Nigerian artist Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, had an engaging chat with American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar for @interviewmag. Their discussion gave us a tantalizing glimpse into her musical influences, her love for Celine Dion, and the very beginnings of her musical adventure.
Throughout her conversation with Kendrick Lamar, Tems skillfully traced the origins of her musical zeal. She artfully detailed the forces that shaped her musical identity, and her genuine affection for the art form shone through.
When asked by Lamar about navigating the pressures that come with success, Grammy-winning Tems responded thoughtfully.
"Speaking of the success that you've achieved, do you feel pressured to conform to others' expectations?" Grammy award-winning Tems replied, "Yeah, you have to remember how you felt when you started as an artist, to understand the reason you’re doing what you’re doing."
She emphasized the importance of anchoring oneself in the initial spark of creativity to remain true to one's essence.
Through their captivating exchange, Tems and Kendrick Lamar painted a vivid portrait of Tems' evolution as an artist, her musical passions, and her poised approach to facing challenges.
When asked about her style of music, positioning herself and not been put in a box with regards to her craft.
She responded with responses she initially got from people
"Nigerians don’t like this.” And that’s not a lie, and it’s not a bad thing. But I felt in my heart that that’s okay. I’m okay with no one liking it, I just want to make this music. I want to make music that makes me pull my heart out, and if I can’t do that, I don’t want anything. I would rather do that and be broke than compromise. I didn’t really care about the money. It’s not that money is bad. Money is very good. But for me, even right now, I’m chasing a frequency."
Their dialogue leaves us with a richer understanding of Tems' creative journey.
You can catch up with their conversation here
