Michael Kiwanuka performing at Citadel (Alberto Pezzali / Live4ever)
Michael Kiwanuka has picked up the 2020 Mercury Prize thanks to KIWANUKA.
If this year’s winner being announced on The One Show took a bit of shine off the prestigious award, the recipient should prove to be a popular one at least, Kiwanuka beating big name competition from the likes of Stormzy and Dua Lipa, as well as equally lauded work from the likes of Laura Marling and Sports Team, to pick the £25,000 winner’s cheque.
“I hope it’s something that people can hear and be inspired by,” he told NME. “I hope it inspires people who maybe have a similar story to mine or people who, in other ways, maybe feel like they’re going into something that is maybe outside of their comfort zone or not usually the path they would be expected to take.”
“I’d hope it inspires them just to keep going and to keep being true to themselves, to keep going but not to compromise. That’s something I really believe in and I hope that is something can garner from my music and especially the songs on this album.”