Tems, the Grammy-award-winning Nigerian singer, says she “blacked out into a different world” while writing the lyrics for ‘Me & U’, her latest single.
Earlier this month, the singer released ‘Me & U’ – her first single in two years.
In a recent interview with BBC1Xtra, Tems said she was “having a conversation with God” when she wrote the song.
The singer also disclosed that she decided to direct the music video to portray “God being with me from when I was a child in every version of me”.
“I blacked out into a different world where I am really expressing my soul. And it was only after that we heard it,” she said.
“I was free-styling, I was just having a conversation with God. In my mind this is what I want, just ‘Me & U’. I don’t really want anything else.
“I just closed my eyes, and I was like ‘what do I want?’ and I just started writing the treatment.
“I want to be looking out on the water because I went to the water to talk to God as if I went there to have that conversation.
“And the whole video is really about God being with me from when I was a child in every version of me. God taking me through every single thing and blossoming into who I am meant to be at the end.
“For like six hours I was there on water and I was really giving him my all. I had not slept. I was like fainting with my eyes wide open.”
Speaking on her success, Tems said “being in a jazz band” was the kind of singer she aimed to be.
“I was like, if you can just sing for people in a lounge, I will be happy. Every single thing that is happening now is just beyond my wildest imagination,” she said.
Born Temilade Openiyi, Tems gained global recognition in 2020, courtesy of her collaboration with Wizkid on the song ‘Essence’.
She has since established herself as a prominent figure in the Nigerian music industry, earning several awards and accolades.
In February, the songstress won her first-ever Grammy award.
In August, Tems opened up about the reason she ditched Afrobeats for R&B.
The singer said Afrobeats was not giving her the type of “spiritual stimulation” she wanted.
The songstress added that she “was prepared to die” for her belief and stick with R&B.
Tems was recently honoured by TIME magazine and listed among their top 100 for 2023.
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