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
| All tracks | Odyssey (LP) | Concord | Co-production, mixing |
2024
| All tracks | This Ain't The Way You Go Out (LP) | Co-production |
2024
| Fortify | Fortify (Single) | Concord | Co-production, mixing |
2023
| Rye Lane | Original Score | Rye Lane | 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
| All tracks except "Georgetown" | hugo (LP) | EMI | Executive production, co-production, co-write |
2022
| Ingle Nook | Cry Sugar (LP) | Warp | co-write |
2022
| 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
| 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
| Never Gonna Forget with Diplo ft. Elderbrook | Never Gonna Forget (single) | Dark Grey|Ultra Records | Co-production, co-write |
2021
| Delicate Limbs ft. serpentwithfeet | Delicate Limbs (single) | Dark Grey|Columbia | Co-production, co-write |
2020
| All tracks | Contact (LP) | Production, mixing |
2020
| Yesterday | Yesterday (single) | EMI | Vocal engineer |
2020
| Duval Timothy | Fall Again | Help (LP) | Carrying Colour | OP-1 |
2020
| 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
| Hail | Modern Dread (LP) | Because | Co-production, co-write |
2020
| Paradise | Paradise (single) | Self released | Add prod, mixing |
2020
| Pace | Pace (single) | Concord | Co-production, mixing |
2020
| 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
| 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
| "Still", "Desoleil", "Krispy", "Carluccio", "Ice Water" | Not Waving, But Drowning (LP) | 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) | 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
| "Florence", "Mrs C" and "Sun of Jean" | Yesterday's Gone (LP) | 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) | 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) | 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
| "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
| "Right Thing" | Control (LP) | 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 |
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) | Sampled |
2014
| Don't Call It Love | In Your Hands (LP) |
2013
| Kwes. | All tracks | ilp (LP) | Warp | Production, write, primary artist |
2013
| Valentina | All tracks | Wolves (EP) | Greco Roman |
2012
| "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
| All tracks | 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
| All tracks | Making Waves (EP) |
2012
| Valentina | All tracks | Weights (EP) | Little Chaos |
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) |
2010
| Elan Tamara | All tracks | Shadows (EP) | self-release |
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
| "A Good Weapon" | Second, Minute or Hour (single) | XL | Keyboards |
2007
| "Run For Your Life" | Matinée (LP) | XL | Keyboards |
Artist discography
=Albums=
=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. |
rowspan="1"|2012
|align="left"| Meantime
|
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}}
|
=Remix EP=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
Year
! Remix EP details |
---|
rowspan="1"|2014
|align="left"| ilpix
|
=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
|
rowspan="1"|2012
|align="left"| Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.2 with Micachu
|
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}}
External links
- [http://kwes.info/ Official website]
- [http://warp.net/kwes/ Kwes. on Warp]
- [http://www.discogs.com/artist/3056378-Kwes Kwes. on Discogs]
{{Kwes.}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:British record producers
Category:British audio engineers
Category:English record producers
Category:English audio engineers
Category:English male songwriters
Category:English people of Ghanaian descent
Category:Composers from London