Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka is a British singer-songwriter born on May 3, 1987 in Muswell Hill, London, to parents of Ugandan origin who fled the regime of Idi Amin. His music fuses soul, folk and blues with a strong narrative streak and a particular focus on themes of identity, spirituality and human relationships.

From a young age, Kiwanuka showed an interest in music, learning to play guitar and developing a passion for artists like Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Jimi Hendrix. He studied at the BRIT School, the same school attended by artists such as Adele and Amy Winehouse, and began his career as a session guitarist before deciding to go solo.

His debut album, "Home Again", was released in 2012. Marked by a sound that harks back to '70s soul, the album includes tracks like "Home Again" and "I'm Getting Ready". The record received glowing reviews and was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize, cementing Kiwanuka's status as one of the most promising voices on the British music scene.

In 2016, Kiwanuka released "Love & Hate", an album produced by Danger Mouse that marked a turning point in his musical style. More ambitious and orchestral than its predecessor, the album tackles themes of alienation and self-understanding. The single "Cold Little Heart" became a global hit, helped along by its use in the soundtrack of the TV series "Big Little Lies". The record received unanimous critical acclaim and reached number one on the British charts.

His third album, "Kiwanuka", released in 2019, consolidates the British singer-songwriter's growth. With tracks like "You Ain't the Problem" and "Hero", the album blends elements of psychedelia, soul and funk, delivering powerful lyrics that explore themes such as racism, identity and resistance.

Kiwanuka won the Mercury Prize in 2020, establishing himself as one of the most significant figures on the contemporary soul scene. His music is a journey between past and present, with sounds drawing on soul and blues tradition yet renewed through modern, experimental arrangements. His warm, deep voice and his ability to tell personal and universal stories alike have helped make his style a genuinely original one, earning him numerous accolades, including BBC Sound of 2012, as well as collaborations with internationally renowned artists.

In 2024 came his new album, "Small Changes". If the title seems like a call to arms against the modern notion that demands constant reinvention, Kiwanuka, flanked once again by his inseparable producers Danger Mouse and Inflo, delivers an album with no ambition to revolutionize his style, but rather to reinforce it with small adjustments.

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