Nigerian singer Tems has opened up about the tough reality of starting out in the music industry, saying unwanted attention once threatened her focus and confidence.

In a recent interview, the singer explained that she often went to recording studios alone when she was still learning the ropes, meeting people she barely knew just to make and produce music. At the time, she struggled with self-confidence and felt misunderstood.

She said her main goal was to learn and create music without distractions.

To protect herself and stay taken seriously, Tems revealed that she changed how she dressed and behaved in the studio. She wore baggy clothes and adopted a firm, no-nonsense attitude so people would see her as a professional, not as someone to flirt with.

“If being attractive was going to disturb my goal, I had to control the situation,” she said, adding that the strategy worked most of the time.

Tems noted that this discipline helped her focus on making music that was different from what was popular in Nigeria then.

Her story highlights the personal struggles behind her success and how staying focused helped her rise above early challenges in the industry.