Tems has spoken out about the pressure that comes with success.
In an interview with Kendrick Lamar for Interview magazine, she discussed her newfound fame.
She admitted to feeling the pressure that comes with success and stated that she deals with it by remaining true to herself.
In her words,
“When you become more known or seen, it’s very easy to get caught up in, “What do people expect of me now?” But for me, it’s like, “What do I expect of myself now?” Because you’re the one that has to live with yourself, the one that has to sleep with the decisions that you make. Trusting yourself is so key, and I’m not going to stop trusting my guts just because people can see me now. It’s like being in a zoo. The animals don’t change their behaviour just because you’re looking at them. They’re always going to be who they are. So why should I change?”
The Oscar-nominated singer also shared some words of wisdom for artists and fans alike. Remembering why you started, she says, is the key to staying on track.
“Yeah, you have to remember how you felt when you started as an artist, to understand the reason you’re doing what you’re doing,” the singer advised. “Yes, it’s to be seen, or to make a name for yourself, but beyond that, why are you doing it? Most of the time, it’s because you have a story to share, a message to give.”
Tems has come a long way since her For Broken Ears EP was released in 2020.
She has since surpassed one billion Spotify streams. Tems has appeared on the soundtrack to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and worked with artists such as Drake and Beyonce.
She also collaborated on Rihanna’s Lift Me Up, which received an Oscar nomination. Tems is currently putting the finishing touches on her debut album.
