Michael Kiwanuka Serves Up New Album Fudge

It’s a relief to hear good news from Michael Kiwanuka; he suffered a stroke several months back and is on the path to recovery. Plus, he returns with news of his next album, Fudge, which is out October 23 via Polydor. The album—his first self-produced effort since his 2012 debut, Home Again—was written “almost concurrently” with the songwriting sessions for 2024’s Small Changes, notes a press release. Check out the tracklist and cover art below.

Instead of passing off the production of Fudge to Danger Mouse and Inflo, his usual trusted collaborators, Kiwanuka decided to tackle the work himself with help from producer Dom Monks and his strings collaborator Rosie Danvers. That decision was in part inspired by stumbling upon an interview with jazz pianist Chick Corea, in which he said, “You have to learn to be certain about what you like, not what you think sounds good to someone else… Whatever you think is beautiful, that’s what’s beautiful, and you have to pursue that.”

In a written note posted to Instagram, Kiwanuka explained that his stroke was the result of bleeding in his brain due to high blood pressure. “The brain injury I suffered was quite severe so there’s a lot of rehab to be done,” he wrote. “It’s a long, tough journey ahead, but I’m fighting to get better.” His full note on Instagram reads:

Read Habib Sabet’s review of Small Changes.

Michael Kiwanuka: Fudge

Fudge:
01 Summer Clothes
02 California
03 Just Another Moment
04 Drowning in Your Heart
05 Love in My Heart
06 Across the Sky
07 Stars
08 You Sent Me Flying
09 Move in My Direction
10 Steve’s Paradise
11 Sing
12 Swings and Roundabouts

Nina Corcoran joined Pitchfork as an Associate Staff Writer in 2021 after contributing to the website since 2015. She’s written for Rolling Stone, Wired, NPR, Stereogum, and elsewhere, and was previously the music editor of alt-weekly newspaper DigBoston. She’s based in Chicago. ... Read More