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Kwes
Birth nameKwesi Sey
OriginLewisham, London, England
Occupations
Years active2006–present
Labels
Websitekwes.info

Kwesi Sey, professionally known as Kwes ( /kwɛs/;[1] sometimes stylised as kwes, kwes., Kwes. or [o=o]. ) is a British music producer, composer and artist from London, England.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

Biography

[edit]

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.[5] Kwes's younger brother is the musician Coby Sey.[6]

In an interview in 2021, Kwes said has synesthesia.[7] 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.[8] 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."[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

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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

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Album details
2013 ilp.
  • Released: 14 / 15 October 2013
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: LP, CD, Digital download

EPs

[edit]
Year EP details
2010 No Need To Run[22][23]
  • Released: 28 June 2010
  • Label: Young
  • Formats: 12" EP, Digital download
2012 Meantime
  • Released: 30 April / 1 May 2012
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: 12" EP, CD, Digital download
2018 songs for Midi[24]
  • Released: 5 April 2018
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: 12" EP, Digital download

Remix EP

[edit]
Year Remix EP details
2014 ilpix
  • Released: 15 September 2014
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

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  • "Hearts in Home" (16 February 2009)
  • "Get Up" (13 November 2011)[25]
  • "Bashful" (7 March 2012)[26]
  • "Rollerblades" (26 November 2012)[27]

Mixtapes

[edit]
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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ "Why Kwes's ilp is the one album you should listen to this week – video". The Guardian. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. ^ Fox, Killian (29 April 2012). "New talent at the Great Escape: Kwes". The Guardian.
  3. ^ (February 2023). [1]. IMDB. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ (March 2024). [2]. BIFA. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ (January 2009). Kwes. / [o=o].. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. ^ Quarshie, Adam (14 September 2022). "Coby Sey: Passing Through". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  7. ^ Producer Kwes Makes Some Magic In the Studio. Red Bull Music. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Wright, Scott (17 June 2010). Dollars to Pounds: Kwes « The FADER. The FADER. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Shivum Sharma – Flicker". Dazed. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Martin, Andrew (10 September 2012). "Listen: Eliza Doolittle "Don't Call It Love". Complex.com. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  14. ^ "(1 May 2013). "prettymuchamazing.com". Retrieved 25 May 2013". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  15. ^ Dombal, Ryan (14 June 2012). Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man in the Universe | Album Reviews | Pitchfork. Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  16. ^ Murray, Robin (10 November 2011). Speech Debelle Returns – 10 Nov 2011 | Clash Music Latest Breaking Music News. Clash Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  17. ^ Recommender, The (13 October 2011). SUNLESS '97 – The Recommender Archived 22 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. therecommender.net. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  18. ^ » Interview: Valentina DRUNKENWEREWOLF Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Drunkenwerewolf.com (30 November 2011). Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Machino Machino, the Kwes produced debut single from Dog Bite. Fuckyeahyoungturks.tumblr.com, Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Hokley-Smith, Sam (10 June 2010). Stream: Kwes, "No Need to Run" « The FADER. The FADER. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  23. ^ Young Turks Records (28 June 2010).Young Turks — YT045: Kwes – No Need To Run. Young. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Kwes. Returns with Songs For Midi – XLR8R". 2 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Dombal, Ryan (7 March 2012). Rising: Kwes | Features | Pitchfork. Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Mercury Music Prize Recommends (November 2011). Recommends. Mercury Music Prize Recommends. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  29. ^ "ClintClinty" (9 July 2006). Ebony Bones @ Anti-Social (Bar Music Hall) PT 2 – YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  30. ^ Cafun, Evian (14 April 2007). Kwes,Forty Fives,EvIaNnAivE,BONO MUST DIE@ULU Video by Evian Cafun – MySpace Video. MySpace. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  31. ^ mytaratata (18 May 2009).video Emission 318 2/4 – Jack PENATE – 318, jack penate – videos MYTARATATA.COM. MYTARATATA.COM Retrieved on 15 June 2010.
  32. ^ Mottley, Elan Tamara (June 2009). Elan Tamara – Organ EP – Out 6 June 2011. Elan Tamara. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  33. ^ Williams, Scott (13 May 2010). Leftfield interview – Neil Barnes talks festivals. eFestivals. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
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