Between dates on her Born in the Wild world tour, Tems made a stop in New York City last night for the Museum of Modern Art’s annual film benefit with Chanel. Celebrating honoree Samuel L. Jackson, the Nigerian singer took the stage at the end of the night.
She brought a taste of her tour to MoMA, singing “Higher,” “Love Me JeJe,” “Me & U,” and “Free Mind” in her signature, soothing alto vocals. The set contained a mix of tracks from this year’s beloved album Born in the Wild, and her 2020 EP For Broken Ears. “These four songs are some of the most special songs on the tour that a lot of people gravitated toward,” she tells ELLE.com. “I performed it just like I did on the tour.”
Tems was joined by a backing vocalist, percussionist, and guitar and bass players—the same band members on the road with her. They were introduced by Danielle Deadwyler, who co-stars with Jackson in The Piano Lesson.
When it came to her look, Tems seamlessly blended Chanel’s history with her own personal style. “I live for bold accessories and pieces that are able to accentuate my femininity,” she says. Sure enough, she wore a black embroidered silk top from the house’s fall/winter 2023 ready-to-wear collection, along with Coco Crush rings, stacked pearl jewelry, and other accessories. Before taking the stage, she wore Chanel’s Première Sound Watch, which hung around her neck with a steel chain coated with 18K yellow gold, interwoven with black leather.
Her fashion paired nicely with soft glam makeup. “She loves a pink, blush-toned makeup look, with pops of sparkle, to really make the complexion shine,” her makeup artist Andrea Ventura says.
It’s been a big year for Tems, who released her new album in June and then embarked on her first-ever headlining tour around the globe. She has additional shows scheduled for Africa, Asia, and Australia this fall.
“It’s been amazing, the love has been crazy. We did North America and Europe, and we sold out every single show, and that, to me, is just a testament of the love and support that I have been blessed to have from my fans,” she says. “And honestly, it’s really been humbling to see how many people connect to my music and to meet different people in different cities. And I’m really grateful.”
“Now that I’m on a break, I really want to come into visualizing a lot of the aspects of the album, especially songs that I feel are hidden gems and deserve to be highlighted,” she adds. Expect to see more from Tems off-stage, too.
Get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at her night at the MoMA, below.
