Kae Tempest

Kae Tempest is a British spoken word performer, rapper, poet, playwright, and novelist whose work spans multiple creative disciplines. Tempest attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon and graduated in English literature from Goldsmiths, University of London. Tempest began performing at open mic nights at Deal Real, a hip-hop store in Soho, at age 16. Initially identifying as a rapper, Tempest's work also gained recognition at poetry slams, bridging the gap between hip-hop and poetry.

Tempest's early career included forming the band Sound of Rum, performing poetry with guitarist Archie Marsh and drummer Ferry Lawrenson. Tempest launched the theatrical spoken word piece "Brand New Ancients" at Battersea Arts Centre, which won the Ted Hughes Award for innovation in poetry, a Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Off West End Theatre Award for best production that defies traditional categories. Tempest was named a Next Generation poet by the Poetry Book Society and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

As a recording artist, Tempest has collaborated with producer Dan Carey and released music through the Big Dada label. The debut solo album, "Everybody Down," received a Mercury Prize nomination. The second album, "Let Them Eat Chaos," was also nominated for the Mercury Prize. The third album, "The Book of Traps and Lessons," received an Ivor Novello nomination. "The Line Is a Curve" reached the UK Top Ten. Tempest won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, following two previous Ivor Novello nominations and a BRIT Award nomination.

Tempest's literary work includes the novel "The Bricks That Built the Houses," which won the Sunday Times Award for Best Selling Novel. The play "Paradise," a retelling of Sophocles' Philoctetes, was staged at the National Theatre. Tempest received the Silver Lion at the Venice Teatro Biennale for work as a playwright. Tempest's books have been translated into multiple languages and published internationally. The second novel, "Having Spent Life Seeking," was published after the first.

Tempest has publicly discussed personal experiences, including undergoing top surgery, beginning testosterone, and addressing mental health challenges as a touring musician. Tempest has performed at venues such as Brixton Academy and the Sydney Opera House, and has been commissioned to write for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Amnesty International, Barnardo's, and Channel 4 Television. Tempest's work continues to influence the fields of poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, and contemporary literature.