By the time she launched Leading Vibe Radio, Tems was already a global force. The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer had built an unstoppable rise, from her breakout on “Essence” with Wizkid, to Grammy wins, to collaborations with Drake and Future. But this time, she wasn’t releasing a track. She was creating a platform, one rooted in culture, identity, and leadership. And she needed visuals that could carry that message with clarity, power, and soul.
Leading Vibe Radio was never meant to be just a podcast. Tems described it as “helping people become leaders, helping people find their own voice, their own sound, their own thing.” This wasn’t content for content’s sake, it was a channel for transformation. The visuals had to feel intentional, unapologetic, and deeply connected to her roots.
The Challenge
The biggest challenge was shaping a visual world that could fully hold Tems, her voice, her message, her vision. We started inspired by the French duo Icinori—their intricate landscapes and layered palettes sparked our first sketches, especially that early red-tone version. It felt rich, but also distant, like it belonged to another place. As we dug deeper into African visual culture and symbolic language, everything changed. The imagery became more grounded, more textured, more hers. Our first draft leaned heavily on illustration, but it wasn’t until we introduced collage, stop motion, cel animation, and hand-painted elements that the world felt lived-in. It was also our first time working in true mixed media, which stretched us technically,but also let the piece evolve into something bigger than style. It became a visual foundation for Leading Vibe Radio, and a reflection of the world Tems was building, layered, intentional, and fully alive.
How Tems Turned a Podcast Into a F*cking Red Flag
Leading Vibe Radio premiered on Apple Music 1, placing Tems alongside iconic voices like Elton John and Lady Gaga, not just as an artist, but as a storyteller and cultural leader. The launch visuals became the backbone of that identity: bold reds, layered textures, and an aesthetic grounded in care, power, and intentionality. But the impact didn’t stop there. The show became the seed for the Leading Vibe Initiative, a mentorship program aimed at closing gender gaps in the music industry, where women still represent only ~22% of artists and less than 3% of producers. The first cohort launched in Lagos in partnership with Native Instruments and Hennessy, offering hands-on mentorship and tools to 20 rising African women creatives. Leading Vibe Radio wasn’t just a show, it became a real-world platform for equity, representation, and legacy.
Credits
Animator
Camilo Ruiz
Creative Director
Rafatoon
Position member 3
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