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Michael Kiwanuka wins the Sound of 2012!
Michael Kiwanuka is the BBC Sound of 2012 winner. Not many artists highlighted by BBC Sound of over the years can claim to be influenced by a free covermount CD on a magazine. That is the tale of Michael Kiwanuka however, he left early musical loves Nirvana and Radiohead behind when he came upon a rare recording of Otis Redding's Sitting On The Dock of the Bay on a magazine tribute to Bob Dylan.
Kiwanuka's soul had a new rootsy-folk direction, drawing influences from John Martyn alongside Pop Staples and Bill Withers and it wasn't long before his unique voice had attracted the attention of Paul Butler from the Bees, who took him to the Isle of Wight to work on EP Tell Me The Tale. Soon Communion Records had signed the 24 year-old up and Adele had invited the Londoner on her landmark 2011 tour.
Laura Marling arrived with the next tour offer, while an unflappable Kiwanuka stole the show among Bjork, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Noel Gallagher on the final Later... with Jools Holland of the series. 2012 is sure to bring many more triumphs.
Articles and Features
BBC News announce Sound of 2012 winner
Read the full article 06/01/12
"Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka has come top of the BBC Sound of 2012 list..."
Michael Kiwanuka interview
Read the full article 06/01/12
"Kiwanuka is blessed with a voice so soulful and mature it appears to have been beamed in directly from Memphis in 1972..."
Sabotage Times interview
Read the full article 28/11/11
"He grew up listening to Radiohead & Nirvana and plays the guitar... so how on earth is Michael Kiwanuka making his case as North London's answer to Bill Withers..."
Guardian New Band Of The Day (No 1029)
Read the full article 24/05/11
"There's nothing original about this British retro-soul man - but when you sound like Bill Withers, Van Morrison and the Temptations maybe that's not such a bad thing..."
Comments
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Sound of 2012 Artists
Last Played On the BBC
- I'm Getting Ready
- Jamie Owen and Louise Elliott 23/02/2012
- Always Waiting
- Late Night Jukebox 23/02/2012
- I'm Getting Ready
- Jo Whiley 22/02/2012
Upcoming UK live dates
Most Played Tracks
- I'm Getting Ready
Scrobbles 12705 - Listeners 4780
- Tell Me A Tale
Scrobbles 8494 - Listeners 2798
- I Need Your Company
Scrobbles 4942 - Listeners 1755
- I Need You By My Side
Scrobbles 4134 - Listeners 1617
- Any Day Will Do Fine
Scrobbles 3620 - Listeners 1429
- Powered by Last.FM
Artist Links
- BBC Music Page on Michael Kiwanuka
- Official homepage at michaelkiwanuka.com
- Youtube at youtube.com/user/MichaelKiwanukaMusic
- Microblog at twitter.com/michaelkiwanuka
- Myspace at myspace.com/mikeksongs
- Wikipedia article on Michael Kiwanuka
- Last.fm at Michael Kiwanuka
- Musicbrainz at Michael Kiwanuka
BBC links
BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
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Comment number 2.
Ted Martin9th January 2012 - 18:52
Hi,
Who can tell me how to participate to this challenge, please?
Ted
Link to this (Comment number 2)
Comment number 1.
Kabiyesi8th January 2012 - 15:44
MK reminds me of the deep, undiluted and natural soul/jazz drops of the 60s to the very early 70s. Thank you for your life, imagination, and doggedness for not going the way your hip-hop age group has "slaughtered" music and made it a theme for gang culture
Link to this (Comment number 1)