If you want to be the coolest person at Starbucks this week (and next month/next year/forever), you're going to need to pour some Michael Kiwanuka into your life. With a voice that sounds like it's been frozen in carbonite since 1967, the 24-year-old British soul man has drawn comparisons to American greats such as Otis Redding and scored a record deal with Interscope. He's also toured with Adele (hang on, make that HE'S ALSO TOURED WITH ADELE) and was the recent winner of the BBC's influential Sound of 2012 poll, topping 2011 breakthroughs such as Frank Ocean, Skrillex and A$AP Rocky. I think this calls for a "Boom goes the dynamite!"
But Kiwanuka's music speaks for itself. Rather than channel Redding's rhythmic, upbeat style, Kiwanuka's songs are gentle tapestries of acoustic guitars and string arrangements woven to cradle his sublime vocals. It's the sort of classic, crooner-era sound musicians from M. Ward to Norah Jones have brought back before -– but never quite like this. The faded photos that cover his Home Again and I'm Getting Ready EPs echo the vintage feel; title track "Home Again," with its simple plea for a better day ("Home again, home again/One day I know, I'll feel home again") feels timeless from the opening notes.
Michael Kiwanuka's full-length debut is due in March, with the singer set to tenderly invade bonkers Austin new music festival SXSW the same month. His conquest of your latte-sipping hours begins right now.
+ Listen to Michael Kiwanuka.