Tems: Details About The Global Sensation Who Caused A Stir At The Oscars
The 95th Academy Awards gave viewers a number of show-stopping moments. "Everything Everywhere All at Once" staged a clean seven-award sweep, including Michelle Yeoh's memorable achievement as the first Asian actor to win Best Actress and Jamie Lee Curtis' first Oscar triumph. "The Whale" actor Brendan Fraser crowned his Hollywood comeback with a Best Actor win. And Nigerian songstress Tems, who lost in the Best Original Song category, stole the evening.
Born Temilade Openiyi, the "Essence" singer showed up to the Oscars in a white gown by Ukrainian fashion house Lever Couture. The one-shoulder dress went up over her head, and the voluminous fabric sculpture looked like a piece of art... that just so happened to block the view of those seated in the row behind her. The outfit set tongues wagging online, creating a divide between those who thought she aced the look and a section of critics who felt wearing such a garment to the event was inconsiderate.
Tems' gown might've been all the talk on Oscars night, and that high-fashion moment certainly won't be the last we see or hear of her. The multi-talented musician is well on her way toward becoming one of Africa's biggest music exports. Here are the details of her journey so far.
Tems wasn't a social kid
A certified introvert, Tems grew up in solitude. In place of friends, she basked in the joy of missing out, often in the company of Celine Dion tunes. "It used to be my secret; if anything, it made me more secluded. Because I wasn't trying to share it with anybody. I'd be like, 'I don't need friends, I have music!'" Tems shared in an interview with Dazed.
Spending time alone shaped Tems in more ways than one. For starters, she's embraced a reserved and chill demeanor. GQ described her voice as being "unnervingly, unchangingly mellow," and she told the outlet that teachers and peers alike often assumed she was stoned when she still was in school. "I had certain traumas that made me just numb myself off, which is why I speak the way I do," she said. "I think at a young age, when you decide that nothing matters, you don't try to be enthusiastic."
After her music career took off, Tems more or less had to leave her world of solitude behind — and that certainly takes some adjusting. "I am settling into being known," she told Billboard. "I can't go to the grocery store. I mean, I can, but I can't just do that 'trying to act like a normal person' [thing] anymore."
She started making music at a young age
Growing up, music was everything to Tems. As she recalled in a chat with Vibe.Ng, she started writing songs when she was still in grade school. "I could make a song about cornflakes if I wanted to, or I could just wake up and see a bird eating a worm and make a song out of that," she told Okay Africa. "It was just very easy, it wasn't something I had to try for." Emotions played a huge part in Tems' approach to songwriting. "I write what I feel," she told Vibe.Ng. "It only comes out because I feel a certain way." The intensity of Tems' sentimental approach has generated a devoted fanbase, the Rebel Gang, who relate to the music she makes.
As Tems' star continues to rise, the reach of her music only continues to grow. And while becoming a household name whose work brings in a wide audience surely can take some getting used to, she sees the beauty in it. "Before, I used to think I was alone," she said in Essence. "I think the more people connect to it, the more it makes me feel like I'm not as alone as I thought I was."
She struggled to make ends meet for years
Prior to fame, Tems held a short-lived online marketing gig to muddle along. However, the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle didn't cut it for the music star. "I'd go to work, have lunch, go back home, watch a movie, maybe talk to a friend. The next day: work, lunch, finish work... literally the same thing every day," she reflected in a conversation with The Face. Hit hard by boredom, she opted to pursue music professionally. If she could make enough money to meet her needs, she'd be set.
Before her music started to pay off, Tems could barely afford to put food on her own table. "There were times when I was not just broke — I was broke and hopeless. I used to steal food. I used to go to my auntie's house just so she could give me food to take home," the singer recalled in GQ. Living in Lagos, she told Rolling Stone, was tough because there was only so much looking out for one another everyone could do. "Everybody's in survival mode. . . .If everybody is trying to survive then nobody has love, because they're like ... 'Well, I want to help you, but I am hungry,'" she said.
Tems produced her first track, Mr. Rebel
Having been a songwriter for such a long time without a record, Tems found it hard to convince people that she was a musician. She couldn't bear the expense of studio time. Armed with recording knowledge from YouTube, the then-amateur singer borrowed an associate's studio and made her first single, "Mr. Rebel." "When I wrote this song, I was at home. I didn't have a studio. I just had a laptop and earphones," Tems disclosed to Rolling Stone.
There was no budget for marketing "Mr. Rebel" either. Tems' main goal was to get the track on digital platforms, a feat that proved to be another DIY project. Upon release, the Nigerian music market surpassed the little expectations she had. "I didn't think it would go, like, anywhere," she confessed to Vibe Nigeria. "And so it's surprising that it went so far."
The success of "Mr. Rebel" was the magic wand Tems needed to land her first radio interview, and eventually, a manager. She blazed her own trail and made a name for herself through good old word-of-mouth promotion.
She had her breakthrough with the song Essence
Tems reached new heights in the music scene with a groundbreaking collaboration with Wizkid dubbed "Essence," a catchy summer anthem. Originally released as the fourth single off of Wizkid's fourth studio album, "Made in Lagos," the tune made waves in the United States with a Justin Bieber remix.
Just like her debut track, "Mr. Rebel," Tems wasn't anticipating much when "Essence" dropped. "It was just one of those things where I was like, 'Yeah, it's a nice song. Maybe I should do something more.'" she disclosed to Elle. " I'm never satisfied. I wanted to write the piece some more. I wanted to bring up my emotions more."
The song took Tems' career to a newer stratosphere, one whose flashing lights would blur the vision of any well-meaning artist. Fortunately, she managed to stabilize herself fast. "I think I've found my feet, and I'm comfortable in myself," she shared with Essence. "And, I think that's what matters because I feel like every new challenge, every new thing that happens just gives me an opportunity to strengthen myself and go dive even deeper into who I am."
Tems has teamed up with a ton of big names
Long before the release of "Essence," Tems was featured on the song "Know Your Worth" by Khalid alongside fellow Afro music artist Davido. There's no doubt that Tems is the next big thing (if she isn't already). Since she blew up, her star has risen higher with more elite collaborations, including a feature on the Beyoncé track "Move." Funny enough, Tems' contribution to the "Renaissance" song came just a few years after she tweeted out a bold statement about Queen Bey. "I'm not such a fan of Beyoncé but her Coachella performance was the best thing I've ever seen in my life!" she posted in April 2018. "I don't know why my heart won't stop beating so fast!"
In May 2022, Tems hopped onto rapper Future's single "Wait For You," also featuring Drake. Released as part of Future's ninth studio album "I Never Liked You," the song became an award magnet. Tems and Drake had their own collaboration from his "Certified Lover Boy" album, "Fountains."
Working with Drake was a surreal experience for Tems, as she expressed in a The Beat 99.9 interview. "Drake is my G.O.A.T," she said. "Drake is someone that I have always listened to, like, literally from high school. Like, I was a Drake fan...when I linked up with him it was crazy." There's a long list of possible partnerships in the pipeline for Tems, including SZA and Adele.
Tems already has a long list of awards
In April 2022, Tems' collaboration with Wizkid, "Essence," lost the Grammy for Best Global Music Performance category to Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab. However, Tems did secure two wins at the BET Awards that year: Best Collaboration for "Essence" and Best International Act. In her acceptance speech, Tems paid homage to her Nigerian roots: "Every single woman, every single girl watching this, every single girl watching this at home. Where I'm from, things like this don't happen. Where I'm from, Lagos, Nigeria, this is a dream. And as you're watching me, I want you to imagine yourself as me because you are meant to be here, too."
For featuring on Future's "Wait For You," Tems won the best collaboration at the BET Hip-Hop Awards and an American Music Award. The following year, the same song landed Tems her first Grammy win. Her rendition of "No Woman No Cry" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding International Song, and although "Lift Me Up" didn't go home a winner on Oscars night, it was the Best Original Song at the Black Reel Awards.
She will hit pause on listening to other musicians
In a bid to create work that was authentically her own, Tems isn't opposed to taking a break from listening to other artists. It made her have a better grasp of her own sound. "I already had music that I liked and I didn't know I was looking for a sound. But I just thought, before all these songs were made, there was somebody who made this song, started this trend or started singing like this first. And then other people followed them. I don't want to be somebody that follows; I don't want to be the 'after' person," she expounded to Dazed.
Her creative process, as she shared with her fans on YouTube, involves tapping into a zone where she's free from influence, including that of her own thoughts. In the footage, Tems creates a zen setup in a studio that's cast in a rich red hue. Complete with lit candles, the tranquil space allows her to fully savor the art of music making. She does that by being in the moment, but when she hits a rough patch, taking some time off is a critical step in her process.
Tems co-wrote Rihanna's comeback single
After a years-long break from the music industry, pop megastar Rihanna made a comeback with "Lift Me Up." The track, which is featured on the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack, was written by Tems in honor of the franchise's late star, Chadwick Boseman. Tems shared the good news via Instagram, noting the "Rude Boy" singer's vocal prowess. In turn, Rihanna hailed Tems' songwriting skills, writing, "It's the pen for me love to you sistren."
Speaking to Power 105.1, Tems detailed the events that led to the making of the emotional track. "I was writing in general for 'Black Panther' ... I got in Ryan [Coogler] and Ludwig [Göransson], we met up with them and they gave us the direction. They had some words on the song already ... we all collaborated and brought it together."
The relationship between Tems and the Fenty mogul is one which existed long before the birth of the single. As Rolling Stone recounted, at Rihanna's Savage ✕ Fenty September 2021 show, the "Umbrella" hitmaker had a chat with Tems in which she said in part, "Enough of that humble sh**. You better own that."
She was incarcerated for two days
On December 14, 2020, Tems and her fellow countryman Omah Lay were arrested in Uganda for violating Covid-19 protocol. "I'm in cuffs in Uganda right now with Tems," the "Understand" songster tweeted. It took two days for charges against the pair, alongside part of their crew to be dropped, and on December 17, 2020, the duo landed safely in their homeland.
Tems took to Twitter to express her frustration with Ugandan artist Moses Ssali, popularly known as Bebe Cool, whom she accused of orchestrating their lockup. Tems further revealed in her conversation with The Beat 99.9 that their detainment was an act of power play, one which left the authorities that held them startled when their celebrity status salvaged the situation.
A year later, she seemed to be in good spirits as she reflected on the upward trajectory her life had taken since. "I almost can't believe the things I've seen so far. All I can say is God is too awesome and He will always have the last and final laugh," Tems wrote in part on Twitter.
Tems' long list of celebrity fans
In addition to her gang of rebels, Tems has a chain of celebrities who are riding the rebel train. In July 2022, former POTUS Barack Obama included Tems' song "Vibe Out" on his summer playlist that year.
According to Elle, singer Adele Adkins loved Tems' music so much, she introduced Drake to it. When the pair finally came face to face, the "Rolling in the Deep" singer couldn't keep her calm. "She knew everything and that freaked me out," Tems shared with the publication. Drake isn't the only hip-hop celebrity obsessed with Tems. Rapper Snoop Dogg not only revealed how much he and his family were Tems fanatics but also requested a collaboration in a viral video. In October 2021, singer SZA tweeted, "Free mind by tems has me in a f**king choke hold .. wow," prompting a reply from "Star" actor Ryan Destiny, who shared the same sentiments.
Tems mixes it up in the kitchen
She may be a master at cooking up hit song, but at home, Tems does some actual cooking, too. It's a hidden talent she shared on "Tea Time with Tems." "I'm a pretty good cook. And I bake as well. I bake brownies, I bake fudge, and umm... I bake things...And I enjoy it, cause it's art," she said. And it sounds like she enjoys sharing her culinary talents with others. In a 2021 Twitter Q&A, Tems revealed that she made stew for Drake. "I cooked Chicken stew and rice for them, the Pepper choke them small, but they loved it," she wrote. What's more, Tems happens to be quite the tea connoisseur, calling orange and spice her favorite flavor. In a separate chat with Jazzy's WorldTV, Tems shared, "I'm a tea lover ... I mix my own teas, I don't drink English tea."
If she weren't making bangers in the studio, however, Tems might have taken a totally different route and pursued a career in education. "I like math," she told Vibe.Ng. "I'd probably be a lesson teacher or a professor. Because I like teaching and math is very interesting." Outside of music, some of Tems' other interests include fashion and crocheting.
Tems is single by choice
As far as dating goes, Tems told GQ that she was content with staying single. "I don't have any romantic relationships. I haven't had a romantic relationship since I released my first song," she told the publication. Instead, Tems channels all her energy toward her music. Although she's getting advances from interested parties and isn't entirely shutting down that particular department of her life, her career appears to take top priority, at least as of September 2022.
As far as she's concerned, the idea of love is one that will happen at its own good time. Asked what kind of romance she was hoping to have when it does, Tems said, "It must be solid. It must be somebody that is completely grounded. And not someone that distracts me, because love is not a distraction. Lust is – attraction is distracting, but love itself is enabling, encouraging. Love is something that fuels you to go harder."
When it is time to settle down, Tems won't settle for any ol' guy who might express interest. As she told a reporter in 2022, "Well, you have to be really smart. You have to outsmart me, and not necessarily in terms of knowledge, just in terms of life. Just make me feel like I can't manipulate you."
Her viral Oscars moment
In a red carpet chat with Entertainment Tonight, Tems talked about the jaw-dropping, ethereal white gown she picked for the the 2023 Academy Awards. "It's the unraveling of a flower," the fashion-loving star explained. "It's not that bad. It's not heavy. It's just very fluffy." Tems was on a mission to make a statement, which she made clear in a conversation with Harper's Bazaar. "It's my first Oscars — I am going to go all out," she said. "I really wanted to make the most of the day. The dress is also my way of celebrating my work and the people around me, celebrating my country, and celebrating the people that are rooting for me."
Naturally, the musician turned many heads (and necks) when she arrived at the Oscars in the stunning ensemble. While the look, of course, dazzled many spectators and fellow nominees, there were some who took issue with the size and structure of the design. As for how Tems felt about her Academy Awards look going viral? After the show, she shared some photos of herself posing in the gown on Twitter and wrote, "Oops."