Spotify, the renowned music streaming platform, has strengthened the connection between fans and Nigerian artists Temilade Openiyi (Tems) and Douglas Agu (Runtown) through its unique Surround Sound live performance series in Lagos.
According to a statement released on Monday, Surround Sound is a live performance format launched in Sub-Saharan Africa, designed to bring artists and their fans together in intimate settings while capturing these performances as full-length music films.
Spotify revealed that selected premium listeners were invited to the exclusive two-night event at Livespot, based on their listening habits, to enjoy the artists up close and personal in an immersive, in-the-round environment. There were no public ticket sales; instead, invitations were extended directly to fans most engaged with the performers’ music, explained Rifumo Mdaka, Spotify’s Format and Video Strategy Lead.
The format was curated to foster a closer artist-fan experience, while also accommodating the technical needs of filming the performances.
During her set, Tems performed songs from her debut EP, ‘For Broken Ears’, including ‘Ice T’ and ‘Damages’, as well as earlier hits like ‘Mr Rebel’ and ‘Try Me’. She also treated the audience to later releases such as ‘Love Me JeJe’ and ‘What You Need’, guiding fans through the different chapters of her musical journey. Tems further enhanced the experience by inviting the audience to sing along, making them an integral part of the performance.
On the second night, Runtown took the stage, opening with ‘Lagos to Kampala’ and ‘Gallardo’, and delivering crowd favorites including ‘For Life’, ‘International Badman Killa’, ‘Unleash’, and ‘Kini Issue’. A highlight of the evening was his performance of the hit song ‘Mad Over You’, which he played twice—opening and closing his set—eliciting enthusiastic audience participation.
Ahead of the event, Runtown shared his excitement about performing with his band for the first time in a decade and looked forward to reconnecting with his fans.
Spotify announced that the performances were filmed and will be released as ‘Surround Sound presents Tems’ and ‘Surround Sound presents Runtown’, with release dates to be announced soon.
