## Tems takes major film music step with Children of Blood and Bone soundtrack role

Tems is taking another major step beyond recording hit songs, with the Nigerian superstar set to help shape the entire musical identity of upcoming Hollywood fantasy film Children of Blood and Bone.

The Grammy-winning singer has been named Executive Music Producer and Curator of the film's official soundtrack, putting her in charge of helping select and shape the music audiences will hear alongside the highly anticipated adaptation.

And she will not only be working behind the scenes.

Tems is also contributing three brand-new songs to the soundtrack, giving fans fresh music while allowing her to expand her creative work further into film.

What Tems will do on Children of Blood and Bone

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood announced Tems' involvement during a trailer launch event for the Paramount Pictures film at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

Tems' manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, later confirmed the news publicly, announcing her as Executive Music Producer and Curator and teasing the three new songs.

Prince-Bythewood has explained that Tems' music was already influencing the project during the writing process. Her song “Try Me” was among the tracks the filmmaker repeatedly listened to while developing the movie.

That influence eventually grew into something much bigger: Tems being asked to curate and executive produce the soundtrack.

The project will also have plenty of Nigerian star power. Burna Boy is serving as Executive Music Consultant, while Fireboy DML, BNXN and Ayra Starr are among the Nigerian artists connected to the soundtrack.

Why the Tems soundtrack role is a major career move

For Tems, Children of Blood and Bone represents a shift from being an artist whose music appears in film to having significant creative responsibility for how a major movie sounds.

Prince-Bythewood described the appointment as particularly significant, saying Tems is the first woman to executive produce a soundtrack at this level.

It also builds on Tems' previous connection to film music.

She co-wrote Rihanna's “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a song that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. This time, however, her responsibility is much broader.

Instead of contributing to one track, she is helping curate an entire soundtrack while supplying original music of her own.

Why fans care about Tems moving into film music

The excitement surrounding Tems film music reflects how much movie soundtracks can expand an artist's reach.

A major soundtrack can introduce music to audiences who may never have actively searched for an artist's album. It also gives musicians the opportunity to create around characters, emotions and stories rather than working only within the world of their own records.

For Nigerian fans, there is another reason to pay attention.

Children of Blood and Bone is based on Nigerian-American author Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling fantasy novel, which draws heavily from West African culture and mythology. Having Tems lead its soundtrack, alongside several other Nigerian artists, gives contemporary Nigerian music a major role in bringing that world to the screen.

The film itself has an international cast that includes Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris and Amandla Stenberg.

It is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on January 15, 2027.

For Tems, the project represents another expansion of what her career can look like. She has already moved from Lagos alternative music favourite to Grammy winner and global star.

Now, the Tems soundtrack conversation shows her taking another step — from performing the music to helping decide how a major Hollywood story should sound.