Tems and Runtown Bring Spotify’s Surround Sound Experience to Lagos

Nigerian music stars Tems and Runtown have taken centre stage at Spotify’s first Surround Sound live performance experience in Lagos, giving selected fans an intimate opportunity to experience their music from a much closer range.

The two night showcase took place at Livespot, Lagos, on September 25 and 26, with Tems performing on the first night and Runtown taking the stage the following evening. Unlike a conventional concert, the event was not open to public ticket sales. Spotify invited selected Premium listeners based on their listening activity on the platform.

Spotify’s Surround Sound format was launched from Sub Saharan Africa to create a more personal connection between artistes and their audiences. The performances are staged in an intimate, in-the-round setting and filmed for release as full length music films.

Tems used her performance to revisit different stages of her musical journey. Her set included songs from her debut EP, For Broken Ears, such as “Ice T” and “Damages,” alongside earlier records including “Mr Rebel” and “Try Me.” She also performed later songs such as “Love Me JeJe” and “What You Need.”

The singer also reflected on the creation of “Free Mind,” recalling how she experimented with chords while making the song. Throughout the performance, she encouraged fans to sing along, turning the intimate venue into a shared experience between the artiste and her audience.

Runtown brought a different chapter of Nigerian music history to the second night. The singer opened his set with “Lagos to Kampala” and “Gallardo” before moving through songs including “For Life,” “International Badman Killa,” “Unleash” and “Kini Issue.”

One of the biggest moments of the night came with his 2016 hit “Mad Over You.” After performing the song once, Runtown returned to it for a second performance to close the show, with fans joining him in singing along. The performance also marked a personal milestone for the artiste, who said it was his first performance with his band in 10 years.

Spotify said the decision to invite listeners based on their listening behaviour was designed to make the experience more personal. According to Spotify Format and Video Strategy Lead Rifumo Mdaka, the limited-capacity room allowed the company to bring selected fans closer to the artistes while maintaining an environment suitable for filming.

Both performances were filmed for upcoming releases titled “Surround Sound presents Tems” and “Surround Sound presents Runtown.” Spotify is expected to announce the release dates for the music films later.

Beyond the performances themselves, the Lagos showcase demonstrates how streaming platforms are increasingly creating physical experiences around the music listeners consume online. For Tems and Runtown, it also provided an opportunity to reconnect with fans through songs that have remained significant at different points in their careers.