Michael Kiwanuka

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.

• Name — Michael Kiwanuka • Born — 3 May 1987 • Birthplace — London, England • Genre — * Indie rock • folk rock • soul • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • musician • record producer • Instrument — * Vocals • guitar • bass • keyboards • Label — * Polydor • Communion • Website — michaelkiwanuka.com

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.

• Illustration — Kiwanuka performing at the 2012 Montreux Jazz Festival • Illustration — Kiwanuka performing in September 2024

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.

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, 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" was the theme of the HBO series Big Little Lies.

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, 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.

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", his first new music in three years. That song appeared on his fourth studio album, Small Changes, 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.

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.

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.

Michael Kiwanuka is recorded as singer-songwriter, musician, composer, singer and guitarist.