Grammy-winning Nigerian sensation Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems, recently revealed to American rapper Kendrick Lamar the reason for her switch from Afrobeat to R&B, News About Nigeria reports.
In the interview held in London, Tems delved into her personal journey, grappling with fame, and her bold transition from Afrobeat to R&B, defying conventional knowledge.
Tems, known for her chart-topping hits and unique sound, shared what it’s been like to rise to stardom swiftly. She touched on her music career’s evolution, including the crucial decision to venture into R&B, despite advice to stick to Afrobeat.
Discussing her fame, she revealed her strategy: “When you become more known or seen, it’s very easy to get caught up in, ‘What do people expect of me now?’
“But for me, it’s like, ‘What do I expect of myself now?’ Because you’re the one that has to live with yourself, the one that has to sleep with the decisions that you make. Trusting yourself is so key.”
Tems drew an analogy, likening fame to being observed in a zoo: “It’s like being in a zoo. The animals don’t change their behavior just because you’re looking at them. They’re always going to be who they are. So why should I change?”
Her move from Afrobeat to R&B was marked by a resolute commitment to her artistic vision. Tems explained, “I was prepared to die. I believed in myself so much that I didn’t really care if I never became anything or anyone.
“I just wanted to get a message out. I wanted to get my frequency out. And I was like, even if it is just ten people that hear this, it’s fine.”
She shared that Afrobeats didn’t provide the spiritual depth she sought in her music. She also expressed admiration for Celine Dion, emphasizing her desire to evoke intense emotions in her music.
During her transition to R&B, Tems had to challenge the prevailing advice that Afrobeats was the only path to success. She recounted, “Everyone I asked for advice was like, the only way you can do this is Afrobeats.
“It’s not that your music is bad, it’s just that it doesn’t fit in Nigeria. Nigerians don’t like this. And that’s not a lie, and it’s not a bad thing. But I felt in my heart that that’s okay. I’m okay with no one liking it, I just want to make this music.”
