Kae Tempest: Momentum
Acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist Kae Tempest has released their highly anticipated new album Let Them Eat. The critically acclaimed LP is produced in its entirety by long-term collaborator Dan Carey, and the album’s artwork was made highly regarded photomontage artist Peter Kennard.
Hailing from south-east London, Kae’s early American hip-hop influences are heard throughout their music and can be traced back to their early days as a rapper. The mighty Wu-Tang Clan were a big influence on Kae as was Jay Electronica and UK hip-hop group Task Force. Since then they have built a loyal following from touring the spoken word circuit for a number of years and playing countless live shows that have seen them take to the stage at Glastonbury and all major UK festivals.
Kae has a varied collection of works outside of music too, which includes Everything Speaks in its Own Way, their first collection of poems, and the critically acclaimed plays Wasted, Glasshouse and Hopelessly Devoted. Brand New Ancients, their self-performed poem to a live score, won the Ted Hughes Prize 2013 and the Herald Angel at Edinburgh Fringe. Their second collection of poetry, Hold Your Own was published by Picador on the back of being selected as a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Society.
Earlier this year Kae entered new territory when they released their debut novel and Sunday Times Bestseller The Bricks That Built The Houses.