Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened up about the hurdles she encountered at the start of her music journey.
In a recent interview with CNN, the 30-year-old artist shared that gaining recognition and being taken seriously in the industry was a major challenge during her early days.
Tems revealed that she often felt unseen and unsupported while trying to establish herself as both a singer and a producer.
“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously, not just as a producer, but as a singer. I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time,” she said.
The “Free Mind” hitmaker emphasized that authenticity is the core of her artistry and something she refuses to compromise on.
“Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the only thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all that I have, who I really am,” she added.
Tems also highlighted her women-focused initiative, The Leading Vibe, which aims to empower women working behind the scenes in the music industry.
Drawing from her own experiences of feeling excluded, Tems explained that the platform seeks to spotlight female talent in roles such as production, sound engineering, and management.
“There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers, but they’re not even visible. I want to make them visible and redefine the narrative of women in music,” Tems explained.
She further disclosed that the program will soon extend beyond Nigeria, with Kenya being the next stop.
“There are women everywhere who just need to be seen. All they need is that chance, and I believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry,” she said.