Tems delivers a beautiful and introspective EP with “Love Is A Kingdom”
2x Grammy-winning singer Tems dropped a surprise EP, “Love is A Kingdom”, last week, and I still have it on repeat. Tems is no stranger to releasing important and impactful EPs; her first project from 2020, “For Broken Ears”, reached the world. The song “Higher” was later sampled for Drake and Future’s Grammy-winning collaboration “Wait for u”. With her calm lyrics and magnetic energy, each track slowly lures the listener under her spell.
Before the surprise release of her new EP, I had been listening to her 2024 album “Born in the Wild” with songs like “Burning”, “Gangsta”, “Ready” and “Hold On” on repeat. For me, Tems’ contribution to music, not just as a Nigerian but as a woman, is essential; she taps into an effortlessly open side of herself. We bear witness to how she expresses a softness and a confidence that inspires a gentle spirit in all of us.
Her recent collaboration, “Raindance”, with UK artist Dave reflects that spirit clearly. Tems’ contributions to music have not gone unnoticed; she earned her second Grammy win this year for her song “Love me Jeje.” She’s someone we’ve all got our eyes on, and this new project is a testament to her willingness to carve out her own lane herself. With Tems, the music she puts out will always reflect an artist constantly searching within herself for something beautiful to share.
“Love Is A Kingdom” — a 7-track EP worth every listen
The EP cover for “Love Is A Kingdom” features a blurred photograph of Tems by phenomenal British photographer Campbell Addy. It captures a moment of a glamorous woman in motion. The first song, “First”, reveals an anthem for women with lyrics like “that’s why I put me first”. The next track, “I’m not sure”, felt like she’d read a collective diary of young women not being sure of the workings of a new relationship. The lyrics “I’m not sure/ you want to see me come and find me/ Mi amor/ If you want it come and take it/ Don’t be lazy. Be on time/if you’re mine I’ll be all yours if you’re worth it” resonated so deeply with me.
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By the time you listen to the first two tracks out of the 7 track EP, you know you are listening to something quite special. Track 3 “Big Daddy” is set to be the biggest song from the project, with lyrics like “Big Daddy jump for me/ drop something for me Daddy.” A clever use of the street phrase “drop something for me”, used mostly to ask for cash from someone who looks like they have it. Following that song are tracks 4 and 5, “Lagos Love” and “Mine”, two songs exploring love that reveal the core message within “Love Is A Kingdom”. The last two songs, “What You Need” and “Is There A Reason”, end the project on a slower note. The acoustic guitar sounds are perfect for the way she asks, “Is there a reason? Why do you love me like this?”
For Tems, love is the message
Tems is crafting a universe where vulnerability and confidence coexist. In her world, love is reclaimed as something to treasure and analyse. Across the project, she sings about her experiences and articulates emotional truths that many young women will appreciate hearing. “Love Is A Kingdom” ultimately feels like a declaration: a reminder that love begins somewhere, and that desire can be both tender and assertive. A woman’s inner world is worthy of both reverence and celebration. It’s the kind of EP that just connects, and I feel compelled to remind listeners how rare it is to receive a message like this so beautifully.
Read more: CHIKA gets raw and vulnerable on EP “WISH YOU WERE (T)HERE,” showing how empowering openness can be
