Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, has reflected on how her music career has transformed her personal outlook. The Grammy-winning artist, 31, revealed that before stepping into the spotlight, she was intensely self-reliant and often distanced herself from others. However, her journey in the music industry has taught her to embrace openness and vulnerability.
In a recent interview with Doose Of Society, Tems shared, “Being an artist has changed my life. There are a lot of people that know me. It made me grow; I had to shed a lot of habits that were holding me back—one of those things was my hyper-independency and the thing I do where I push people away.” She added, “I have now learned to embrace love and just be open, and be free to give love and be vulnerable without feeling odd.”
Tems began her professional music career in 2018 with her debut single “Mr Rebel,” following her decision to leave her job. Her breakthrough came in 2020 with the collaborative hit “Essence” alongside Wizkid, which captivated Western audiences. Since then, she has worked with global stars such as Drake, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and J. Cole, earning two Grammy Awards in the process.
Recently, Tems achieved another milestone by becoming the first Nigerian artist to surpass 40 million monthly streams on Spotify, underscoring her growing influence in the global music scene. Her evolution as both an artist and an individual continues to inspire fans worldwide.
