Lorna Irvine looks at an 'intelligent, beautiful and emotional' rising star.
Discovered and encouraged by his teacher, world music expert Xanthe Sarr, South London based singer songwriter Kwabs, born Kwabena Sarkodee Adjepong in Ghana, is a humble, more introspective kind of artist.
He studied jazz at the Royal Academy of Music. His rich, beautifully expressive vocals are the perfect fit for pared-down moody backing--bare bones percussion and piano, or the most minimal electro. He oozes a mature sophistication, despite being only 25.
Even when drenched in strings, his music is subtle, evoking ‘What's Going On’ era Marvin Gaye or early Luther Vandross.
Love + War, his debut album, is a summing up of his belief in dualism. Intelligent, beautiful and emotional, he is working through some big issues, of identity, conflict and trust. It's released on May 18th on Atlantic Records
Kwabs - Perfect Ruin [Official Video]: http://youtu.be/Yvo620cGMyw
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