Michael Kiwanuka has shared his tranquil new single ‘Rebel Soul’ and announced a string of intimate UK tour dates.
READ MORE: Michael Kiwanuka – ‘KIWANUKA’ review: brave experimentation and hard-won self-knowledge
The singer shared the fourth single form his upcoming record ‘Small Changes‘, due to be released on November 15. ‘Small Changes’ was produced alongside Danger Mouse and Inflo, who also produced the Mercury Prize-winning ‘Kiwanuka’.
Previously, Kiwanuka has released ‘Lowdown’ Parts I and II, ‘Floating Parade‘ and ‘The Rest Of Me’ in anticipation of the album.
‘Small Changes’ was inspired by the birth of Kiwanuka’s two children and moving out of his hometown London. He also stated in a press release that the album was motivated by the desire to transcend what’s deemed “cool”, adding: “We were trying to shoot for something that might have made it onto a Bill Withers album or a Sade album.”
In addition, Kiwanuka has announced an intimate UK tour just before he embarks on his UK and European headline tour in February 2025. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (October 25) – get your tickets here and see the full tour dates below:
Michael Kiwanuka’s 2024/2025 tour is:
NOVEMBER
23 – HMV, Birmingham
24 – Jacaranda Baltic, Liverpool (in association with Jacaranda)
25 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (in association with Crash)
27 – The Level, Nottingham (in association with Rough Trade)
28 – Pryzm, Kingston Upon Thames (in association with Banquet)
DECEMBER
2 – The 1865, Southampton (in association with Vinilo)
FEBRUARY 2025
25 – Sporthalle, Hamburg
26 – AFAS Live, Amsterdam [SOLD OUT]
28 – Le Zénith, Paris
MARCH 2025
1 – Forest National, Brussels [SOLD OUT]
3 – Alcatraz, Milan
4 – Halle 622, Zurich
6 – Zenith, Munich
7 – Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt
9 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
10 – Eventim Apollo, London [SOLD OUT]
12 – Usher Hall, Edinburgh [SOLD OUT]
13 – O2 Apollo, Manchester [SOLD OUT]
NME last caught up with the musician in 2019 upon the release of his five-star album ‘KIWANUKA’.
In our conversation, Kiwanuka reflected on his identity and its complicated relationship with guitar music: “I’m a black man and the music I make isn’t necessarily specific to who I could be typecast as,” he told NME.
“I was into guitar and rock’n’roll music, as well as soul, jazz and ‘70s music. People were like, ‘Your music taste is crazy!’ People thought I was this crazy weird black guy from Muswell Hill that plays guitar. They assumed I was this rich kid and that I didn’t understand anything.
“I was always desperate to be a bit bland. I don’t know why you would want that… Maybe you just think you’re gonna have an easier life and no-one’s gonna mention things.” You can watch our full chat down below:
In other news, Michael Kiwanuka has expressed his fears that touring costs could put off musicians: “I worry the quality of artists may diminish”.
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