RETURNING WITH a stand alone single, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Kwabs today shares the emotive, raw and hard-hitting “Hurt A Little” – a song which speaks incredibly loudly on his personal journey navigating the music industry, whilst also retaining the most incredible sonic and hauntingly beautiful soaring melodies. 

To the outside world, after an internationally successful hit single (Walk) and adored debut record (Love + War) in 2015, it may have seemed that Kwabs somewhat mysteriously disappeared from the limelight; but the story is far from this. It’s incredibly touching, important and captivating, with a very complex reasoning. 

Garnering numerous accolades whilst he was actively releasing, Kwabs found fans across the world of music; He was personally asked by Sam Smith to support them on their 2016 European tour, Disclosure asked him to feature on their album Caracal, Stormzy sampled him on his debut album Gang Signs And Prayer, and also joined him in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge – Kwabs was on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory. 

“Hurt A Little”, written with Sam Dixon (Adele, Sia, Christina Aguilera) speaks on helping someone you care about, realise their distress.

The song is full of provocative questions asking whether it’s obvious how bad things are. By the time it finishes, the person singing already knows – the only option is time and space. At that time, Kwabs decided to see if the industry could handle him trying to heal himself. It gave him an answer: It didn’t know what to do with him.

Speaking on the single, Kwabs states: “This song “Hurt a Little” is one of the few I recorded for my second album that I felt comfortable to listen to after pretty much completely disconnecting from music (I didn’t really listen to much music for years.)”

Kwabs left music because he couldn’t keep hurting himself, whilst doing something he loved. He was physically and emotionally in pain from the pressures.

He continues: “The industry is challenging because business and art clash; but it’s not trying to make hit records that I found problematic. It was the lack of capacity the industry had to recognise and limit the harm it does to its artists…. My decision [to leave] was part of a wider philosophy and part of my life story. It runs deeper than what happened during the time I was an active artist.”

Having not released any music since he left the limelight, bar his unexpected feature on DJ Regard’s “Signal” five years later, Kwabs has now decided he’s ready to share this one solo musical moment. His future in music? Uncertain: “I want to be well enough to come back to performing forever but I have no real answer for when I will be.

“I want to use the extraordinary privilege that has come from being an artist to actually be happy, rather than just chase it.”

Yet Kwabs doesn’t seek to be negative about the music industry; instead he hopes his story can incite change – an understanding that a musician’s past and unique mind all need individually tailored care – there can not be a one size fits all record label template. 

While certain details around Kwabs’ story remain unclear and with a deliberate need for privacy, the fact that “Hurt A Little ” was recorded all those years ago, gives it an almost prophetic notion.

It’s almost as if Kwabs knew he needed time and space; he needed to give himself this in order to regain health and happiness. He was speaking to himself, and now chooses to speak to others. 

Regardless of the circumstances, Kwabs is back in this moment, and has blessed us with his unparalleled ability to cut through any atmosphere with his inimitable voice.