djzyonseven
If you’ve been paying attention over the last decade, you already know we’ve witnessed a major shift.
Mainstream Afrobeats came through with infectious rhythms and party energy.
But somewhere along the way, the music started revealing something deeper.
More vulnerable.
More soulful.
Almost hypnotic.
What we’re hearing today feels like an Afro Soul renaissance.
Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Omah Lay, CKay, Ayra Starr, and Tyla…
Familiar names now.
And then there’s Tems.
For the record, I 💜 me some Tems.
She has one of those voices that instantly grabs your attention.
There’s no vocal grandstanding.
She doesn’t force anything.
She just floats over the music with this beautiful mixture of pain, longing, and quiet strength.
And honestly, that’s what makes her special.
Higher was released in 2020 as part of her debut EP, For Broken Ears.
The song was written by Tems herself and produced by Oddio.
The EP would eventually become a breakthrough moment for the Nigerian singer, long before the rest of the world discovered her through collaborations with Wizkid, Drake, and Future.
What I love about Higher is that it sounds almost like a prayer.
The lyrics deal with love, vulnerability, and wanting something greater than yourself.
There’s a rawness to her delivery that reminds me that sometimes the quiet songs hit the hardest.
One of my favorite performances of the song is her appearance on Open Mic. 🎤❤️
In this stripped-down setting, Tems performs Higher with almost no distractions.
No elaborate stage.
No dancers.
No gimmicks.
Just her voice and the emotion behind every word.
Sometimes that’s all you need.
Before the Grammy wins…
Before the Global tours…
Before becoming one of the defining voices of this generation…
Higher gave us a glimpse of where Tems was headed.
And baby, she was already soaring. ✨🔥🎧
djz7
PS…
I attached a bonus track, Me & U…
Like I said, I 💜 me some Tems!
#Tems #Higher #ForBrokenEars #OpenMic #AfroSoul #Afrobeats #NigerianMusic #SoulMusic #MusicLovers #TheSoundtrackOfWhoIBecame 🎶🌍💜
