TEMS
Have you ever been to a show that is over and above? That you walk out of like you’ve just been dipped into a pool of shared connection? Like all the energy and care you needed is restored? If you haven’t, then go and see Tems. She kicked off her first ever Australian tour at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney and it could not have gone better. Walking onstage to an entire crowd absolutely screaming love at her Tems took a few moments to take it in, beaming with joy and blushing with gratitude in between the biggest smiles ever.
A full live band stood behind her, and throughout the show gave out the sound and energy of a funk and soul band in full touring peak. Teasing, extending, coaxing and exploding in different moments behind Tems, the pull of the stage was mesmerising. The show slowly brought out two immaculately harmonising backing singers who swayed with the energy of the Supreme’s after a sexual revolution, then added two, then three, then five dancers whose bodies blew the energy of the packed stage straight into the audiences bodies. From there every song came out resonating with the exact expression it was written about. From bringing in “Looku Looku”, an all too relateable story of dating someone who looks everywhere but you, to spending nearly 15 minutes walking through the crowd and serenading individual people, asking their names and weaving them into a long jam. At one point the crowd were so enraptured and in want of her attention that when she asked “is it anyone in here’s birthday today?” 80% of the crowd raised their hands.
Tems herself is an emotive and passionate performer, and clearly thrives on stage. She is a consummate professional who lives in every moment. The music is clearly personal, but at this stage, three years since her debut album ‘For Broken Ears’ and follow up ‘If Orange Was A Place’ she now presents as someone who used their creativity to get through hard times and break ups and is now on the other side blooming, better than ever. That stage of post healing where you’re reflecting on the learnings gained rather than only feeling the damage. Simply put, ya gal was THRIVING. I would be absolutely remiss not to mention her voice. The voice that can flow through such deep octaves then spit out high fast beats. That gives Lauryn Hill soul and SZA hype pop in the same breath. If she was alone and sung acapella the whole show it would have still been singularly incredible.
A big shout out needs to be given to the show producers as well. The teams that worked on stage design, choreography, direction, sound and light knew how to run a show. Everything flowed seamlessly into each other and every single performer had their moment. There was Tems singing offstage so the dancers had a whole number to themselves, there was guitar shredding, instrument swapping, anywhere you looked there were small vignettes of passionate fun performers.
Lastly, the beautiful audience. Everyone came in with such high energy in extreme anticipation of finally being able to see one of their favourite artists in Australia. With the addition of the love, energy and connection happening on stage the flow out between performance and the flow back from the crowd became a reciprocity circle of love. ‘Try Me’ and ‘Rebel Boy’ were sung word for word in a call and repeat with the audience. She knows life is about being personal. She knows love is about connection. I guarantee not a single person left that show without feeling better, loved, energised and optimistic that our love is important to life. That joy is so important right now, and I’d like to thank Tems and her crew for the reminder.
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