Tems Delivers Mesmerizing Musical Journey On ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

A Tiny Desk Concert from acclaimed Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems kicks off NPR Music’s series for Black Music Month which will feature Black female artists. Tems performed songs from her upcoming debut album, Born in the Wild, and more during her Tiny Desk.

Born in the Wild arrives this Friday, June 7 via RCA Records. Tems recently made her Tonight Show debut performing “Love Me JeJe” and Born in the Wild’s title track.

Tems and her band — keyboardist Daniel Crawford, percussionist Brett Baker, guitarist Erick Walls, bassist Eric Ingram and drummer Robert Johnson along with backing vocalists Olivia Williams, Ashly Williams, Kadeem Nichols — kicked off the Tiny Desk with Born in the Wild single “Me & U.”

The sessions continued with “Ice T” from Tems’ 2020 debut EP, For Broken Ears. NPR Music’s Bobby Carter detailed Tems’ final three songs.

“’Unfortunate’ is less Afrobeats and more straightforward R&B, flexing her development as a writer. ‘Forever’ is powerful in the way she reaches a vocal range I had no idea she could, while ‘Love Me JeJe’ was the hands-down standout.”

Watch Tems’ Tiny Desk Concert below.