In a candid interview with The Cut, Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer disclosed the torment she endured as a child due to criticism about the pitch of her voice.
Tems, who has previously opened up about her early days of solitude, revealed that she refrained from speaking until the age of three.
The Grammy award recipient shared that growing up, she grappled with self-consciousness, feeling out of place as her voice diverged from the conventional expectations for girls.
Recounting the painful memories, she expressed, “I was bullied to the point of tears and was a target of ridicule. This led to the belief that I sounded like a boy, or a frog, with the impression that my voice was ugly.”
Tems further elaborated on the isolating experience, describing how her unique vocal tone made her a subject of mockery.
“I was always in my own little world. When I did make friends, I would try to make them sing my songs, and other girls had these sweet, high voices, and my voice had a bass.”
This revelation sheds light on the emotional struggles the artist faced during her formative years.
It adds another layer to her narrative, where she previously shared that her early inclination towards music was influenced by a lack of companionship.
Tems’ story serves as a testament to her resilience and determination in overcoming societal expectations to become the celebrated artist she is today.
Tems rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence”, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber.