Thumbnail image: Amarachi Nwosu
Yesterday, Nigerian singer Tems tweeted a photo of herself with a commanding gaze, with text promising that she had a surprise coming soon. With quaver note emojis attached, it was obvious that new music was on the way, but no clue as to whether or not it'd be her own solo material or a collaboration. Within the past month, Tems has appeared on the remix of Khalid's "Know Your Worth" alongside Davido and on Nigerian alté pioneering group DRB Lasgidi's "Trouble." But earlier today, she confirmed that the surprise was a song of her own called "These Days."
The song — produced by Amaarae and Anik Khan collaborator Rvdical The Kid — feels like a continuation of her breakout hits "Mr. Rebel" and "Try Me." Like those tracks, "These Days" finds Tems at a point of tension, in which she is fighting for love that she knows doesn't fully serve her in the best way. That inner push-and-pull is tangible with the way she sings, gripping you with her cries. “These days is a song aimed at reflecting the times," Tems said in a press release. "Loving till the end of time even though you're not perfect. Loving unconditionally regardless of what is going on around us. It's about wanting to be there through thick and thin for someone even if it's a pandemic." Watch the song's lyric video above.
