Tems (singer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tems
Young woman smiling
Background information
Birth nameTemilade Openiyi
Born (1995-06-11) 11 June 1995 (age 26)
Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present
Labels
  • Leading Vibes
  • RCA
Associated acts

Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June 1995), better known by her stage name Tems,[1] is a Nigerian singer. In 2021, she earned two US top 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with her collaboration with Drake on the song "Fountains" from his album Certified Lover Boy, and the Wizkid single "Essence"; the latter of which reached the top ten following a remix with Justin Bieber, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination.

In the same year, Tems was ranked number one on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart[2] and number-five on the Billboard Emerging Artist chart.[3] In September 2021, Tems was signed to RCA records, and released her second EP If Orange Was a Place, which reached the top ten on the Billboard World Albums chart.[4]

Early life[]

Temilade Openiyi was born on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria.[5] Born to a Nigerian mother and a British-Nigerian father, Tems' family moved to the United Kingdom shortly after birth. Her parents divorced when she was five. Tems relocated to Nigeria with her mother, they resided in ilupeju before moving to Lekki then Ajah.[6] Tems attended Dowen College before proceeding to South Africa for her Tertiary education.[5] At school, she was noticed by her music teacher and she learned to play the piano. She would practice singing with her brother's guitar accompaniment.[7]

Career[]

2018–2019: Career beginnings, Mr Rebel and Try Me[]

In 2018 Tems quit her job to pursue a career in music, she recorded "Mr Rebel", a song of her own composition.[7] In August 2019, she released the single "Try Me" which became a hit track.[8] In 2020, DJ Edu chose her as one of "ten artists to watch" that year.[9] She was recruited that year by American singer Khalid to join him and fellow Nigerian Davido on an Afrobeats remix of "Know Your Worth".[10]

2020–present: For Broken Ears, Essence and If Orange Was a Place[]

On 25 September 2020, Tems released her debut extended play For Broken Ears, it was produced primarily by Tems and her single "Damages" from the EP became another follow up hit to "Try Me", peaking at number one on the Apple Music Nigeria and number six on the then-newly launched TurnTable Top 50 chart and garnering five million views on YouTube. In 2021, her collaboration with Wizkid on their song "Essence" earned her a number one spot on BBC 1Xtra Airplay Chart.[11][12] and also earned her first career entry on Billboard Hot 100[13]

On 8 November 2020, she was included in The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020.[14]

In December 2020, Tems and fellow Nigerian artist Omah Lay were arrested in Uganda after a live performance at a show for violating COVID-19 lockdown safety laws by the Ugandan Police authority. Two days later, they were released and the charges were dropped.[15]

On 2 September 2021, it was announced on billboards in Lagos that Tems was set to feature on rapper Drake's Certified Lover Boy album. her collaboration with Drake on the song "Fountains" earned her her second Billboard Hot 100 entry debuting at number twenty six.[16][17]

On 15 September 2021, Tems released her second extended play titled If Orange Was a Place, primarily produced by GuiltyBeatz and supported by the single "Crazy Tings" which peaked at number three on the UK Afrobeats chart,[18][19] it debuted at number seven on the Billboard World Albums chart[20] and number nine on the Heatseekers Album chart.[21] her collaboration with Brent Faiyaz on the song "Found" from the EP debuted at number seventeen on the Hot R&B Songs chart,[22] number thirty three on the New Zealand hot singles chart[23] and number one on the UK Afrobeats Chart.[19]

Music style and influences[]

In 2020, interviewed by Adedayo Laketu of The Fader, Tems said that when she was a child her mother only listened to Christian music. Later in her teenage years she became interested in R&B and rap music, listening to Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne and Aaliyah, performing Alicia Keys's hit "If I Ain't Got You" as her first ever song. Growing up she was also interested in artists such as Burna Boy, Asa, Lauryn Hill, Adele, Coldplay and Paramore.[6] At the age of 15, she stopped listening to any artist in search of her own identity, because as she explains in the interview: "I wanted to learn how to attack a song from what I was feeling, not what Beyoncé would do or anyone else."[24]

Her voice has been described as deep, velvety and androgynous.[24][6]

Discography[]

EPs[]

List of extended plays with selected details
Title EP details
For Broken Ears
  • Released: 25 September 2020
  • Label: Leading Vibes
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
If Orange Was a Place
  • Released: 15 September 2021
  • Label: Since '93, RCA
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles[]

List of singles released as a lead artist, with selected details
Year Title Albums
2018 "Mr Rebel"[25] Non-album singles
2019 "Looku Looku"[26]
"Try Me"
2020 "These Days"[27]
"Damages" For Broken Ears
2021 "Crazy Tings" If Orange Was a Place

Charted singles[]

List of charted singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[28] 		UK
[29] 		US
[30] 		US
R&B/HH
[31]
"Essence"
(Wizkid featuring Tems) 		2021 15 16 9 3 Made in Lagos

Other charted songs[]

List of charted songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[23] 		UK
[29] 		US
[36] 		US
R&B/HH
[37] 		US
R&B
[22]
"Fountains"
(Drake featuring Tems) 		2021 — —[A] 26 18 2 Certified Lover Boy
"Found"
(featuring Brent Faiyaz) 		20 —[B] — — 17 If Orange Was a Place

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Nominee/Work Result Ref
2019 The Headies Best Vocal Performance (Female) "Mr Rebel" Nominated [39]
Best Alternative Song Nominated
2020 City People Music Award Next Rated Artiste (Female) Herself Nominated [40][41]
The Headies Next Rated Nominated [42]
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Music Nominated [43]
2021 BET Awards Best New International Act Nominated [44][45]
MTV Africa Music Award Best Breakthrough Act Pending [46]
Net Honours Most Played Alternative Song "Damages" Won [47]
All Africa Music Awards Best Female Artist in Western Africa Herself Nominated [48][49][50]
Best African Collaboration "Essence"

(Wizkid featuring Tems)

Won
Song of the Year Won
Best Artist, Duo or Group in African RnB & Soul Nominated
"Damages" Nominated
Breakout Artist of the Year Herself Nominated
African Entertainment Awards USA Best Female Artist Won [51]
Artist of the Year Nominated
Best Female Artist - Central/West Africa Nominated
Best Collaboration "Essence"

(Wizkid featuring Tems)

Won
Best Video Won
Song of the Year Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best African Act Herself Nominated [52]
Soul Train Music Awards Best Collaboration "Essence"

(Wizkid featuring Tems)

Won [53]
Video of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated
Best New Artist Herself Nominated
2022 Grammy Awards Best Global Music Performance "Essence"

(Wizkid featuring Tems)

Pending [54]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Herself Pending [55]
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album "Essence"

(Wizkid featuring Tems)

Pending
Outstanding International Song Pending

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Fountains" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, as chart rules only allow three songs per artist to chart within the top one hundred at a time, but peaked at number 23 on the UK Streaming Chart.[38]
  2. ^ "Found" did not enter the UK singles chart but peaked at number one on the UK Afrobeats chart

References[]

  1. ^ "The sweet, arresting harmonies of Nigeria's Tems". The FADER. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Tems Claims Number One Spot on Billboard Next Big Sound Chart". Arise News. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Tems Signs to Since '93/RCA, Named Apple Music 'Up Next' Artist". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b Olatunji, Mercy (18 February 2021). "Full biography of Nigerian singer Tems and other facts about her". DNB Stories Africa. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "The sweet, arresting harmonies of Nigeria's Tems". The Fader. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Native Exclusive: How Tems Triumphs after "Mr Rebel"". The Native. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Interview: Tems Is On a Mission to Take Over". OkayAfrica. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Rema". OkayAfrica. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Khalid Recruits Davido and Tems on New Single 'Know Your Worth (Remix)'". OkayAfrica. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. ^ "BBC 1Xtra Airplay Chart". ukairplaychart.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. ^ "The Essence of Wizkid and Tems". Mp3chord.com. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Wizkid's Essence Enters Hot 100 Shoutout to Good Music Lovers Everywhere". Billboard. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ "The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020". The Future Awards Africa. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Bebe Cool make police arrest Tems and Omah Lay for Uganda?". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  16. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (2 September 2021). "Drake Reveals 'Certified Lover Boy' Album Features on Billboards". Complex. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Tems to feature on Drake's CLB album". Pulse Nigeria. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Tems shares new EP If Orange Was A Place". The FADER. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Tems' 'Found' with Brent Faiyaz Hits New Peak on the UK Afrobeats Chart". NotjustOk. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  20. ^ "World Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Heatseekers Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  22. ^ a b Peaks on the R&B Songs chart:
  23. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Artist to watch: 5 things to know about Tems". www.gq.co.za. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  25. ^ "Burna Boy, Davido, Teni, others get nominated for 2019 Headies [Full List]". Punch Newspapers. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Lady Donli 'Corner' feat. VanJess & The Cavemen". OkayAfrica. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Tems – These Days". Notjustok. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  28. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Singles Chart > UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Wizkid – Chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Wizkid – Chart history (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  32. ^ "British certifications – Tems". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 September 2021. Type Tems in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  33. ^ "Canadian music certification – Essence – Wizkid". Music Canada. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  34. ^ "American certifications – Wizkid – Essence". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  35. ^ "New Zealand Single Certification －Wizkid －Essence". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  36. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart: Week of September 18, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart: Week of September 18, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  40. ^ "#CPMA2020: Citypeople releases nominations for 2020 Music Awards". City People Magazine. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Winners Emerge At 2020 City People Music Awards [Full List]". City People Magazine. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Live Update: All The Winners At The Headies 2020". The Guardian. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  43. ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (9 November 2020). "The Future Awards Africa 2020 Announces 145 Nominees in 20 Categories". Folio. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  44. ^ "2021 BET Awards: Full list of winners and nominees". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  45. ^ Unamaka, Sampson (8 June 2021). "Nigerian singer Tems clinches 2021 BET Awards nomination". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  46. ^ "See the Full List of 2021 #MTVMAMA Nominees including Tems, Omah Lay and Rema!". BellaNaija. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  47. ^ Mofijesusewa, Samuel (20 June 2021). "NET Honours 2021: "Damages" by Tems Named Most Played Alternative Song". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  48. ^ "All Africa Music Awards 2021: All the nominees". Music In Africa. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  49. ^ Obey, Yinka (25 November 2021). "AFRIMA 2021: Wizkid, Iba One win big, Manjeru makes history, full list of winner". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  50. ^ "2021 AFRIMA Awards – See Full Winners List". tooXclusive. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  51. ^ "Wizkid wins five awards at 2021 AEAUSA". The Nation Newspaper. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  52. ^ "Wizkid Wins Best African Act At MTV EMA 2021". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  53. ^ "H.E.R. Is Top Nominee at 2021 Soul Train Awards; Maxwell & Ashanti to Receive Special Awards: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  54. ^ "Wizkid, Burnaboy, oda Nigerian artists wey dey 2022 Grammy nomination". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  55. ^ Spivey, Kemberlie (19 January 2022). "2022 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: The Full List". Forbes. Retrieved 20 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

Media related to Tems at Wikimedia Commons

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