Kae Tempest
Kae Tempest is a recording artist, lyricist, performer, author, playwright, and poet. He has released five critically acclaimed studio albums, as well as numerous books, plays and poetry collections, including Brand New Ancients, which saw him become the first person under 40 to receive the Ted Hughes Award in 2013. In July, Kae released his fifth studio album, 'Self Titled' via Island Records, and in October, Kae was the recipient of an Ivors Academy Honour for inspiring cultural and social change through storytelling. For his music, Kae won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2024, following two previous Ivor Novello nominations in 2020 and a BRIT Award nomination in 2018. He has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize twice (For Let Them Eat Chaos in 2017 and Everybody Down in 2014). In 2023 Kae was the subject of a BBC Arena documentary ‘Being Kae Tempest’, a captivating insight into his musical and creative journey throughout a period of profound artistic and personal change. Kae Tempest has firmly established himself as one of the most unique, thought-provoking, and critically acclaimed voices of his generation.
Kae Tempest (Schwarzman Centre Cultural Fellow in association with St Annes College and Mansfield College)
Kae is collaborating with Professor Matthew Reynolds, Faculty of English and Professor Matt Cook, Faculty of History to explore moments of transition and the impact they have on individuals and society. This will develop into a new work in 2027.
