Michael Kiwanuka announces new album ‘Small Changes’
Mercury Prize-winning singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has announced details of his fourth album, Small Changes, set for release on November 15th with Polydor Records.
The upcoming LP will mark Kiwanuka’s first new record in five years, following the release of the critically acclaimed Kiwanuka in 2019. The album earned Kiwanuka a Mercury Prize win, two Brit nominations for ‘Best Male Solo Artist’ and ‘British Album of the Year’, and a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Rock Album’.
Now, Kiwanuka announces his long-awaited follow-up offering. Small Changes was produced alongside Brian Burton, also known as Danger Mouse, and Sault’s Inflo, who is also affiliated with Little Simz. According to Kiwanuka, Inflo encouraged him to follow his impulses more on this record, a process he’s not normally used to.
“In some ways, I’m the very opposite of that” the songwriter commented, “because I usually need to get to a point where I can believe in myself first, and that takes some time. Inflo’s maxim is that the moment you start second-guessing yourself, that’s when you down tools and take a break from it.”
Kiwanuka has also let go of any desire to feel “cool” on this record, hoping to make a record that completely transcends this idea. “We didn’t allow ourselves to get too hung up on or worried about being cheesy,” he explained, “We were trying to shoot for something that might have made it onto a Bill Withers album or a Sadé album.”
The announcement is accompanied by the release of two singles, ‘Lowdown (part i)’ and ‘Lowdown (part ii)’. The first part is a gentle reintroduction to Kiwanuka’s sonic world, showing off his impeccable vocals over bass-driven instrumentation. The second leans further into strings and wistful twangs.
The record will open with ‘Floating Parade’, which Kiwanuka released as a single earlier in the year, and will feature eight other new tracks. Song titles include ‘Live For Your Love’, ‘Stay By My Side’ and ‘Rebel Soul’.
Ahead of the release of Small Changes, Kiwanuka will head out on the road this Autumn for a couple of North American headline shows followed by a joint headline tour with Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard. The pair will play at a number of picturesque venues across the United States, including the Greek Theatre in California and Idaho Botanical Gardens. Tour dates in the United Kingdom and Europe are still to be announced.
Small Changes, the fourth album from Michael Kiwanuka, is set for release on November 15th.
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