How I write my songs — Tems

Nigerian R&B sensation Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems, recently opened up about her songwriting process, revealing that her lyrics are deeply rooted in her personal experiences rather than external stories.

Tems shared these insights during a chat on the Apple Music Podcast with Ebro Darden, where she discussed her journey of self-discovery and the making of her debut studio album, Born In The Wild.

During the interview, Tems reflected on the emotional high of performing at iconic venues like Radio City and the overwhelming response from fans, particularly during tracks like “Love Me Jeje” and “Essence.”

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Speaking about her songwriting approach, Tems said, “They’re always from my experience. The way I write music, the way I do music, it was always a release.

“When I was younger, I didn’t really talk to a lot of people, so music was like the way. People used to tell me off, and I wouldn’t say anything—I’d just be like this, because I wouldn’t know what to say in the moment, and I found out that, like, I could sing my emotions.”

When asked about music videos for her latest album, she revealed a particular fondness for one track, saying, “One song I really want to shoot for is ‘Boy O Boy’ because that song actually means something to me. Actually, it’s coming from the heart. I really did want to strangle someone.

“Those are the lyrics: sometimes I want to strangle you, sometimes I want to choke you out. But it’s someone that I love, that’s right, so it’s out of love but still real. I just have a really crazy idea for the video I’ve had for a while, and I really, really want to shoot that—like, really, really want to shoot it.”

This year, Tems released her first studio album, Born in the Wild, which charted in the top thirty in countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK, where it peaked at number 24.

She also embarked on her global Born in the Wild Tour, bringing her soulful sounds to fans worldwide.

Over her career, Tems has racked up an impressive list of accolades, including a Grammy, a Billboard Women in Music Award, four NAACP Image Awards, four BET Awards, and three Soul Train Music Awards, underlining her growing influence in the music industry.

Known for her unique blend of soulful lyrics and captivating melodies, Tems continues to carve her niche, making her mark as one of Nigeria’s most compelling musical exports.