Michael Kiwanuka

Biography

Michael Samuel Kiwanuka (born 3 May 1987) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is currently signed to Polydor Records. His debut album Home Again×Home Again1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Tell Me a Tale4:102I'm Getting Ready2:213I'll Get Along3:274Rest3:505Home Again3:306Bones3:467Always Waiting4:308I Won't Lie4:019Any Day Will Do Fine3:3810Worry Walks Beside Me4:57Disc 211They Say I'm Doing Just Fine3:4012Now I'm Seeing2:3313Ode to You3:2114I'll Get Along3:2715I Won't Lie4:01 (2012) went gold in the United Kingdom, while his second album Love & Hate×Love & Hate27 May 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Cold Little Heart2Black Man in a White World3Falling4Place I Belong5Love & Hate6One More Night7I’ll Never Love8Rule the World9Father’s Child10The Final Frame (2016) debuted at the top of the charts. 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×Small Changes15 November 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Floating Parade3:502Small Changes4:063One and Only4:324Rebel Soul3:275Lowdown (Part I)3:156Lowdown (Part II)2:397Follow Your Dreams3:408Live for Your Love2:299Stay by My Side3:4310The Rest of Me3:5111Four Long Years4:41, 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. He graduated from Fortismere School in 2005, then studied at the University of Westminster's School of Media, Arts, and Design.

Early years

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

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, and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling. In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records. He was included in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and was named as the winner on 6 January 2012.
Kiwanuka released his debut studio album, Home Again×Home Again1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Tell Me a Tale4:102I'm Getting Ready2:213I'll Get Along3:274Rest3:505Home Again3:306Bones3:467Always Waiting4:308I Won't Lie4:019Any Day Will Do Fine3:3810Worry Walks Beside Me4:57Disc 211They Say I'm Doing Just Fine3:4012Now I'm Seeing2:3313Ode to You3:2114I'll Get Along3:2715I Won't Lie4:01, 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.
After scrapping an entire second album (due to be called Night Songs) after he was discouraged by an A&R man, 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×Cold Little Heart24 February 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Cold Little Heart (radio edit)3:30" 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×Money18 June 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Money4:52". His own song "You Ain't the Problem×You Ain't the Problem13 August 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1You Ain't the Problem4:09" preceded his third album Kiwanuka×KIWANUKA25 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1You Ain’t the Problem4:092Rolling2:523I’ve Been Dazed4:254Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (intro)2:185Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)3:526Another Human Being (interlude)1:527Living in Denial3:318Hero4:399Hard to Say Goodbye7:0610Final Days4:1111Interlude (Loving the People)2:4212Solid Ground3:5313Light5:45, 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, his first win after his first two albums were 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.

2020s: Small Changes and Fudge

In 2024, Kiwanuka announced a co-headlining tour with American rock singer-songwriter Brittany Howard. In June 2024, Kiwanuka played a set on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival. In July 2024, Kiwanuka released the single "Floating Parade×Floating Parade10 July 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Floating Parade3:50", his first new music in three years. That song appeared on his fourth studio album, Small Changes×Small Changes15 November 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Floating Parade3:502Small Changes4:063One and Only4:324Rebel Soul3:275Lowdown (Part I)3:156Lowdown (Part II)2:397Follow Your Dreams3:408Live for Your Love2:299Stay by My Side3:4310The Rest of Me3:5111Four Long Years4:41, which was released on 22 November 2024.
Having completed a headlining tour of the UK and Europe in February, in July 2025, Kiwanuka cancelled European festival dates, including at Sziget Festival, due to "continued illness", as reported by his management team. He also was forced to pull out of a support slot for Mumford & Sons through North America later that year.
In September 2026, it was announced that Kiwanuka's fifth studio album, Fudge×FUDGE23 October 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Summer Clothes4:262California5:283Just Another Moment6:274Drowning In Your Heart4:175Love In My Heart7:106Across The Sky3:227Stars5:118You Sent Me Flying4:579Move In My Direction4:1810Steve's Paradise6:0011Sing6:1212Swings and Roundabouts3:26, would be set for release 23 October 2026, having previously been confirmed and reviewed in several music publications the year before.

Musical style

Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, 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, Jim Croce, Bobby Womack, Sly and the Family Stone, and Funkadelic. He has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.
Among others, Kiwanuka’s musical style has been compared to Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and Terry Callier.

Personal life

Kiwanuka and his wife Charlotte, a Christian musician, married in 2016. They have lived in Southampton since 2019. Kiwanuka has openly discussed his struggles with anxiety and other mental health issues. He is a practising Christian and a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur FC.
In September 2026, Kiwanuka announced on his Instagram that he recently suffered a severe stroke as a result of high blood pressure, and that he is currently undergoing rehabilitation, which resulted in several live dates cancelled and the release of his album Fudge×FUDGE23 October 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Summer Clothes4:262California5:283Just Another Moment6:274Drowning In Your Heart4:175Love In My Heart7:106Across The Sky3:227Stars5:118You Sent Me Flying4:579Move In My Direction4:1810Steve's Paradise6:0011Sing6:1212Swings and Roundabouts3:26 being delayed until October 2026.