of the two most successful Canadian musicians of all time at the same time. On the one hand, it was inevitable, so to speak, that Drake arrived, who is known to have a penchant for pinning future world stars on his lapels via collaborations early on.

On the other hand, tooka verse for “Essence”. And then a double crowning moment followed: a Bob Marley cover for himsoundtrack and a guest appearance on Beyoncé's album, alongside Grace Jones at that. When her intoxicating, joyful debut album “Born in the Wild” is released in June 2024, she has long since arrived in the queen class of pop music - and she is also the most successful female artist from her home country: anyway.

Tems about the start of her career: “I was very naive at the beginning”

“I don't want to lie. I was at the beginning of myvery naive – I just wanted to make good art. I had to learn how to navigate the music business in a healthy way.” When Tems answers a question, nothing holds her back. In the course of our conversation, at some point we come to a point that would touch on her privacy in a way that is too close to her. She asks me to delete the question and answer from our transcript. However, she likes to talk about the people, about her “support system” that enables her to be courageous in her art and in her performances - without having to constantly think about the dangers of fame and success. “I would say it's both my management and minethat keep me grounded. Especially my family, my mother and my brother.”

From the family as a point of support and strength, our talk moves between two tiles to other aspects of life that help Temilade to switch off. Especially as an artist with a global reach, the constant connection with one's own audience poses dangerous pitfalls. “I like minenot anyway. I prefer to live in the world and have experiences. If I have even a small excuse to leave my phone in the drawer, I take it every time.”

In general, she is a person who does thatvery much appreciated. She likes to listen to herself, preferably in nature – she draws a lot of strength from that, she tells me. In such situations, she takes a cell phone without internet with her in case of emergencies. And I think to myself: If even a person who has some of the biggest stars in the world in their contacts can occasionally let the smartphone be what it is - a distraction from what's important - then maybe we can all do that.

Meanwhile our time is starting to run out. The video call app timer flashes red. I try to use the time and ask Tems, who embodies a relaxed self-confidence in her music, as she does at this moment, who for her is the ideal blueprint of a female artist who, in her opinion, does everything right. The answer comes promptly: “Sade, definitely.” I ask her if she has already tried to propose a collaboration. “I believe that a collaboration like this has to happen organically - and I just know it will happen. Sometime."

Tems about collaborations with other artists and their headline tour

She is generally an artist who doesn't try to force anything. Especially when it comes to duets with other musicians. First of all, she has to get to know another musician, start a conversation with her - and find out more about her views and values, so to speak, get to know the other person's authentic self. This is also why, says Temilade, because she believes that you won't get far in the world if you don't know who you are. “This is simply the most sustainable path through life. Not just in music, actually in every industry. I believe that your authentic self will attract people.”

The way there is a slow, careful one. Every day you take another step. Carefully and prudently you make decisions that will help you move forward. “At the end of the day, you have to manage to stay present, have self-awareness, and care for your self. This is the only way you can grow, constantly learn new ways of looking at life and continually examine life anew. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my life.”

For Temilade Openiyi, this strategy seems to be working excellently. Next on her to-do list is her first headlining tour in the US. A country that her job has of course taken her to several times in recent years, but traveling across the United States for six weeks and gigs from Miami to Atlanta to Los Angeles? Of course this makes her excited. One of the many antidotes she resorts to when the roller coaster performs too wild maneuvers: literally every (!) soup dish from Nigeria. But sometimes also a piece of “Tres Leches” cake. “A piece of sponge cake bathed in cream and sweetened condensed milk. Something you definitely shouldn't eat every day, probably not even every month. But once a year is fantastic!”

I thank Tems for the recommendation and for her time, say goodbye and just seconds later I'm sitting alone in my study again. And Tems? Most likely, she is sitting in a peaceful place with a piece of paper, a pen and a melody in her head, and the next world success is pouring out of her. Life can be so beautiful.

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