In a recent candid conversation with renowned American rapper Kendrick Lamar, the talented singer and Grammy award-winner, Tems, opened up about her bold decision to veer away from the Afrobeats genre and embrace R&B.
The female artiste, revealed that she was willing to face serious consequences to pursue her passion for R&B music, even if it meant risking her career`s trajectory.
Tems spoke passionately about her journey, asserting,
“I was prepared to die. I believed in myself so much that I didn`t really care if I never became anything or anyone. I just wanted to get a message out. I wanted to get my frequency out.”
The artist emphasized that her ultimate goal with R&B was to convey a message through her music, transcending commercial success and accolades.
The discussion, featured in the latest volume of Interview Magazine. She shared her longing for a musical experience that would evoke intense emotions and a spiritual connection, reminiscent of artists like Celine Dion.
Tems confessed that the Afrobeats genre, while vibrant and beloved, didn`t quite offer the depth of emotional stimulation she sought in her work.
In her words;
“I was prepared to die. I believed in myself so much that I didn`t really care if I never became anything or anyone. I just wanted to get a message out. I wanted to get my frequency out. And I was like, ”˜Even if ten people hear this, it`s fine.` But also along the way, I used to listen to a lot of Nigerian music and I wasn`t getting a lot of spiritual””I love Celine Dion, so, I love that intense feeling of, I`m about to jump off a cliff. That`s how I want my music to feel all the time, and Afrobeats wasn`t necessarily giving me that type of stimulation.”
“The only way you can do this is Afrobeats. It`s not that your music is bad, it`s just that it doesn`t fit in Nigeria. Nigerians don`t like this, she added”
