As hard as we’ve pushed Kwabs Adjepong at SoulTracks over the last two years, you’d think we had stock in this young man. The baritone UK troubadour whose huge voice seemed too cavernous to ever fit into today’s cookie-cutter urban world of R&B has consistently found an urban alternative music niche all his own with the help of electronica and ambient soul producer SOHN. On this live BBC jam session version of his latest single from his second EP in the last year, Kwabs delivers a decidedly sparer version of “Pray For Love” that is no less effective than the full band version he cut here or the studio rendition in the official video below. What is no less true is that whether live or in the studio, his signature voice is unwavering in its strength and unique timbre, making Kwabs one of the truly original artists hitting the international urban music scene today.
As of May 19th, U.S. fans of Kwabs can finally purchase the Pray For Love EP and, if they haven’t already, scoop up his Wrong or Right EP made available stateside in February of this year, courtesy of Warner Music UK. Together, they’ll have to tide you over until Kwabs Atlantic Records LP debut later this year. In the meantime, enjoy!
By L. Michael Gipson