January 15, 2012 12:12

Michael Kiwanuka on BBC Sound Of 2012 win: 'It may come with baggage' Michael Kiwanuka Tickets

'The more people who hear your music, the more people you discover don't like it,' says singer

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Michael Kiwanuka has claimed that topping the BBC's Sound Of 2012 poll "may well come with baggage".

The singer, who released his debut LP 'Tell Me A Tale' last summer and was announced as the winner of the BBC's annual poll earlier this month, told the Guardian that claiming the gong could be a double-edged sword.

"Loads of things excite me about it," he says. "I'm not gonna lie and say I don't care, because I've always wanted to be a musician and recognition for your art is definitely something you take to heart."

He went on to add:

But it may well come with baggage. Expectations. The fact that the more people who hear your music, the more people you discover don't like it.

Kiwanuka also discussed his distinctive singing voice, claiming: "I can't sing any other way. At first I hated it, I didn't want to sound like that. You have your heroes and you want to sound like them. In my little head I thought: I don't sound like Marvin Gaye, so it's crap.

"Eventually you accept who you are. That it's better to sound like you. That that's actually cool."

Michael Kiwanuka will release his debut album 'Home Again' on March 23. He came out on top of the BBC's Sound Of 2012 poll ahead of Frank Ocean and Azealia Banks, who were named in second and third place respectively.

Dubstep producer Skrillex and Sweden's Niki And The Dove, who finished at fourth and fifth place respectively. Other acts to be nominated included A$ap Rocky, Dry The River, Friends and Spector.

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