Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, is a Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and composer who has thought back on the difficulties she encountered in the early days of her career.
The 30-year-old artist recently talked about how hard it was for people to believe her in a CNN interview.
She claimed that in her early years in the field, she frequently felt ignored and unsupported.
“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 vocalist of “Free Mind,” who described authenticity as the cornerstone of her talent, emphasized that it continues to be her most significant virtue.
For me, authenticity is crucial. Since that’s all I have and who I truly am, it’s the single thing I can’t compromise on,” she continued.
Additionally, Tems discussed her project, The Leading Vibe, a website that empowers women in the music industry’s backstage responsibilities.
The singer claimed that her personal experiences of feeling excluded and invisible served as the inspiration for the program.
The objective is to give women producers, managers, and sound engineers more opportunities so they can become recognized in a field that is dominated by men, she says.
“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 also disclosed plans to take the program outside of Nigeria, with Kenya as the next stop.
Everywhere you look, there are women who simply must be seen. They just need that opportunity, and I think it will transform the music business,” she remarked.