Vintage soul from a 23-year-old Londoner

Tell Me a Tale – all delicate flute flourishes and rich brass tones – is the title track of his debut EP and, though his influences are obvious, there’s something fresh about his approach to 60s soul, with a reliance on authenticity as opposed to posturing or role playing.

this instantly timeless recording, in which Kiwanuka wears his influences (Otis Redding, John Martyn, Bill Withers, et al.) on his sleeve, hasn’t even been officially released yet. There’s no question that the weathered soul in this 23-year-old’s voice is authentic and modern, though: the jazz inflections here recall Ray LaMontagne’s“You Can Bring Me Flowers.” Tell Me A Tale arrives on June 13 via Communion Records, but in the meantime, enjoy our first taste of the London singer-songwriter’s debut above.

Michael Kiwanuka from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

find out more at his Facebook, Blog or Myspace

By: Shayne Byrne | Beat-Play Ambassador Ireland |@shaynewithMWL| Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC