Tems has said staying true to herself helped her overcome early struggles in her music journey.
She revealed that authenticity remains her greatest strength as she empowers women through her project.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has said that being true to herself helped her overcome the challenges she faced at the start of her music career.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Tems shared that it was difficult for people to take her seriously when she began singing and producing. She said she felt alone and unsupported for a long time.
“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously not just as a producer, but as a singer, period. I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time,” she said.
Tems explained that staying authentic is one thing she can never compromise on. “Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have, who I really am.”
Talking about her project, The Leading Vibe, Tems said she started it to create opportunities for women working behind the scenes in the music industry.
“There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers, but they’re not even visible,” she said. “I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music.”
She added that the project will soon expand to other African countries. “We’re definitely taking this beyond Nigeria. Actually, we’re going to Kenya next. There are women everywhere who just need to feel seen. All they need is that platform, all they need is that chance, and I really believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry for sure.”
