Michael Kiwanuka is a British music artist who combines two non-standard styles at once - soul and folk Ugandan music. The performance of such songs requires a low voice and rather raucous vocals.
The youth of the future artist Michael Kiwanuka
Michael was born to a family that fled Uganda in 1987. Uganda was not then considered a country where one could live in good conditions, so the parents decided to run away from there.
Their next habitat was England, where the boy had the opportunity not only to study, but also to become a musician. Michael listened to rock bands, was fond of their work and gradually learned a style that was not standard for him.
During his school years, the guy had a chance to learn many rock bands. Among them are Radiohead, Blur. However, the Nirvana group with the legendary Kurt Cobain made a significant impact on the guy. He played some of the band's songs at school, trying to emulate the frontman's unique style.
Professional training by Michael Kiwanuk
Time passed, and the guy who studied at school became more mature. He studied various styles at the Royal Academy of Music in England. However, the guy chose jazz. Then the young musician moved to the University of Westminster, where pop music became the next genre for knowledge.
Then he heard the song The Dock on the Bay, which inspired him to a non-standard decision - to change the style in such a way that it fits his desires.
To create such a unique style, Michael decided to use the work of other popular artists. Among them was even Bob Dylan, whose music inspired him.
After major changes in the musical style, the singer created his own styles that suited him. He combined soul and blues, folk rock and gospel and more. The guy had great ideas, and he brought them to life with his own ideas.
Michael Kiwanuka: Becoming a Musician
While the guy was working with non-standard styles, he needed to declare himself to the general public. This would help him become famous and also learn about the reaction of listeners to his musical tastes. Michael became a session musician and ended up on James Gadson's recordings.
A little later, he decided to speak in public. However, it was difficult to immediately sing for a significant number of people, so for now he settled on London clubs.
Days passed, and Michael Kiwanuka spoke. And one of the finest days he was noticed by Paul Buttler, who was a musician of The Bees.
Then Paul decided that the guy should be given a chance and decided to do it right in the bar. He invited Michael to his studio where he could record some songs.
Michael Kiwanuka's first career contract
In 2011, the artist has already signed his first professional contract. He managed to conclude an agreement with the label Communion. It was owned by the Mumford & Sons group. It was there that the artist released 2 songs at once: Tell Me a Tale and I'm Getting Ready.
Opening for Adele
Naturally, such a decision only benefited the performer, which became known very soon. But he managed to get wide popularity thanks to the singer Adele.
The singer was popular all over the world, so a significant number of people went to her concerts. But before the big stars perform, listeners should be "warmed up" by less popular singers. This is exactly what Michael Kiwanuka became. He participated "in the opening act", and there the audience managed to notice him.
A little later, Michael was shortlisted for Brits Critics Choice. There he managed to win 3rd place. Then the singer was recognized as one of the best young talents of 2011 in the musical field.
Michael Kiwanuka Career Decisive Award
Moreover, after some time, the performer managed to receive another award, which became decisive in his career. It was the Most Promising Artist of 2012 award and presented by BBC Sound.
As a result, the musician began to gradually release his own tracks, organize a tour, and meet with fans. He was able to create unique songs that were memorable and were Ugandan folk music audio recordings.
In 2016, he released an album that indicated that the artist would be engaged in soul songs, dedicating music to the folk traditions of Uganda. The album was called Love & Hate.
Michael Kiwanuka has created numerous songs throughout his career. One of the most famous is Cold Little Heart. She managed to gain more than 90 million plays on the popular YouTube platform, where the performer managed to collect more than 90% of successful reviews from listeners. Today the musician is known to the public. He arranges a tour, records various audio recordings and communicates with his "fans".
