Tems discusses the pressure in the music industry with Kendrick Lamar during the Tuesday, Interview magazine published.

On the pressures of success, Tems likened being in the public eye to what it must feel like for an animal in a zoo.

“You have to remember how you felt when you started as an artist, to understand the reason you’re doing what you’re doing,” she cautioned. “Yes, it’s to be seen, or to make a name for yourself, but beyond that, why are you doing it? Most of the time it’s because you have a story to share, a message to give.”

While it can be easy to “get caught up” in the expectations of a growing number of listeners, Tems added, it’s better to tune in to the expectations you have for yourself instead.

“Trusting yourself is so key, and I’m not going to stop trusting my guts just because people can see me now,” she told Lamar. “It’s like being in a zoo. The animals don’t change their behavior just because you’re looking at them. They’re always going to be who they are. So why should I change?”