‘People didn’t take me seriously’ – Tems opens up on early career struggles

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has reflected on the challenges she faced at the beginning of her music career.

Speaking in a recent CNN interview, the 30-year-old artist revealed how difficult it was for people to take her seriously.

She stated that she often felt overlooked and unsupported during her early days in the industry.

“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 “Free Mind” crooner stressed that authenticity remains her most important value, describing it as the foundation of her artistry.

“Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the only thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all that I have, who I really am,” she added.

Tems also spoke about her initiative, The Leading Vibe, a platform aimed at empowering women working in behind-the-scenes roles within the music industry.

The singer said the program was inspired by her own experiences of feeling invisible and excluded.

According to her, the goal is to create more opportunities for female producers, managers, and sound engineers, helping them gain recognition in a male-dominated field.

“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 further revealed plans to expand the initiative beyond Nigeria, with Kenya being the next destination.

“There are women everywhere who just need to be seen. All they need is that chance, and I believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry,” she said.