Nigerian music sensation, Tems, is setting her sights on a dream collaboration with none other than the iconic Beyoncé. This exciting revelation comes as Tems is set to be honored with the prestigious Trailblazer award at the upcoming ELLE Style Awards 2023, a glittering event held in partnership with Tiffany & Co., slated for September 5.
Tems, whose full name is Temilade Openiyi, burst into the global music scene in 2020, achieving widespread acclaim for her enchanting vocals featured on Wizkid’s hit single “Essence.” Her influence continued to ripple through the music world that same year when she was sampled in Drake’s track “Fountains.”
In a captivating interview and front-page feature with ELLE magazine, Tems unveiled her aspirations and her unwavering admiration for Beyoncé. She expressed her eagerness to collaborate with the pop legend, stating, “Beyoncé, girl, I’m ready. Any time she wants to pick up the phone, anything she wants to do, if she wants to release another album tomorrow, I’m there. I love everything she does.”
Beyond her desire to collaborate with international stars like Beyoncé, Tems is equally committed to nurturing and collaborating with talents from her home continent, Africa. Born in Nigeria but briefly relocating to the UK as a child before returning to her roots, Tems is passionate about working alongside fellow African artists as she continues her meteoric rise to stardom. Speaking on this matter, she shared, “I’ve been working with some Nigerian artists. I feel like everybody from back home is killing it. I would love to work with all of them.”
Reflecting on the whirlwind past two years, which have seen her earn a Grammy nomination, Tems acknowledged the profound growth and challenges she’s encountered. “I have learned so much, and I’ve had to learn so much. I was super naive, as most people are that have a dream. You don’t realize the loss or the things that you have to deal with when you achieve this dream,” she confessed.
Determined to move forward and evolve as an artist and individual, she emphasized, “This season really is just about shedding—shedding dead weight, shedding dead skin, shedding things that are not me.”
Looking ahead to the future, Tems shared her vision, saying, “I want to be someone that is full of love, peace, joy, and care. My new dream is just to be the most evolved person I can ever be.“