Getting to know: Michael Kiwanuka

Kiwanuka’s timeless and a soul fueled music has always been executed with a warm vintage production quality, powerful vocals and stunning arrangements.

 

Born in 1987 to Ugandan parents, Kiwanuka started his musical journey by attending the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster. Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist and then began focusing on his solo career, releasing his first EP, Tell Me a Tale – The Isle of Wight Sessions in 2011. That same year, Kiwanuka supported Adele on her live tour.

 

Kiwanuka was announced as the BBC Sound of 2012 just months before the release of his debut album, Home Again. Kiwanuka’s vocals stand strong at the centre of the record, as his stripped-back folk songs are often accompanied by subtle and harmonious string, wind and brass sections. What’s present in this record is an undeniable nod to the great soul acts of the 1960s such as Al Green, Bill Withers and Otis Redding. It is refreshing yet familiar and the album earned Kiwanuka his first Mercury Prize nomination. That same year, Kiwanuka was nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award and a Brit Award for Rising Star.  

 

Kiwanuka released his second album, Love & Hate, in 2016. The album debuted at number one in the UK and saw Kiwanuka gain major exposure in America as the album’s opening track Cold Little Heart was featured as the theme song for the HBO show Big Little Lies. That same year, two of Kiwanuka’s tracks from Love & Hate were reworked by New York hip hop artist Nas and featured in the Netflix series The Get Down.

Kiwanuka’s sophomore album featured the exquisite songwriting present on his first album, but with Love & Hate, the production of the album was developed further thanks to the expertise of American producer and one half of Gnarls Barkley, Danger Mouse. Once again, Kiwanuka was nominated for the 2016 Mercury Prize and he was also nominated for two MOBO Awards that same year. 

In 2019, Michael Kiwanuka released his third album, Kiwanuka. The album hit number two in the UK charts and received raving reviews. The album demonstrates Kiwanuka’s development as an artist once again as he fuses soul with psychedelic rock guitar, hip hop influenced drums and orchestral string arrangements. Kiwanuka sounds confident, mature and more soulful than ever. The album features a stunning range of dynamics as it begins with the explosive You Ain’t The Problem yet also features one of Kiwanuka’s gentlest offerings in Piano Joint (This Kind of Love). Kiwanuka see’s Danger Mouse return to production duty and the end result feels like a glorious celebration of where Kiwanuka is at this stage of his career.

For Kiwanuka, it was three out of three as his third album was once again nominated for the Mercury Prize. This time around, the prize was all his. Outstandingly humble, Kiwanuka was awarded the Mercury Prize by Annie Mac in September 2020. 

Michael Kiwanuka has established a strong following in Ireland throughout his whole career. One of his first shows in the country was upstairs at The Grand Social in 2011. The following year Kiwanuka played Electric Picnic and The Sugar Club. When he returned in 2016, Kiwanuka performed a headline show at The Academy. Last year, Kiwanuka returned to Electric Picnic and one to save for the diaries, the Mercury Prize winner is set to play the Trinity Summer Series in 2021.

Michael Kiwanuka has delivered three stunning and sincere albums which are beautifully charged with emotion, hope and honesty.