UKNY for November 29
Michael Kiwanuka (photo courtesy of Biz3 Publicity)
Not quite 14 months ago, Michael Kiwanuka came by Studio A for an FUV Live session to promote his third, not-yet-released album KIWANUKA. It was a deeply moving session, with Michael playing stripped-down versions of "Hero," "You Ain't the Problem" and "Light," from an album that took on a deeper resonance in 2020, given all that we have experienced this year — a pandemic, profound loss, and the pursuit of racial justice and peace.
The album, which Kiwanuka says was partly influenced by Marvin Gaye's 1971 masterpiece, What's Going On, reflects these present times with power and poignance. It's especially satisfying that Michael not only won the 2020 Mercury Prize for KIWANUKA, but on Tuesday, he was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album.
On tonight's "UKNY" at 11, revisiting that wonderful session with Michael last autumn in which he spoke at length about why his third album is his proudest artistic achievement thus far.
Also, brand new releases from London's Dry Cleaning (which happened to be the last band in Studio A for an FUV Live session on March 6, before all shut down due to the pandemic), Manchester's Phoebe Green, Brighton's Lost Horizons, Hull's bdrmm, and more.
That's "UKNY," 11p.m.-midnight on 90.7, also streaming online and available in the Weekend Archives for two weeks after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. Dry Cleaning, “Scratchcard Lanyard,” single
2. Phoebe Green, “Golden Girl,” single
3. Arlo Parks, “Green Eyes,” Collapsed in Sunbeams
4. Lost Horizons feat. Porridge Radio, “One for Regret,” In Quiet Moments
5. bdrmm, “Push Pull” (single edit), Bedroom
6. Gorillaz, “Taxi Back to 80s Reykjavík,” Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (Japanese deluxe edition)
7. SAULT feat. Michael Kiwanuka, “Bow,” Untitled (Black Is)
8. FUV Live session with Michael Kiwanuka featuring live performances of “Hero,” “You Ain’t the Problem,” and “Light.”
