London Music Award nomination Michael Kiwanuka: ‘The 24-year-old sounds like the sort of classic soul man who emerged from the US in the late 1960s or 1970s – specifically Otis Redding or Bill Withers. Yet Kiwanuka's stark and haunting music is more stripped down…his vocal cords were made to sing soul.’

The Guardian: ‘The 24-year-old sounds like the sort of classic soul man who emerged from the US in the late 1960s or 1970s – specifically Otis Redding or Bill Withers. Yet Kiwanuka's stark and haunting music is more stripped down…his vocal cords were made to sing soul. His music is unashamedly retro: Tell Me a Tale has the breezy feel of Van Morrison's Moondance and a brilliant mid-song gear-change, but the likes of Worry Walks Beside Me have a troubled, bleak beauty that resonates with our times.’

Kiwanuka’s soulful tones lull you to a time of flared satin trousers and frayed jeans. The gentle notes of his Memphis-esque voice and acoustic guitar seem effortless and creamy as a bowl of sweet potato. But, don’t be fooled by the warmth of Kiwanuka’s voice, it belies darker lyrics and phrases which hint at an underlying sadness. Such as the line in Home Again ‘one day I hope to make you smile again’ and in I’m getting ready, which expresses a surrender from turmoil ‘Oh no more looking down, Honey/Can’t you see me?/ Oh Lord I’m getting ready to believe.’ Kiwanuka’s music is seeped through with the great soul and jazz artists who have proceeded him, such as Shuggie Otis, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye and Roberta Flack, who he names as inspiration for his debut album Home Again. Yet, his music is no imitation of these legends, Kiwanuka has created his own distinguished sound that combines retro soul with lyrics that have a distinct modernity. It is clear that Michael Kiwanuka is the real deal.