Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka
Kiwanuka in June 2024
Kiwanuka in June 2024
Background information
Born (1987-05-03) 3 May 1987 (age 37)
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • keyboards
Labels
Spouse
Charlotte Kiwanuka
​
(m. 2016)​
Websitemichaelkiwanuka.com

Michael Samuel Kiwanuka (born 3 May 1987) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is currently signed to Polydor Records.[3] His debut album Home Again (2012) went gold in the United Kingdom, while his second album Love & Hate (2016) debuted at the top of the charts.[4] He has been nominated for numerous honours, including Brit Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, BBC Music Awards, and Grammy Awards. He won the BBC's Sound of... in 2012 and the Mercury Prize in 2020. His most recent album, Small Changes, was released in November 2024.

Early life

Michael Samuel Kiwanuka was born in the Muswell Hill area of London on 3 May 1987, the son of Deborah and Michael Kiwanuka. His parents were Ugandan immigrants who had escaped Idi Amin's regime.[5][6] He graduated from Fortismere School in 2005,[5] then studied at the University of Westminster's School of Media, Arts, and Design.[7]

Career

Kiwanuka performing at the 2012 Montreux Jazz Festival
Kiwanuka performing in September 2024

Early years

Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist, playing with Chipmunk and Bashy before working as a solo artist.[5] His first proper gig was at The Oxford in Kentish Town at age 22.[8][9] He came to the attention of Communion Records, which released his first two EPs,[5] including his debut, Tell Me A Tale, on 13 June 2011.[10]

2011–2016: Home Again and Love & Hate

Kiwanuka supported Adele on her Adele Live 2011 tour, as well as at her iTunes Festival 2011 gig,[11] and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling.[12] In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records.[5] He was included in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and was named as the winner on 6 January 2012.[13]

Kiwanuka released his debut studio album, Home Again, in 2012 to positive reviews from critics. The album peaked at number 4 in the UK and, as of 2012, has sold over 70,000 copies in the UK.[14]

After scrapping an entire second album (due to be called Night Songs) after he was discouraged by an A&R man,[15] in 2016, Kiwanuka released his follow-up to Home Again, Love & Hate. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 1 on the UK albums chart. The album was produced by Danger Mouse and spawned several singles. The song "Cold Little Heart" was the theme of the HBO series Big Little Lies.

2018–2019: Collaborations and Kiwanuka

Kiwanuka recorded a track called "On My Knees" with UNKLE for the 2018 soundtrack to the film Roma. In 2019 he collaborated with Tom Misch on the single "Money". His own song "You Ain't the Problem" preceded his third album Kiwanuka, which was released in November 2019, again to critical and commercial success. The album placed at number 2 in the UK charts, has been gold certified for over 100,000 sales, and won the UK Mercury Music Prize for 2020,[16] his first win after his first two albums were only nominated. Danger Mouse was involved with the album, along with producer Inflo. Kiwanuka said that the choice of album name reflected his increasing confidence in being himself.[17]

2020s

In 2024, Kiwanuka announced a co-headlining tour with American rock singer-songwriter Brittany Howard.[18] In June 2024, Kiwanuka played a set on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival.[19] In July 2024, Kiwanuka released the single "Floating Parade", his first new music in three years.[20] That song appeared on his fourth studio album, Small Changes, which was released on 22 November 2024.[21]

Musical style

Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd,[22] Nirvana,[23] Ray Charles, Bill Withers,[5] Otis Redding,[5] Jack Johnson, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, Pops Staples, The Band, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Dobie Gray, Wham!, Richie Havens, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Rod Stewart, Sly and the Family Stone, and Funkadelic.[24] He has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.[25]

Among others, Kiwanuka’s musical style has been compared to Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and Terry Callier.[26]

Personal life

Kiwanuka and his wife Charlotte, a Christian musician, married in 2016.[17][27] They have lived in Southampton since 2019.[15] Kiwanuka has openly discussed his struggles with anxiety and other mental health issues.[26] He is a practising Christian[28] and a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur FC.[29]

Discography

Main article: Michael Kiwanuka discography

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Work Result
2011 BBC Sound of 2012[13] — Won
2012 Brit Awards Critics' Choice[30] — Nominated
Barclaycard Mercury Prize[31] Home Again
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Push Act[32] —
2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize[33] Love & Hate
Q Awards Best Solo Artist[34] —
MOBO Awards Best Album[35] Love & Hate
Best R&B / Soul Act[35] —
LOS40 Music Awards Critics' Award — Won[note 1]
BBC Music Awards Album of the Year[36] Love & Hate Nominated
2017 Brit Awards British Male Solo Artist —
British Album of the Year Love & Hate
Worldwide Awards Album of the Year[37] Won
HiPipo Music Awards Best Global Act
2019 Rough Trade Albums of the Year
[38][39] 		Kiwanuka Included
BBC Radio 6 Music #3
2020 Brit Awards British Male Solo Artist — Nominated
British Album of the Year Kiwanuka
Hyundai Mercury Prize[40] Won
63rd Annual Grammy Awards Best Rock Album[41] Nominated

References

  1. ^ Bassett, Jordan (4 November 2019). "Michael Kiwanuka interview - "Young black men can easily get into quite dangerous circles – black people know what it's like" - NME.com". NME. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate review – soul-searching with the tang of authenticity". TheGuardian.com. 14 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Artists – Polydor Records". Polydor Records. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka". Forbes.com. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Doyle, Tom (2012) "The Soul Man", Mojo, February 2012, p. 68-9
  6. ^ Charlotte Richardson Andrews (5 May 2011). "First sight: Michael Kiwanuka". Theguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Alumnus tops BBC Sound of 2012 poll". Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka – My Community – #SupportMusic – Sponsored By Levi's® Music Project". YouTube. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Ich Bin Kentishtowner: Michael Kiwanuka, singer-songwriter". Kentishtowner.co.uk. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Introducing: Michael Kiwanuka". TwentyFourBit.com. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Agenda: Kat Maconie; Michael Kiwanuka; Limanation; Pan Am; Transform festival". The Independent. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Frankie And The Heartstrings, Michael Kiwanuka and Lissie added to Hard Rock Calling bill". Nme.com. IPC Media. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Sound of – 2012 – Michael Kiwanuka". BBC Music. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Charts EU Airplay Week 18 (p.32)". Music Week. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  15. ^ a b "Michael Kiwanuka: 'I'm living my dream. And I was wasting it with thoughts of inferiority'". the Guardian. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka wins the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize". www.mercuryprize.com. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Mercury Prize-winner Michael Kiwanuka: 'I am not an imposter'". BBC News. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  18. ^ Pearis, Bill (23 April 2024). "Brittany Howard & Michael Kiwanuka announce fall co-headline tour (BrooklynVegan presale for Central Park show)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  19. ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; Murray, Robin (29 June 2024). "Glastonbury 2024: Michael Kiwanuka Shines On Pyramid Stage | Live".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka returns with new single 'Floating Parade'". Mystic Sons. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  21. ^ Garratt-Stanley, Fred (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka – 'Small Changes' review: a homely, life-affirming listen". NME. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Beyond Soul: Michael Kiwanuka Grapples with Being a Black Man in a White World". The New York Observer. 30 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka is Listening to Nirvana, Isaac Hayes, and Hey Arnold!". Interview Magazine. 30 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Soundtrack: Michael Kiwanuka". Port-magazine.com. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka: Singing with his soul on his sleeve". BBC News. 16 June 2011.
  26. ^ a b "Michael Kiwanuka: 'I'm living my dream. And I was wasting it with thoughts of inferiority'". TheGuardian.com. 6 October 2019.
  27. ^ Henderson, Archie (12 May 2022). "New Single from Manor Collective 'Shelter'". Keep The Faith. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  28. ^ Cummings, Tony (7 January 2020). "Michael Kiwanuka: The British Ugandan with an album "among the decade's best"". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Michael Kiwanuka on N17 Live on Sunday". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  30. ^ Guardian Staff (12 January 2012). "Brit awards 2012: nominations in full". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  31. ^ Amy Phillips and Evan Minsker. (12 September 2012). "Mercury Prize Nominees Announced". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  32. ^ Hardie, Beth (17 September 2012). "A total sex pot (Rihanna) and a sweet innocent lass (Taylor Swift) are going to have a fight". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Mercury Prize 2016: David Bowie gets posthumous nomination". BBC News. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  34. ^ "StubHub Q Awards 2016 shortlist announced! Vote now to decide this year's winners". Qthemusic.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  35. ^ a b "2016 MOBO AWARDS NOMINATIONS: GET THE FULL LIST NOW | MOBO Awards". Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  36. ^ "BBC Music – BBC Music Awards 2016 – The Nominees". Bbc.co.uk. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  37. ^ "WWA 2017 // Album of the Year Shortlist // Vote Now | Gilles Peterson". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  38. ^ "Albums of the Year – 2019". Rough Trade Records. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  39. ^ "6 Music Recommends Albums Of The Year 2019". BBC Radio 6 Music. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  40. ^ "The 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year'". Mercury Prize. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  41. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners List". GRAMMY.com. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.

Notes

  1. ^ Ex aequo with Love of Lesbian.

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