Guest of the Month Dec 2012: KWES
Kwes is the stage name of South Londoner Kwesi Sey, who received funding from British Music Abroad to attend SXSW in 2012. Having built up a head of critical steam releasing EPs with XL imprints Young Turks and Salvia, he has recently signed to influential electronic label Warp Records released a debut album in 2012.
Playing at SXSW in Austin helped Kwes to establish himself internationally and to develop his production catalogue, having previously worked with the likes of Micachu, the XX and Damon Albarn.
We asked Kwes to give us his 5 top tracks/performances of the year:
Dirty Projectors Live in Iceland Airwaves festival
Got into David & co’s work from Slaves, Graves & Ballads, but really fell in love from Bitte Orca onwards, and seeing it all done live took me aback; no atmospheric trickery. Their musicianship and songwriting just shone through. I was in total awe.
Bobby Womack Live on Jimmy Fallon
I had the honour of playing keyboards for Bobby Womack on this show not too long ago, and I was tripping out the entire time, trying not to sweat profusely. Bobby is a living legend and I’ve learnt so much from him in such a short space of time.
Actress – Ascending (from R.I.P)
An amazing piece of music from an amazing album. His manipulation of silence, space, side-chaining, leanness of sound and intuitive/instinctual melodies draw me in always.
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
Another album I always listen to on my headphones whenever I’m making journeys, or washing up or getting ready to sleep. I just can’t stop listening to it! All of Daniel Lopatin’s music is gorgeous, but I particularly love his approach to sampling on this album, which sounds so fresh & original to me.
Micachu & The Shapes – Never
They are total sweethearts and always leave me mesmerised whenever I watch them live. On record they’re just as otherworldly, and this record I feel is even more uncompromising than their first, yet way more immediate and succinct to my ears. Low Dogg on this record should have been a monster hit.