Kwes

{{Short description|British music producer, composer, and artist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kwes

| birth_name = Kwesi Sey

| birth_date =

| origin = Lewisham, London, England

| years_active = 2006–present

| occupation = {{hlist|Producer|composer|artist|songwriter|mixer}}

| label = {{hlist|Warp}}

| website = {{URL|kwes.info}}

}}

Kwesi Sey, professionally known as Kwes ({{IPAc-en|pron|k|w|ɛ|s}};{{cite web|title=Why Kwes's ilp is the one album you should listen to this week – video|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/video/2013/oct/18/kwes-ilp-album-warp-records-video|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 October 2013|date=18 October 2013}} sometimes stylised as kwes, kwes., Kwes. or [o=o]. ) is a British music producer, composer and artist from London, England.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/29/kwes-great-escape-interview |title=New talent at the Great Escape: Kwes |work=The Guardian |date=29 April 2012 |first=Killian |last=Fox}} 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.(February 2023). [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5847196/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm]. IMDB. Retrieved 23 February 2023. 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.(March 2024). [https://www.bifa.film/awards/2023/winners-nominations/]. BIFA. Retrieved 26 March 2024.

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.(January 2009). [http://www.kwes.info Kwes. / [o=o].]. Retrieved 17 November 2011. Kwes's younger brother is the musician Coby Sey.{{cite web|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/coby-sey-passing-through/ |last=Quarshie|first=Adam|work=Crack Magazine|access-date=2022-09-14|date=14 September 2022|title=Coby Sey: Passing Through }}

In an interview in 2012, Kwes said he has synesthesia.{{cite AV media |date=11 January 2012 |title= Producer Kwes Makes Some Magic In the Studio |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdkDIAr__UE |language=en |via=YouTube |publisher=Red Bull Music |access-date=4 January 2025}} 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.Dickins, Kieren (December 2008). [http://blog.atribecallednext.com/2008/12/hearts-in-home-kwes/ Kwes. – A Tribe Called Next]. A Tribe Called Next. Retrieved 2011-06-15. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812140350/http://blog.atribecallednext.com/2008/12/hearts-in-home-kwes/ |date=12 August 2011 }} 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."Wright, Scott (17 June 2010). [http://www.thefader.com/2010/06/17/dollars-to-pounds-kwes/ Dollars to Pounds: Kwes « The FADER]. The FADER. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 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".Erkas, Sinem (December 2008).[http://www.sinemerkas.com/portfolio/kwesrecords.html SINEM ERKAS illustrator & graphic designer – Kwes record sleeve series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426041534/http://www.sinemerkas.com/portfolio/kwesrecords.html |date=26 April 2012 }}. Sinem Erkas. Retrieved 17 November 2011.

Discography

{{Multiple issues|section=yes|

{{Overly detailed|details=|date=January 2025}}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2025}}

}}

class="wikitable"

!width="50"|Year

!width="150"| Artist

!width="350"| Title

!width="250"| Release

!width="150"| Label

!width="250"| 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)

| Dark Grey|Ultra Records

| Co-production, co-write

2021

| Virgil Abloh

| Delicate Limbs ft. serpentwithfeet

| Delicate Limbs (single)

| Dark Grey|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{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/18944/1/shivum-sharma-flicker|title=Shivum Sharma – Flicker|date=20 February 2014|website=Dazed|access-date=11 September 2019}}

2014

| Rosie Lowe

| All tracks

| Right Thing (EP)

| 37 Adventures

| Production, co-write w/ Dave Okumu and Rosie Lowe{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/news/article/rosie-lowe-interviewed-1|title=Introducing: Rosie Lowe - "If you reach that one person, your job is done."|website=The 405|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064257/http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/news/article/rosie-lowe-interviewed-1|url-status=dead}}

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{{cite web|last=Martin|first= Andrew |date=10 September 2012|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/09/listen-eliza-doolittle-f-kwes-dont-call-it-love|title=Listen: Eliza Doolittle "Don't Call It Love|website=Complex.com|access-date=20 November 2012}}

2013

| Kwes.

| All tracks

| ilp (LP)

| Warp

| Production, write, primary artist

2013

| Valentina

| All tracks

| Wolves (EP)

| Greco Roman

| Production w/ various{{Cite web |url=http://prettymuchamazing.com/videos/valentina-wolves |title=(1 May 2013). "prettymuchamazing.com". Retrieved 25 May 2013. |access-date=24 May 2013 |archive-date=16 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216011416/http://prettymuchamazing.com/videos/valentina-wolves |url-status=dead }}

2012

| Bobby Womack

| "Whatever Happened to the Times"

| The Bravest Man in the Universe (LP)

| XL

| Production w/ Damon Albarn and Richard RussellDombal, Ryan (14 June 2012). Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man in the Universe | Album Reviews | Pitchfork. Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 22 June 2012.

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-writeMurray, Robin (10 November 2011). [http://www.clashmusic.com/news/speech-debelle-returns Speech Debelle Returns – 10 Nov 2011 | Clash Music Latest Breaking Music News]. Clash Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2011.

2012

| Sunless '97

| All tracks

| Making Waves (EP)

| Abeano/XL

| ProductionRecommender, The (13 October 2011). [http://therecommender.net/2011/10/13/sunless-97/ SUNLESS '97 – The Recommender] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022040251/http://therecommender.net/2011/10/13/sunless-97/ |date=22 October 2011 }}. therecommender.net. Retrieved 18 November 2011.

2012

| Valentina

| All tracks

| Weights (EP)

| Little Chaos

| Production w/ Blue May[http://www.drunkenwerewolf.com/2011/06/05/interview-valentina/ » Interview: Valentina DRUNKENWEREWOLF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425214450/http://www.drunkenwerewolf.com/2011/06/05/interview-valentina/ |date=25 April 2012 }}. Drunkenwerewolf.com (30 November 2011). Retrieved 9 December 2011.

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/ variousMichaels, Sean (31 August 2011). [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/aug/31/damon-albarn-drc-music-congo-oxfam Damon Albarn and DRC Music announce new Congo album for Oxfam | Music | guardian.co.uk]. The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2011.

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[http://fuckyeahyoungturks.tumblr.com/post/1678399746/machino-machino-the-kwes-produced-debut-single-from Machino Machino, the Kwes produced debut single from Dog Bite]. Fuckyeahyoungturks.tumblr.com, Retrieved 18 November 2011.

2010

| Elan Tamara

| All tracks

| Shadows (EP)

| self-release

| ProductionSaxelby, Ruth (28 October 2010). [http://www.dummymag.com/features/2010/10/28/elan-tamara-interview-go-with-your-gut-instinct-/ Elan Tamara interview: "Go with your gut instinct." | Dummy » Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208011318/http://www.dummymag.com/features/2010/10/28/elan-tamara-interview-go-with-your-gut-instinct-/ |date=8 December 2011 }}. Ddummymag.com. Retrieved 18 November 2011.

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=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Year

! Album details

rowspan="1"|2013

|align="left"| ilp.

  • Released: 14 / 15 October 2013
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: LP, CD, Digital download

=EPs=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Year

! EP details

rowspan="1"|2010

|align="left"| No Need To RunHokley-Smith, Sam (10 June 2010). [http://www.thefader.com/2010/06/10/stream-kwes-no-need-to-run/ Stream: Kwes, "No Need to Run" « The FADER]. The FADER. Retrieved 15 June 2010.Young Turks Records (28 June 2010).[http://www.theyoungturks.bigcartel.com/product/yt045-kwes-no-need-to-run Young Turks — YT045: Kwes – No Need To Run]. Young. Retrieved 15 June 2010.

  • Released: 28 June 2010
  • Label: Young
  • Formats: 12" EP, Digital download
rowspan="1"|2012

|align="left"| Meantime

  • Released: 30 April / 1 May 2012
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: 12" EP, CD, Digital download
rowspan="1"|2018

|align="left"| songs for Midi{{cite web|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/kwes-announces-new-ep-songs-midi-shares-track-midori|title=Kwes. Returns with Songs For Midi – XLR8R|access-date=6 March 2018|date=2 March 2018}}

  • Released: 5 April 2018
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: 12" EP, Digital download

=Remix EP=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Year

! Remix EP details

rowspan="1"|2014

|align="left"| ilpix

  • Released: 15 September 2014
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: Digital download

=Singles=

  • "Hearts in Home" (16 February 2009)
  • "Get Up" (13 November 2011)Warp (13 November 2011). [http://warp.net/records/kwes/signs-to-warp-download-get-up-mp3 Warp / Records / Kwes / Signs to Warp, download free MP3 of new track 'Get Up] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918101743/http://warp.net/records/kwes/signs-to-warp-download-get-up-mp3 |date=18 September 2021 }}. Warp. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  • "Bashful" (7 March 2012)Dombal, Ryan (7 March 2012). [http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/8784-kwes/ Rising: Kwes | Features | Pitchfork]. Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  • "Rollerblades" (26 November 2012)Warp (26 November 2012). [http://warp.net/records/kwes/rollerblades-out-now Warp / Kwes / Warp / Kwes 'Rollerblades' available to download now, 7-inch out in January] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918120834/http://warp.net/records/kwes/rollerblades-out-now |date=18 September 2021 }}. Warp. Retrieved 26 November 2012.

=Mixtapes=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Year

! Mixtape details

rowspan="1"|2010

|align="left"| Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.1 with Micachu

  • Released: 5 June 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Cassette tape, Digital download
rowspan="1"|2012

|align="left"| Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.2 with Micachu

  • Released: 30 April 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Cassette tape, Digital download

Live session duties

  • Ebony Bones – GuitaristMercury Music Prize Recommends (November 2011). [http://www.mercuryprize.com/recommends/index.php?inframe=1 Recommends]. Mercury Music Prize Recommends. Retrieved 18 November 2011."ClintClinty" (9 July 2006). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1EGW-cYqkI Ebony Bones @ Anti-Social (Bar Music Hall) PT 2 – YouTube]. YouTube. Retrieved 15 June 2010. (2006–2007, 2008)
  • Bono Must Die now O. Children – KeyboardistCafun, Evian (14 April 2007). [http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=19757247&blogId=362836053 Kwes,Forty Fives,EvIaNnAivE,BONO MUST DIE@ULU Video by Evian Cafun – MySpace Video]. MySpace. Retrieved 18 November 2011. (2007)
  • Jack Peñate – Laptop and keyboardsmytaratata (18 May 2009).[http://video.mytaratata.com/video/iLyROoafMw-Z.html video Emission 318 2/4 – Jack PENATE – 318, jack penate – videos MYTARATATA.COM]. MYTARATATA.COM Retrieved on 15 June 2010. (2009)
  • Kwesachu (with Micachu) – co-production and co-selector (2009–?)
  • Elan Tamara – BassistMottley, Elan Tamara (June 2009). [http://www.elantamara.co.uk Elan Tamara – Organ EP – Out 6 June 2011]. Elan Tamara. Retrieved 18 November 2011. (2009–2011)
  • Leftfield – Keyboards and ComputersWilliams, Scott (13 May 2010). [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/ledfestival/2010/int-leftfield.shtml Leftfield interview – Neil Barnes talks festivals]. eFestivals. Retrieved 18 November 2011. (2010)
  • Bobby Womack – Keyboards (2012–2013)

References

{{Reflist}}