Tems Concerts Tickets

ABOUT TEMS

Born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria in 1995, Tems is an Afrobeats artist. After graduating from Dowen College, Lagos, she moved to South Africa for further education. When she was at school, she sang in the choir and, encouraged by her music teacher, she began to explore her voice and learn piano. She would also sing along when her brother played guitar.

CAREER

2013-2019: Beginnings, Mr Rebel, and Try Me

In 2013, 20-year-old Tems released the Time Swap EP. However, it was five years later that she began to gain recognition as an artist. In 2018, she left her job in order to pursue music full-time. That year, she released the album Illumination, which launched the single "Mr. Rebel". The song went on to accrue more than 200,000 views on YouTube. She followed with "Looku Looku", which became popular on Nigerian radio, but it was "Try me", released in August 2019, that became her first hit single.

2020-present: For Broken Ears, Essence, and If Orange Was a Place

In 2020, Tems was picked by DJ Edu as one of "ten artists to watch" that year. In February, she featured on a remix of Khalid and Disclosure’s track "Know Your Worth" alongside fellow Nigerian singer Davido.

That April, she collaborated on WizKid’s single "Essence", which reached the number one spot on BBC 1Xtra Airplay Chart and also earned became her first entry on Billboard Hot 100.

For Broken Ears, Tems’ debut EP, was released on September 25, 2020 and garnered critical acclaim from publications such as Pitchfork. "Damages," her follow-up single to "Try me," was released on September 17, peaking at number one on the Apple Music Nigeria, number two on the Apple Music R&B Songs chart, and number six on the TurnTable Top 50 chart.

On 8 November 2020, Tems was included in The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020.

In September 2021, she featured on rapper Drake's Certified Lover Boy album on the song "Fountains," which earned her a second Billboard Hot 100 entry debuting at number twenty-six. Later that month, she released her sophomore EP, If Orange Was a Place, marking her debut major-label release on Since '93 and RCA. The EP peaked at number seven on the Billboard World Albums chart and number nine on the Heatseekers Albums chart. "Found," her collaboration with Brent Faiyaz, debuted at number seventeen on the Hot R&B Songs chart, number thirty-three on the New Zealand hot singles chart, and number one on the UK Afrobeats Chart.

"Essence", her single with WizKid, has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance at the 2022 Awards.