British-Nigerian spoken word artist Temi T will release her new single Painted Intentions on 29 August. The track marks a personal and reflective moment for the artist, who describes it as her most vulnerable work to date.
Combining elements of spoken word, jazz, R&B, and hip hop, Painted Intentions explores themes of friendship breakdown, identity, and reclaiming one’s story. Written in response to the end of a ten-year friendship, the song reflects on the quiet grief of platonic heartbreak and the experience of being misunderstood or misrepresented.
“The title reflects how people can create entire stories about you, paint versions of you in their mind, and treat you based on that image,” Temi says. “Recording this was my way of seeking closure and finding healing in my truth.”
The track follows Temi’s 2023 debut album Love Is Not a Medicine, which examined relationships, resilience, and self-reflection, and included the viral single Summer Romance.
Temi has previously performed at Soho House and Africa’s Biggest Talk Concert, and appeared on Voices Radio and BMC Radio. She continues to develop her sound while working on her next full-length project, scheduled for release in 2025.
