Heading into his fourth LP, singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has more eyes on him than ever. After releasing his 2019 self-titled LP to critical acclaim, which included a Grammy nod and a Mercury Prize, it seemed as if Kiwanuka had achieved that cherished middle ground between artistically free and commercially celebrated. On the surface, all of Kiwanuka’s dreams were coming true, but if history has taught us anything, money and fame don’t always equate to comfortability. Kiwanuka found himself at a crossroads; one way was a path of repetitive creation that could yield the same results as his past releases. The other led the soulful artist to a new sonic territory to explore. On Small Changes, Kiwanuka’s fourth studio outing, the artist steps outside of himself to craft eleven soaring ballads built on the back of ethereal guitar melodies and touching poetry.
Grammy recognition, Mercury Prizes, sold-out world tours—you would think Kiwanuka would be in a more celebratory mood. Rather than spend his fourth album meditating on his own life, the artist steps outside to create a set of downtrodden yet uplifting anthems that play like flashes of memory from a fulfilling life. Kiwanuka tapped famed producers Danger Mouse and Inflo to aid in crafting the simplistic yet impactful landscape of Small Changes, a dream team of modern musicians coming together to fulfill one artist’s lofty visions of a more connected human race. The results are minimalistic, soulful ballads built around Kiwanuka’s sentimental songwriting prowess that blend with the droning string sections and warping guitar work for a statement piece with a powerful message.
Leave the bells and whistles at home; Kiwanuka has no use for the unnecessary on Small Changes. The eleven songs flash before your eyes in a haze of silk-lined vocals and relaxed melodies, allowing the artist’s purposeful songwriting to drive the LP. Despite the laid-back nature of the album, there is an underlying sense of urgency in these songs. Kiwanuka is preaching a message of reality touched by his positivity and free spirit, a splash of goodwill the world needs now. A moment like “Follow Your Dreams” boosts motivation you need, but it is not delivered as such. Kiwanuka’s touching vocals and the slow-burning guitars preach a message of taking a breather, while the artist’s words urge the listener to take the most out of life. This sonic conflict is at the heart of Small Changes. With every message of love comes a juxtaposing string section that leans on the opposite emotion, giving the album, and Kiwanuka’s music as a whole, a newfound emotional depth.
Not that Kiwanuka’s previous releases were void of emotions in the slightest, but this new packaging gives his sentiments a new shine. Small Changes force the artist’s words into the spotlight like never before, allowing the full scope of Kiwanuka’s perspective to hit harder and stick with you longer. Despite the consistency of the album, things never seem to get boring. Kiwanuka captured a specific mood and held on to it without things becoming repetitive, a testament to the writing on Small Changes and a hint that Kiwanuka is far from done evolving as an artist.
