Michael Kiwanuka Releases 'Fudge' and a Short Film About Making It

Michael Kiwanuka's fifth album, 'Fudge', was released on 23 October, about a year after it was first planned to arrive, Rolling Stone reported.

The same outlet has premiered a short film about the record. 'The Making of 'FUDGE': A Film' was shown exclusively on Rolling Stone, and it was directed by Jodie Canwell, a friend of Kiwanuka who works as his videographer and photographer.

The film was shot in spring and summer 2023 at a remote studio near Kiwanuka's home in Southampton, England. It follows the album from those sessions to its release, which was delayed for longer than the original schedule had planned.

Kiwanuka said he wanted 'Fudge' to feel playful and loose, with a stream-of-consciousness quality. He compared the songs to detailed versions of sketches from a journal, in which ideas are written down as they come rather than tidied up.

The delay came with a health setback. Kiwanuka has said he suffered a stroke after he had to pull out of a festival in Ireland because an illness had not gone away. He has spoken about it openly alongside the album's release.

Kiwanuka is also a Mercury Prize winner. The UK's annual album award went to his 2019 record 'Kiwanuka', and his name is still tied to that win in coverage of his work.

Fans who want to hear the album can use the "Listen Now" link on Kiwanuka's official website, which points to a streaming page for 'Fudge'. The site also lists exclusive vinyl, CD and merchandise for the record, so physical copies and clothing can be bought directly from the artist's own store.

For anyone new to the album, the short film is a useful way in. It shows the studio, the people around the project and the long gap between recording and release, all in one place.