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From being a nominee twice to winning the Mercury Prize in 2020, Michael Kiwanuka speaks candidly about the impact of this accolade on his life, his career, and his work. He mentions how the win freed him from the desperation for validation from his peers and certain media outlets, allowing him to focus on making records that come naturally. The realisation was particularly potent as his winning album, Kiwanuka, explored his sense of inferiority as a musician, a black man, a partner, and a friend. External validation did not silence his inner voices, but it gave him perspective.
The musician’s Glastonbury performance in June was proof of his newfound freedom. Donning a traditional tunic from Uganda, where his parents are from, Kiwanuka took to the stage, basking in the warm afternoon sun. A malfunctioning synthesiser interrupted his new song Small Changes, and the perfectionist in him laughed it off. His friend’s laugh and the crowd’s subsequent cheer made him feel as though he could do no wrong. The experience taught him that sometimes, it only takes a small, genuine moment of fallibility to put audiences on one’s side.
Since his debut album in 2012, Kiwanuka’s music has been unhurried and introspective, bucking the trend-chasing virality of modern pop. Unlike many artists, Kiwanuka fell in love with his voice again in his latest album, Small Changes. Working with producers Inflo and Danger Mouse, he created a suite of spacious, slow-burning confessionals that compel audiences to lean in and pay attention. The lyrics are full of hope, despite the melancholy that pervades his vocal tone. The album’s central themes of family and commitment are both challenging and rewarding, given that music is no longer the only priority in his life.
Chart success is something what Kiwanuka has realised, something that sticks around for a few weeks and then disappears. He focuses more on feelings like love, camaraderie, work ethics, and achievement when making his records. With his latest album, Small Changes, Michael Kiwanuka has created a genuine, gracious, and utterly first-class album that feels like a dreamy grove full of introspection
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