Kae Tempest – Know Yourself
Kae Tempest has announced their fifth studio album, “Self Titled,” which will be released on July 4th via Island Records. The album will also feature a powerful new single, “Know Yourself.” The track serves as both introduction and thesis statement for what promises to be Tempest’s most personal work yet.
“Know Yourself” establishes a fascinating premise – a conversation across time between different versions of Tempest. “It samples a lyric I wrote years ago, where my younger self is talking to their younger self. A dialogue between selves across time, in real time,” Tempest explains. “When I was young I sought help from my older self. I came into my head, I told me ‘know yourself.’”
The track has energetic synthesisers to provide a pulsing foundation for Tempest’s flow. The production balances urgency and introspection, mirroring the song’s theme of looking backwards while moving forward. The sound palette suggests a collaboration that honours Tempest’s poetic roots while embracing more expansive sonic territories.
“Self Titled” marks a significant shift in Tempest’s approach to songwriting. While previous albums often employed character-driven narratives, Grammy-winning producer Fraser T Smith encouraged Tempest to write from a first-person perspective this time around. The result appears to be a more vulnerable and direct form of expression, with the album described as “a love letter to Tempest’s younger self.”
The forthcoming record features numerous collaborators, including Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, experimental trio Young Fathers, rising star Connie Constance, and vocalist Tawiah. These diverse voices suggest an album exploring different facets of identity through varied musical perspectives.
The accompanying music video, filmed in London’s oldest barbershop, cleverly incorporates footage from Tempest’s past alongside current scenes: a visual representation of the song’s temporal conversation.
As Tempest continues to evolve as an artist – moving fluidly between poet, playwright, novelist, and musician, “Self Titled” appears to be an attempt to integrate these various identities into a cohesive whole.
