Electronic · GB · Active since 1987

Kwes.

Soft-focus electronic soul that feels like a warm hug from a synthesizer. Intimate, glitchy pop for quiet moments and rainy afternoons.

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Intro

, is a pivotal figure in the UK's alternative electronic and pop landscape. Emerging in the late 2000s through associations with XL Recordings and Young Turks, he eventually found a home on Warp Records.

His sound, which he terms 'freepop', is a sophisticated blend of soul, downtempo, and experimental electronics. As a producer, he has been a silent architect for some of the most influential British music of the 21st century, collaborating with Solange, Sampha, and Tirzah. His work is characterized by a 'wonky' aesthetic, utilizing pitch-shifted synths, off-kilter rhythms, and a deep sense of melodicism. His 2013 debut album 'ilp' solidified his reputation for creating emotionally resonant, technically inventive pop. More recently, his transition into film scoring with 'Rye Lane' has demonstrated his versatility, earning critical acclaim and a BIFA award. He remains a 'producer's producer', highly respected for his ability to bring a sense of vulnerability and organic warmth to digital environments.

Our Catalog2 Albums · 2013 · 2026
The Sound · Center of GravityWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
Adjacent Artists
D
Delac

Shares electronica, art pop, downtempo (subgenres); breathy, gentle, whispered (vocal style)

S
Sonn

Shares breathy, gentle, processed (vocal style); lo_fi, minimalist, bedroom_production (production style)

Barbara Morgenstern
Barbara Morgenstern

Shares electronica, art pop, downtempo (subgenres); wistful, playful, serene (moods)

R
Reporter

Shares lo_fi, analog_warmth, minimalist (production style); breathy, gentle, whispered (vocal style)

SP
Sebastian Paul

Shares bedroom_production, lo_fi, tape_saturation (production style); late_night, rainy_day, solitude (atmosphere)

JG
Jack Grace

Shares downtempo, electronica (subgenres); breathy, gentle, whispered (vocal style)

VK
Video Kid

Shares bedroom_production, lo_fi, analog_warmth (production style); late_night, solitude, urban_night (atmosphere)

B
boone

Shares breathy, gentle, processed (vocal style); late_night, rainy_day, solitude (atmosphere)

C
CLOUD

Shares electronica, downtempo (subgenres); analog_warmth, minimalist, tape_saturation (production style)

N
NFC

Shares analog_warmth, minimalist, tape_saturation (production style); electronica, downtempo (subgenres)

P
Psapp

Shares electronica, downtempo (subgenres); analog_warmth, minimalist, lo_fi (production style)

CM
COLD MEGA

Shares electronica, downtempo (subgenres); breathy, gentle, whispered (vocal style)

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