Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems was born on the 11th of July, 1995, in Lagos, into a family of a Nigerian mum and British father. Her father left her mum when she was 5, so she was raised by her single mum. After her primary education which she did in Lagos, she attended Dowen College in Lekki. She later moved to Johannesburg to study Economics in a South African university. Tems grew up in a simple family, she discovered her music talent after she joined a local choir. She took the basic steps in becoming a wonderful musician during her childhood days, she recorded songs with her school choir and practiced with her brother’s guitar. According to a documentary with MU Narratives, she recounted how her music teacher encouraged her to sing with her real voice when she doubted her capability.