When Michael Kiwanuka was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2020, he had a certain perception. Having been up for the prestigious album award twice before, he regarded the nomination as an honor but not a life-altering event. Little did he know, this third time would be different.

Annie Mac's Surprise and the Shift

When Annie Mac ambushed him on The One Show to reveal it was third time lucky, a significant switch occurred. As the singer-songwriter reveals, "It sort of woke me up. I'd been desperately seeking approval from my peers and certain [media] outlets – and the Mercury freed me from that desperation. It allowed me to realize that I just want to make the records that come naturally."The winning album, simply titled Kiwanuka, had grappled with his sense of inferiority in various aspects of his life. External validation didn't silence the inner voices but gave him a healthy dose of perspective. As he explains, "When you have impostor syndrome and are constantly beating yourself up, you're using up all your energy. Instead, you should focus on the amazing aspects of this job, like making your own record or playing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Winning the Mercury kick-started that feeling of needing to sort things out."

Glastonbury Performance and Newfound Freedom

At Glastonbury in June, one could see his newfound freedom. Wearing a bright white kanzu robe, a traditional tunic from Uganda where his parents are from, and basking in the late afternoon sun, he took to the stage. When a malfunctioning synthesizer forced him to abort a performance of his new song Small Changes, the former perfectionist simply laughed it off. "I could hear my friend Joe laughing, and I sort of forgot I was on the Pyramid Stage," he recalls. "A second later, I heard the crowd cheer, and it lifted me up off the ground. It was an amazing feeling. I felt like I had a massive battery pack from these people. I could do no wrong. Wherever I went, they would hold me up." Afterward, he realized that this moment of fallibility had put the audience on his side. "They saw the real me for a second, rather than what I thought people wanted to see. It was really eye-opening."

Opposition to Modern Pop Trends

It's a bit odd to hear the musician describe himself as a people pleaser. Since the release of his debut album Home Again in 2012, his music has gone against the trend-chasing virality of modern pop. His grooves are unhurried and thoughtful, and his lyrics are deeply introspective. His inspirations, such as Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers, and Marvin Gaye, are decidedly old-school. His second album, Love & Hate, brought him international attention after its opening track, Cold Little Heart, was picked as the opening theme for hit TV show Big Little Lies, starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Kiwanuka's 2019 release earned him the Mercury Prize and his first Grammy Award nomination. However, the densely-arranged, sumptuous soul often pushed his voice back in the mix, which he has confronted on his latest record, Small Changes. "I fell in love with my voice again, which sounds weird. But I realized that being able to sing and have a good-sounding voice on recording is a blessing. So I started to want that to be heard more than the other elements like drums, guitars, or strings. And that really enhanced the sound of the record."

Chart Battle and Studio Fulfillment

His latest album, Small Changes, is locked in a two-way battle for this week's UK number one album with Kendrick Lamar's surprise release GNX. But it seems Kiwanuka won't pay too much attention to chart positions. For him, fulfillment came in the studio, surrounded by some of his favorite musicians, including legendary bassist Pino Palladino and Janet Jackson's producer Jimmy Jam. Jimmy Jam popped in to say hello and ended up contributing organ parts to half of the record.Each song on the album is about a small change Kiwanuka has made in his life – confronting depression, rediscovering childhood innocence, and weathering the ups and downs of marriage. His languorous voice can be melancholic, but the lyrics are full of hope. As he sings on the title track, "Small changes solve the problems." Despite being written during a period of major upheaval, as he moved away from London, became a father, and faced middle age, he realizes that these small shifts are a part of life. "You lose touch with some people, gain new friends. Loads of stuff happens that you've got to deal with for the first time. And that's OK. Some friendships are full season, some are forever, but none is more important than the other."

The Power of Family and Commitment

The biggest development in his life is the arrival of two children. This change has simultaneously "given me wings" and raised questions about his priorities. "When you're 18, music is all-encompassing. Now there's something more important in my life – and sometimes you worry about maintaining the work at a certain standard. But you find that you can, and that's another big change," he admits. Family is one of the album's central themes. As he sings in The Rest Of Me, "Back when I was lost, stumbling around / You found me / Now I can see / My feet won't touch the ground." He further explains, "Commitment is a funny word. It's not very exciting, but it does a lot. In this day and age, it's almost revolutionary to stick something through to the end. And it can negate the worried feeling the world is giving us right now. The last five years have been crazy, but the idea of committing to someone, whatever happens, until they leave the planet, is becoming rare. But it's something I want to hold on to."