Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has opened up about the difficulties she faced as a young artist trying to make her mark in the music industry, revealing how unwanted attention once affected both her confidence and her creative process.

In a recent interview, Tems shared that during the early stages of her career, she often went to recording studios alone, focused solely on learning and creating music without distractions.

“I didn’t always feel comfortable with my body, which sounds strange, but I was still figuring a lot out,” she admitted.

She described reaching out to people she had never met, eager to share her work and learn the production side of music. “I’d message people to show what I’d been working on because I knew I had something valuable. My goal was simple: I just wanted to make music. I wasn’t interested in the politics of the industry, I wanted to learn and create.”

To avoid unwanted advances while maintaining a professional image, Tems said she deliberately dressed in loose clothing and carried herself with confidence.

“If my appearance is distracting and keeps me from achieving my goals, I’ll adjust. So in the studio, I wear baggy clothes and adopt an alpha mindset to make sure people focus on the work, not me… and it usually works. They understand I’m here to work, and that’s what we do.”

Tems credited this approach with helping her carve out a space for her distinctive sound, which was unconventional in Nigeria.

“Doing this kind of music in Nigeria is still quite rare,” she noted, highlighting how her determination allowed her to develop a unique style.

See post below:

“I used to hate my body, because men always approach me in the studio and i didn’t like that ”

— Tems says during an interview. pic.twitter.com/d6ymBFnRE4

— 👾vaa (@reawiteva) February 18, 2026