News
23 October 2026 – Michael Kiwanuka Releases FUDGE and Finds Creative Freedom in His Most Personal Album Yet
By Editorial Team - October 23, 2026
Summary
British soul songwriter Michael Kiwanuka releases fifth LP FUDGE via Polydor, an intimate self-produced triumph crafted following his stroke recovery.
Key Facts
- Michael Kiwanuka releases fifth studio album 'FUDGE' through Polydor Records.
- Produced primarily by Kiwanuka alongside Dom Monks and string arranger Rosie Danvers.
- Release follows a courageous recovery from a stroke, with live touring currently paused.
- Entities: Michael Kiwanuka, Dom Monks, Rosie Danvers, Polydor Records, Southampton
- Tags: michael-kiwanuka, fudge, polydor-records, soul, psychedelic-soul, indie-rock, british-music
Mercury Prize-winning British songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has released his fifth studio album, FUDGE, through Polydor Records, following 2024's Small Changes. While recorded during a wildly fertile writing period, the album's release was delayed after Kiwanuka suffered a serious stroke linked to undiagnosed hypertension, an ordeal from which he has been courageously recovering.
Musically, FUDGE heralds an important evolution. Stepping back from his long-standing production partnership with Danger Mouse and Inflo, Kiwanuka assumed the producer's chair himself, working out of intimate home-style studios in Southampton and Frome alongside engineer Dom Monks and longtime string arranger Rosie Danvers.
Across twelve tracks including "Summer Clothes", "California", "Drowning In Your Heart", and "Sing", the arrangements blend psychedelic soul, delicate folk-rock textures, and intimate gospel harmonies, creating a remarkably warm and vulnerable collection.
While touring remains rightly paused during his ongoing convalescence, FUDGE stands as a monumental testament to Kiwanuka's enduring artistic spirit. Explore more soul and alternative sounds in our indie rock section.