Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has spoken about how her life and personality have evolved since she became a professional artist, revealing that music has helped her become more emotionally open and less withdrawn.

In a recent interview on Doose Of Society, the 31-year-old described her pre-fame self as “hyper-independent,” noting that she often pushed people away and struggled with vulnerability. According to her, stepping into the music industry forced her to confront those habits and gradually unlearn them.

Tems explained that fame and artistic expression have significantly reshaped her worldview, particularly in how she relates to others. She said the journey required shedding behaviours that previously held her back, especially her tendency to isolate herself emotionally.

“Being an artist has changed my life. There are a lot of people that know me. It made me grow,” she said, adding that she had to let go of her hyper-independence and the habit of pushing people away. She further noted that she has since learned to embrace love, remain open, and express vulnerability without discomfort.

Tems began her professional music journey in 2018 with her debut single Mr Rebel after leaving her job, but rose to global prominence in 2020 following her feature on Wizkid’s hit song Essence, which introduced her to a wider international audience.

Since her breakthrough, she has worked with major global acts including Drake, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and J. Cole, and has also won two Grammy Awards. More recently, she made history as the first Nigerian artist to surpass 40 million monthly streams on Spotify.