Self Titled
by Kae Tempest
- Type: Album
- Released: 4 July 2025
- Label: Island
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 40:31
- Community rating: 4/5 from 7 ratings
Album Notes & Community Reviews
On their fifth album, 'Self Titled', Kae Tempest delivers their most personal work, directly addressing their gender transition, identity, and existence as a trans person. The record shifts from past narrative forms to a more direct first-person perspective, set against a varied sonic backdrop that incorporates conscious hip-hop, spoken word, and more attention-grabbing instrumentals including synth-pop and orchestral elements. The album, which features collaborations with Neil Tennant, Young Fathers, and Connie Constance, received widespread critical acclaim for its vital, profound, and timely exploration of the self.
Genres
Descriptors: transgender, lgbtq, political, conscious, alienation, male-vocalist, existential, talk-singing, rap, spoken-word, soulful, storytelling
Tracklist
- I Stand On The Line (3:38)
- Statue In The Square (2:54)
- Know Yourself (2:40)
- Sunshine On Catford (3:10)
- Bless The Bold Future (3:42)
- Everything All Together (1:52)
- Prayers To Whisper (3:34)
- Diagnoses (2:53)
- Hyperdistillation (4:09)
- Forever (2:28)
- Breathe (5:53)
- Till Morning (3:33)
Credits
- Kae Tempest - primary artist, words by, music by, vocals
- Sheila Maurice-Grey - arranged by [horns], trumpet
- Studio Island - art direction
- Alex Joseph - design
- Isabel Gracefield - engineer [engineered by]
- Louis Rogove - engineer [engineered by]
- Scott Barnett - engineer [engineered by]
- Matt Colton - mastered by
- Fraser T Smith - music by, producer [produced by], mixed by, keyboards, piano, drum programming, programmed by [bass programming], keyboards, drum programming, programmed by [bass programming], keyboards, piano, electric guitar, drum programming, bass guitar, programmed by [bass programming], keyboards, piano, drum programming, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, bass guitar
- Tawiah - music by, vocals [additional]
- Tom Rowlands - music by, producer [produced by], keyboards, drum programming, programmed by [bass programming]
- Jesse Glazzard - photography by
- Chelsea Carmichael - saxophone
- Anoushka Nanguy - trombone
- Theon Cross - tuba
- Alloysius Massaquoi - words by, music by
- Constance Power - words by, music by
- Graham Hastings - words by, music by
- Kayus Bankole - words by, music by
- Giles Kwakeulati King-Ashong - drums
- Raven Bush - strings [arranged and performed by]
- Molly J - backing vocals
- Neil Tennant - vocals [additional vocals]
- Connie Constance - vocals [additional vocals]
- Young Fathers - vocals [additional vocals]