It’s been five years since Michael Kiwanuka dropped Kiwanuka, the surprise masterpiece that won a Mercury Prize and put the singer-songwriter on the map. Now, Kiwanuka returns with Small Changes, a record that reaffirms his place as one of this generation's defining artists. Reuniting with producers Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton and Inflo, the British artist delivers an album that’s as thoughtful as it is emotionally enriching, capturing that rare blend of introspection and ease in his songs. Recorded between London, Los Angeles, and Burton’s Connecticut studio, Small Changes gathers a dream team of collaborators, including legendary bassist Pino Palladino and Jam and Lewis namesake Jimmy Jam. The sessions brought out Kiwanuka’s commitment to capturing the raw, soul-drenched intimacy that defines what he strives to do, an atmosphere he embraces as a creative home.

Leading the album is "Floating Parade," a breezy, groove-heavy song with slow-motion strings and funky basslines. Kiwanuka describes it as an escape - a “floating parade” of celebration he observed on the streets, a metaphor for finding peace amidst life’s chaos. The sentiment sets the tone for an album that unfolds with both gravitas and levity, balancing weighty themes with moments of pure release. The album’s title track finds Kiwanuka drawing from unexpected inspiration, specifically Gene Clark's No Other, which Burton pulled from his extensive vinyl collection. Kiwanuka credits this musical discovery as a spark that helped the song find its shape, ending in yet another creative leap for the artist. With Inflo on Fender Rhodes, the track’s soulful introspection becomes a reflection on growth, personal and artistic.

In true Kiwanuka fashion, Small Changes isn’t just about sound but also the stories behind each song. "The Rest Of Me" channels the spirit of artists like Bill Withers and Sade, grounding it in Kiwanuka’s own sensibilities and the resolve to become a better partner. The album also makes space for pure affirmation, with tracks like “Follow Your Dreams” born from Kiwanuka's personal reckoning with self-doubt, pushing back against it to capture universal truths. Low-slung and layered, “Lowdown (part I)” taps into Kiwanuka’s love for Afro-rock, echoing '70s African psych and rock influences like Zambia's Amanaz. Meanwhile, its counterpart, “Lowdown (part II),” dives into atmospheric, string-laden psychedelia that transports listeners to an entirely different headspace. Both tracks show Kiwanuka’s versatility, how he’s able to thread genres and decades together into a single thought that’s unmistakably his. Then there’s “Four Long Years,” the album’s final track, a haunting lullaby of separation that emerges from a deeply personal place. Inspired by long evenings listening to Mazzy Star, it’s a plaintive piece that sounds like it was plucked straight from the heart, channeling the bittersweet pain of distance in the most arresting way.

With Small Changes, Kiwanuka proves, yet again, that he’s never too far from his guitar, his “emotional external hard drive.” It’s where he connects with music that made him, but this time he’s done more than recall the past.