Kwes
British music producer, composer, and artist
Kwes
Origin Lewisham , London, EnglandOccupations Years active 2006–present Labels Website kwes .info
Musical artist
Kwes (;[ 1] sometimes stylised as kwes , kwes. , Kwes. or [o=o]. ) is a British music producer, composer and artist from London , England. Kwes is also currently signed to Warp as a solo artist and released his debut album, ilp , in October 2013. He has since gone on to produce music for the likes of Damon Albarn , Bobby Womack , Solange Knowles , Sampha , Loyle Carner , Black Coffee , Nubya Garcia , Mica Levi , Tirzah , Lucy Rose and numerous others.[ 2] He also composed his debut feature length score for 2023 British rom-com film Rye Lane , directed by Raine Allen-Miller . It won a BIFA in 2023 for Best Original Music.[ 3]
Biography
Kwes began playing his grandparents' organ at the age of four and his grandmother bought him his first small keyboard aged 5. For his tenth birthday, he received a radio/tape recorder with a built-in microphone , which launched his interest in sound recording. [ 4] Kwes's younger brother is the musician Coby Sey .[ 5]
Kwes has chromesthesia (sound-to-colour synaesthesia).[ 6]
His earliest synaesthetic experiences occurred around the age of 4 and he attempted to colour paper with the particular colours he was seeing when listening to music. These colours have been set since he first discovered his condition: "any form of a G-chord would have orange in it, and the other notes which are not G accompanying that G-chord would have an effect on the type of orange it is. Majors tend to be slightly brighter.[ 7] Same applies for D which is always – yellow/green, E which is Yellow/gold, F which is violet/blue, C – Blue, A – light blue, B – yellow/gold/green."[ 8]
Colour is not in my direct field of vision, it's more in my peripheral field of vision, so it's just something that's always going on; it doesn't annoy me, or it doesn't amuse me, or it doesn't make me feel good, it's a normal occurrence to me. But at the same time, that could be why I love music so much.
[ 9]
His synaesthetic impressions of his own music are translated in the artwork to his solo releases, including "Hearts in Home" and "No Need to Run".[ 10]
Discography
Year
Artist
Title
Release
Label
Credit
2024
Nubya Garcia
All tracks
Odyssey (LP)
Concord
Co-production, mixing
2024
Lucy Rose
All tracks
This Ain't The Way You Go Out (LP)
Communion Music
Co-production
2024
Nubya Garcia
Fortify
Fortify (Single)
Concord
Co-production, mixing
2023
Rye Lane
Original Score
Rye Lane
Searchlight Pictures
Composition
2023
Valentina
All tracks
All Are Lost (EP)
Tocca Te
Additional production, mixing
2023
Nadiah
Draw The Line
Draw The Line (Single)
NNN Recordings
Co-production, co-write, mixing
2023
Sampha
Can't Go Back
Lahai (LP)
Young
Additional production
2023
Ragz Originale
Flashbacks Ft. Sampha, July ft. Tiana Major9 & Venna
Bare Sugar (LP)
Mini Kingz
Co-Production, mixing
2023
Brother May
All tracks
Pattern With Force (EP)
Self released
Mixing
2022
Loyle Carner
All tracks except "Georgetown"
hugo (LP)
EMI
Executive production, co-production, co-write
2022
Hudson Mohawke
Ingle Nook
Cry Sugar (LP)
Warp
co-write
2022
Lil Silva
Be Cool (ft. Little Dragon ), Backwards (ft. Sampha ), Colours, Still (ft. Sampha & Ghetts )
Yesterday Is Heavy (LP)
Nowhere / Platoon
Co-production, co-write
2022
Loyle Carner
Hate
Hate (single)
EMI
Co-production, co-write
2022
Auclair
All Tracks
Giramata (EP)
Amorphous Sounds
Mixing
2022
Selah Sue
Twice A Day, Full of Life
Persona (LP)
Because
Co-production, mixing
2021
Elan Tamara
All Tracks
We Can Fall (LP)
BOKKLE
Production, mixing
2021
Tirzah
Ribs
Ribs (single)
Domino
Mixing
2021
Zola
All music
Zola
A24
Mixing
2021
Tirzah
All Tracks
Colourgrade (LP)
Domino
A&R (all tracks), mixing on "Sink In", "Recipe"
2021
Brodka
All Tracks
BRUT (LP)
Kayax/[PIAS]
Co-mixing
2021
Black Coffee
Never Gonna Forget with Diplo ft. Elderbrook
Never Gonna Forget (single)
Ultra Records
Co-production, co-write
2021
Virgil Abloh
Delicate Limbs ft. serpentwithfeet
Delicate Limbs (single)
Columbia
Co-production, co-write
2020
Landshapes
All tracks
Contact (LP)
Bella Union
Production, mixing
2020
Loyle Carner
Yesterday
Yesterday (single)
EMI
Vocal engineer
2020
Duval Timothy
Fall Again
Help (LP)
Carrying Colour
OP-1
2020
Nubya Garcia
All tracks
Source (LP)
Concord
Co-production, mixing
2020
otta
All tracks
Songbook (EP)
BOKKLE/[PIAS]
Add prod, mixing, a&r
2020
Elan Tamara
My Eyes
My Eyes (single)
BOKKLE/[PIAS]
prod, mixing, a&r
2020
Denai Moore
Hail
Modern Dread (LP)
Because
Co-production, co-write
2020
Daniel Merriweather
Paradise
Paradise (single)
Self released
Add prod, mixing
2020
Nubya Garcia
Pace
Pace (single)
Concord
Co-production, mixing
2020
Selah Sue
All tracks
Bedroom EP (EP)
Because
Co-production, mixing
2019
LA Timpa
All tracks
Equal Amounts Afraid (LP)
O___O
Mixing
2020
otta
All tracks
after it all blew over (EP)
BOKKLE/[PIAS]
Add prod, mixing, a&r
2019
Daniel Merriweather
Everything I Need
Everything I Need (single)
Self released
Mixing
2019
Camelia
All tracks
Everytime / Sometimes (single)
Self released
Mixing
2019
Little Miss Sumo
All tracks
Little Miss Sumo (OST)
Walks of Life Films, Netflix
Composition, mixing
2019
Nérija
All tracks
Blume (LP)
Domino
Production, mixing, a&r, artwork
2019
Loyle Carner
"Still", "Desoleil", "Krispy", "Carluccio", "Ice Water"
Not Waving, But Drowning (LP)
AMF, Virgin EMI
Production, co-write on "Still", "Desoleil", "Krispy", "Carluccio". Additional production on "Ice Water"
2019
Arlo Day
All tracks
Bad Timing (EP)
Domino
Mixing, a&r
2019
Nérija
All tracks
NÉRIJA EP (EP)
Domino
Mixing, a&r
2018
Ragz Originale
All tracks
Nature (LP)
Mini Kingz
Executive Production
2018
Hilang Child
All tracks
Years (LP)
Bella Union
Mixing
2018
Tirzah
All tracks
Devotion (LP)
Domino
A&R, co-mixing
2018
Kwes.
All tracks
songs for Midi (EP)
Warp
Production, write, mixing, primary artist
2017
Kelela
All tracks
Take Me Apart (LP)
Warp
Mixing
2017
Kelela
"Waitin", "Take Me Apart", "Enough", "Better", "LMK", "Truth or Dare", "Turn To Dust", "Altadena"
Take Me Apart (LP)
Warp
Additional production w/ various
2017
All We Are
All tracks
Sunny Hills (LP)
Domino
Co-production, mixing, a&r
2017
ELIZA
"Wide Eyed Fool"
"Wide Eyed Fool" (single)
ELIZA
Mixing
2017
Loyle Carner
"Florence", "Mrs C" and "Sun of Jean"
Yesterday's Gone (LP)
AMF, Virgin EMI
Production, co-write (on all tracks); Production, co-write and mixing (on "Florence")
2017
Coby Sey
"Petals Have Fallen"
Petals Have Fallen (single)
self-release
Add. production; mixing
2017
BILA
"Didn't Lose"
Didn't Lose (single)
self-release
Production, co-write
2017
Coby Sey
All tracks
Whities 010: Transport for Lewisham (EP)
AD 93 (Whities)
Co-mixing w/ Coby Sey
2017
Elan Tamara
"Long Walks"
"Long Walks" (single)
self-release
Production
2016
Solange
"Don't You Wait", "Where Do We Go", "Don't Wish Me Well", "Scales"
A Seat at the Table (LP)
Saint , Columbia
Co-production, co-write w/ various
2016
PAULi
All tracks
The Idea of Tomorrow (EP)
PAULi
Co-production
2016
Kano
"My Sound"
Made in the Manor (LP)
BPM , Parlophone
Additional production, co-write w/ Blue May and Jodi Milliner
2016
Hudson Mohawke
"Indian Steps"
Lantern (LP)
Warp
Additional production w/ Hudson Mohawke
2016
Samuel
All tracks
Luv Cry (EP)
Big Dada
Production, co-production
2016
Nao
"It's You"
15 February (EP)
Little Tokyo , Sony
Production, co-write
2016
Rosie Lowe
"Right Thing"
Control (LP)
Wolf Tone , Polydor
Production, co-write w/ Dave Okumu and Rosie Lowe
2016
Samuel
"These Days"
These Days (single)
Big Dada
Production
2015
George Maple
"Gripp" ft. Kilo Kish
Vacant Space
Future Classic Pty, Virgin EMI
Production, co-write
2014
DELS
All tracks
Petals Have Fallen (LP)
Big Dada
Production, co-write w/ various
2014
Kwes.
All tracks
ilpix (EP)
Warp
Production, write, primary artist
2014
Moko
"Missing Love"
Gold (EP)
MTA , Virgin EMI
Production, co-write
2014
Shivum Sharma
All tracks
Flicker/Only You (single)
National Anthem
Production[ 11]
2014
Rosie Lowe
All tracks
Right Thing (EP)
37 Adventures
Production, co-write w/ Dave Okumu and Rosie Lowe[ 12]
2014
Pusha T
"Who I Am" ft. 2 Chainz and Big Sean
My Name Is My Name (LP)
GOOD , Def Jam
Sampled
2014
Eliza Doolittle
Don't Call It Love
In Your Hands (LP)
Parlophone
Production, co-write[ 13]
2013
Kwes.
All tracks
ilp (LP)
Warp
Production, write, primary artist
2013
Valentina
All tracks
Wolves (EP)
Greco Roman
Production w/ various[ 14]
2012
Bobby Womack
"Whatever Happened to the Times"
The Bravest Man in the Universe (LP)
XL
Production w/ Damon Albarn and Richard Russell [ 15]
2012
Kwesachu (Kwes & Micachu )
All tracks
Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.2 (mixtape)
self-release
Production w/ Micachu
2012
Kwes.
All tracks
Meantime
Warp
Production, write, mixing, primary artist
2012
Speech Debelle
All tracks
Freedom of Speech
Big Dada
Production, co-write[ 16]
2012
Sunless '97
All tracks
Making Waves (EP)
Abeano/XL
Production[ 17]
2012
Valentina
All tracks
Weights (EP)
Little Chaos
Production w/ Blue May[ 18]
2011
Elan Tamara
All tracks
Organ (EP)
Big Dada
Production
2011
DRC Music
"Customs", "Three Piece Sweet Part 1 & 2", "If You Wish to Stay Awake", "Departure", "Three Piece Sweet Part 3 (bonus track)"
Kinshasa One Two (LP)
Warp
Production, co-write w/ various[ 19]
2011
DELS
"Hydronenberg", "Moonshing", "Eating Clouds", "Violina/Bread Before Bed", "DLR", "Droogs", "GOB"
GOB (LP)
Big Dada
Production, co-write
2010
Dog Bite
All tracks
Machino Machino/Take Your Time (single)
Young Turks
Production[ 20]
2010
Elan Tamara
All tracks
Shadows (EP)
self-release
Production[ 21]
2010
Kwes.
All tracks
No Need To Run (EP)
Young Turks
Production, mixing, write, primary artist
2009
Elan Tamara
All tracks
Gold Fishes (EP)
self-release
Production
2009
Kwesachu (Kwes. & Micachu )
All tracks
Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.1 (mixtape)
self-release
Production w/ Micachu
2009
Kwes.
All tracks
Hearts in Home/Tissues (single)
Salvia/XL
Production, write, primary artist
2009
Micachu
"Outro"
Filthy Friends: Volume 1 (mixtape)
self-release
Production
2007
Jack Peñate
"A Good Weapon"
Second, Minute or Hour (single)
XL
Keyboards
2007
Jack Peñate
"Run For Your Life"
Matinée (LP)
XL
Keyboards
Artist discography
Albums
Year
Album details
2013
ilp.
Released: 14 / 15 October 2013
Label: Warp
Formats: LP , CD, Digital download
EPs
Remix EP
Year
Remix EP details
2014
ilpix
Released: 15 September 2014
Label: Warp
Formats: Digital download
Singles
"Hearts in Home" (16 February 2009)
"Get Up" (13 November 2011)[ 25]
"Bashful" (7 March 2012)[ 26]
"Rollerblades " (26 November 2012)[ 27]
Mixtapes
Year
Mixtape details
2010
Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.1 with Micachu
Released: 5 June 2009
Label: Self-released
Formats: Cassette tape , Digital download
2012
Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.2 with Micachu
Released: 30 April 2012
Label: Self-released
Formats: Cassette tape, Digital download
Live session duties
Ebony Bones – Guitarist[ 28] [ 29] (2006–2007, 2008)
Bono Must Die now O. Children – Keyboardist[ 30] (2007)
Jack Peñate – Laptop and keyboards[ 31] (2009)
Kwesachu (with Micachu) – co-production and co-selector (2009–?)
Elan Tamara – Bassist[ 32] (2009–2011)
Leftfield – Keyboards and Computers[ 33] (2010)
Bobby Womack – Keyboards (2012–2013)
References
^ "Why Kwes's ilp is the one album you should listen to this week – video" . The Guardian . 18 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013 .
^ (February 2023). [1] . IMDB . Retrieved 23 February 2023.
^ (March 2024). [2] . BIFA . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
^ (January 2009). Kwes. / [o=o]. . Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ Quarshie, Adam (14 September 2022). "Coby Sey: Passing Through" . Crack Magazine . Retrieved 14 September 2022 .
^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (11 June 2010). Kwes: 'No Need To Run' | Forkcast | Pitchfork . Pitchfork . Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ Dickins, Kieren (December 2008). Kwes. – A Tribe Called Next . A Tribe Called Next . Retrieved 2011-06-15. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ Wright, Scott (17 June 2010). Dollars to Pounds: Kwes « The FADER . The FADER . Retrieved 15 June 2010.
^ (November 2011). 24 Year Old Producer, Kwes Collaboration – The Producers season 2 episode 3 – YouTube . Red Bull Music / The Producers . Retrieved 8 March 2012.
^ Erkas, Sinem (December 2008).SINEM ERKAS illustrator & graphic designer – Kwes record sleeve series Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Sinem Erkas . Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ "Shivum Sharma – Flicker" . Dazed . 20 February 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2019 .
^ "Introducing: Rosie Lowe - "If you reach that one person, your job is done." " . The 405 . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2019 .
^ Martin, Andrew (10 September 2012). "Listen: Eliza Doolittle "Don't Call It Love" . Complex.com . Retrieved 20 November 2012 .
^ "(1 May 2013). "prettymuchamazing.com". Retrieved 25 May 2013" . Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2013 .
^ Dombal, Ryan (14 June 2012). Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man in the Universe | Album Reviews | Pitchfork. Pitchfork.com . Retrieved 22 June 2012.
^ Murray, Robin (10 November 2011). Speech Debelle Returns – 10 Nov 2011 | Clash Music Latest Breaking Music News . Clash Magazine . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ Recommender, The (13 October 2011). SUNLESS '97 – The Recommender Archived 22 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine . therecommender.net . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ » Interview: Valentina DRUNKENWEREWOLF Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Drunkenwerewolf.com (30 November 2011). Retrieved 9 December 2011.
^ Michaels, Sean (31 August 2011). Damon Albarn and DRC Music announce new Congo album for Oxfam | Music | guardian.co.uk . The Guardian . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ Machino Machino, the Kwes produced debut single from Dog Bite . Fuckyeahyoungturks.tumblr.com, Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ Saxelby, Ruth (28 October 2010). Elan Tamara interview: "Go with your gut instinct." | Dummy » Features Archived 8 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine . Ddummymag.com . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ Hokley-Smith, Sam (10 June 2010). Stream: Kwes, "No Need to Run" « The FADER . The FADER . Retrieved 15 June 2010.
^ Young Turks Records (28 June 2010).Young Turks — YT045: Kwes – No Need To Run . Young . Retrieved 15 June 2010.
^ "Kwes. Returns with Songs For Midi – XLR8R" . 2 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018 .
^ Warp (13 November 2011). Warp / Records / Kwes / Signs to Warp, download free MP3 of new track 'Get Up Archived 18 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine . Warp . Retrieved 13 November 2011.
^ Dombal, Ryan (7 March 2012). Rising: Kwes | Features | Pitchfork . Pitchfork . Retrieved 8 March 2012.
^ Warp (26 November 2012). Warp / Kwes / Warp / Kwes 'Rollerblades' available to download now, 7-inch out in January Archived 18 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine . Warp . Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^ Mercury Music Prize Recommends (November 2011). Recommends . Mercury Music Prize Recommends . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ "ClintClinty" (9 July 2006). Ebony Bones @ Anti-Social (Bar Music Hall) PT 2 – YouTube . YouTube. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
^ Cafun, Evian (14 April 2007). Kwes,Forty Fives,EvIaNnAivE,BONO MUST DIE@ULU Video by Evian Cafun – MySpace Video . MySpace . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ mytaratata (18 May 2009).video Emission 318 2/4 – Jack PENATE – 318, jack penate – videos MYTARATATA.COM . MYTARATATA.COM Retrieved on 15 June 2010.
^ Mottley, Elan Tamara (June 2009). Elan Tamara – Organ EP – Out 6 June 2011 . Elan Tamara . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
^ Williams, Scott (13 May 2010). Leftfield interview – Neil Barnes talks festivals . eFestivals . Retrieved 18 November 2011.
External links
International National Artists