Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Tems has opened up about the profound personal transformation she has experienced since becoming a professional musician.
At 31, the singer revealed that before her rise to fame, she had a tendency to keep people at a distance, describing herself as “hyper-independent.” According to her, this mindset often led her to push others away, limiting emotional connections.
However, her journey in the music industry has reshaped her perspective, helping her grow both personally and emotionally.
Speaking in a recent interview, she reflected on the changes that came with her career:
Tems: “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 explained that embracing music and the experiences that come with it has taught her to open up more freely, allowing herself to connect with others without fear or discomfort. ‘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 music career in 2018 with the release of her debut single “Mr Rebel,” after leaving her job to pursue music full-time. Her breakthrough moment came in 2020 with “Essence,” a global hit collaboration with Wizkid, which introduced her to a wider international audience.
Since then, she has worked with globally renowned artists including Drake, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and J. Cole, further cementing her place on the global stage.
Her achievements include winning two Grammy Awards and setting a new milestone as the first Nigerian artist to surpass 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, underscoring her growing influence in the global music industry.
