Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has opened up about the challenges she faced as a young artist trying to find her footing in the music industry, revealing how unwanted attention once affected her confidence and creative journey.
In a recent interview, the “Essence” hitmaker reflected on the early days of her career, when she frequently visited recording studios alone in pursuit of growth and independence. According to her, she was determined to learn music production and sharpen her craft without being distracted by industry politics.
“I used to not always like my body, crazy as it seems, but I just didn’t understand a lot of things,” she said. “I was going to a lot of studios alone, meeting people I have never met… I wanted to learn how to produce because of my objectives, which is I just want to make music. I don’t really care about politics or anything here, I just want to learn.”
Tems explained that she developed strategies to maintain professionalism and avoid unwanted advances. She often wore baggy clothes to studio sessions and adopted what she described as an “alpha mood” to ensure her focus on work was clear.
“If me being attractive is disturbing you and stopping me from achieving my goal, I’m going to help you. So when I go to the studio, I wear baggy clothes and I’m in my alpha mood because I want you to not be seduced by me… but most of the time it works because they can tell she’s just here to work and we work,” she stated.
The singer noted that her determination helped her stay focused on creating a distinct sound that was unconventional within Nigeria’s music landscape at the time.
“It’s unheard of to do this type of music as a Nigerian in Nigeria,” she added, underscoring the risks she took in developing her now globally celebrated style.
