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'''Kae Tempest'''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=6 August 2020|title=Kate Tempest Changes Name To Kae Tempest|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/kate-tempest-changes-name-to-kae-tempest|magazine=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|author=Kae Tempest|user=kaetempest|number=1291396030794260483|date=6 August 2020|title=kae tempest on Twitter|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> (born 22 December 1985) is an English spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright. At the age of 16, they were accepted into the [[BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology]] in [[Croydon]]. In 2013, they won the [[Ted Hughes Award]] for their work ''Brand New Ancients''.<ref name="Guardianmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/oct/22/mercury-nominees-2014-kate-tempest |title='Mercury nominees 2014: Kate Tempest |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018 | work=Guardian Music Blog| publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]| location=London | df=dmy-all}}</ref> They were named a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Book Society,<ref name="Flood">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/11/next-generation-20-poets-poetry-book-society-kate-tempest | title='Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society |last=Flood |first=Alison | date=11 September 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |location=London}}</ref> a once-a-decade accolade. Their albums ''[[Everybody Down]]''<ref name="Guardianmusic" /> and ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'' have been nominated for the [[Mercury Music Prize]].<ref name="Hyundaimercuryprize2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.mercuryprize.com/news/kate-tempest-let-them-eat-chaos |title=Kate Tempest - 'Let Them Eat Chaos' |access-date=6 February 2018 |date=2 August 2017 | website=mercuryprize.com |publisher=[[Mercury Prize]]}}</ref> The latter's accompanying poetry book (also titled ''Let Them Eat Chaos'') was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category.<ref name="Cain">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/22/costa-book-award-2016-shortlists-dominated-by-female-writers-rose-tremain-maggie-o-farrell-sarah-perry |last=Cain |first=Sian |title=Costa book award 2016 shortlists dominated by female writers |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |location=London |date=22 November 2016 |access-date=6 February 2018 }}</ref> Their [[debut novel]] ''The Bricks That Built the Houses'' was a ''Sunday Times'' bestseller and won the 2017 Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Breakthrough Author. They were nominated as [[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|Best Female Solo Performer]] at the [[2018 Brit Awards]].<ref name="Brits">{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/news/british-female-solo-artist-nominees-announced |title=British Female Solo Artist Nominees Announced |website=brits.co.uk |publisher=[[BRIT Awards]] |access-date=6 February 2018 }}</ref>
'''Kae Tempest'''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=6 August 2020|title=Kate Tempest Changes Name To Kae Tempest|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/kate-tempest-changes-name-to-kae-tempest|magazine=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|author=Kae Tempest|user=kaetempest|number=1291396030794260483|date=6 August 2020|title=kae tempest on Twitter|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> (born 22 December 1985) is an English spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright. At the age of 16, she were accepted into the [[BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology]] in [[Croydon]]. In 2013, she won the [[Ted Hughes Award]] for their work ''Brand New Ancients''.<ref name="Guardianmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/oct/22/mercury-nominees-2014-kate-tempest |title='Mercury nominees 2014: Kate Tempest |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018 | work=Guardian Music Blog| publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]| location=London | df=dmy-all}}</ref> she were named a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Book Society,<ref name="Flood">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/11/next-generation-20-poets-poetry-book-society-kate-tempest | title='Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society |last=Flood |first=Alison | date=11 September 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |location=London}}</ref> a once-a-decade accolade. Their albums ''[[Everybody Down]]''<ref name="Guardianmusic" /> and ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'' have been nominated for the [[Mercury Music Prize]].<ref name="Hyundaimercuryprize2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.mercuryprize.com/news/kate-tempest-let-them-eat-chaos |title=Kate Tempest - 'Let Them Eat Chaos' |access-date=6 February 2018 |date=2 August 2017 | website=mercuryprize.com |publisher=[[Mercury Prize]]}}</ref> The latter's accompanying poetry book (also titled ''Let Them Eat Chaos'') was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category.<ref name="Cain">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/22/costa-book-award-2016-shortlists-dominated-by-female-writers-rose-tremain-maggie-o-farrell-sarah-perry |last=Cain |first=Sian |title=Costa book award 2016 shortlists dominated by female writers |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |location=London |date=22 November 2016 |access-date=6 February 2018 }}</ref> Their [[debut novel]] ''The Bricks That Built the Houses'' was a ''Sunday Times'' bestseller and won the 2017 Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Breakthrough Author. she were nominated as [[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|Best Female Solo Performer]] at the [[2018 Brit Awards]].<ref name="Brits">{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/news/british-female-solo-artist-nominees-announced |title=British Female Solo Artist Nominees Announced |website=brits.co.uk |publisher=[[BRIT Awards]] |access-date=6 February 2018 }}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
[[File:Kate Tempest Way Out West 2015 (20379617120).jpg|thumb|Kae Tempest performing at Way Out West 2015 in Gothenburg, Sweden]]
[[File:Kate Tempest Way Out West 2015 (20379617120).jpg|thumb|Kae Tempest performing at Way Out West 2015 in Gothenburg, Sweden]]


Tempest grew up in [[Brockley]], [[South East (London sub region)|South East London]], one of five children. Their father was a corporate media lawyer and their mother a teacher. Tempest worked in a record shop from age 14 to 18. They went to [[Thomas Tallis School]], leaving at 16 to study at the [[BRIT School]] for Performing Arts and Technology in [[Croydon]], going on to graduate in English Literature from [[Goldsmiths, University of London]].<ref name="Guardianmusic" /><ref name="Hyundaimercuryprize2017" /> Tempest first performed when they were 16, at open mic nights at Deal Real, a small hip-hop store in [[Carnaby Street]] in London's West End. They went on to support acts such as [[John Cooper Clarke]], [[Billy Bragg]] and [[Benjamin Zephaniah]]. They toured internationally with their band Sound of Rum until they disbanded in 2012 before being commissioned to write their first play, ''Wasted''.<ref name="Mahoney">{{cite web|author=Mahoney, Elisabeth|date=27 March 2012|title=Wasted – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/mar/27/wasted-paines-plough-review|access-date=6 February 2018|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
Tempest grew up in [[Brockley]], [[South East (London sub region)|South East London]], one of five children. Their father was a corporate media lawyer and their mother a teacher. Tempest worked in a record shop from age 14 to 18. she went to [[Thomas Tallis School]], leaving at 16 to study at the [[BRIT School]] for Performing Arts and Technology in [[Croydon]], going on to graduate in English Literature from [[Goldsmiths, University of London]].<ref name="Guardianmusic" /><ref name="Hyundaimercuryprize2017" /> Tempest first performed when she were 16, at open mic nights at Deal Real, a small hip-hop store in [[Carnaby Street]] in London's West End. she went on to support acts such as [[John Cooper Clarke]], [[Billy Bragg]] and [[Benjamin Zephaniah]]. she toured internationally with their band Sound of Rum until she disbanded in 2012 before being commissioned to write their first play, ''Wasted''.<ref name="Mahoney">{{cite web|author=Mahoney, Elisabeth|date=27 March 2012|title=Wasted – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/mar/27/wasted-paines-plough-review|access-date=6 February 2018|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>


In August 2020, Tempest [[Coming out|came out]] as [[non-binary gender|non-binary]], began using [[singular they|''they/them'']] pronouns, and changed their name to Kae.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=6 August 2020|title=Kate Tempest announces they are non-binary, changes name to Kae|language=en|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/06/kate-tempest-announces-they-are-non-binary-changes-name-to-kae|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>
In August 2020, Tempest [[Coming out|came out]] as [[non-binary gender|non-binary]], began using [[singular she|''she/them'']] pronouns, and changed their name to Kae.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=6 August 2020|title=Kate Tempest announces she are non-binary, changes name to Kae|language=en|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/06/kate-tempest-announces-she-are-non-binary-changes-name-to-kae|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>


[[File:KateTempestTreefort2017.jpg|thumb|Kae Tempest performs [[hip hop]], namely their signature piece ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'', at the 2017 [[Treefort Music Fest]] in Boise, Idaho]]
[[File:KateTempestTreefort2017.jpg|thumb|Kae Tempest performs [[hip hop]], namely their signature piece ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'', at the 2017 [[Treefort Music Fest]] in Boise, Idaho]]


==Career==
==Career==
In 2013, Tempest released their first poetry book ''Everything Speaks in its Own Way'', a limited edition run on their own imprint, Zingaro. At 26, they launched the theatrical spoken word piece ''Brand New Ancients'' at the [[Battersea Arts Centre]] (2012), to great critical acclaim.<ref name="Cain" /><ref name="Brits" /><ref name="Mahoney" /><ref name="Nationalbooktokens">{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalbooktokens.com/vote |title=Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2017 sponsored by National Book Tokens |publisher=National Book Tokens|access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref> The piece also won Tempest the Herald Angel and The Ted Hughes Prize. Some of Tempest's influences include [[Samuel Beckett]], [[James Joyce]], [[W B Yeats]], [[William Blake]], [[W H Auden]] and [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref name="Brits" /><ref name="Mahoney" /><ref name="Isherwood">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/theater/brand-new-ancients-stars-kate-tempest-in-a-tragic-tale.html |title='Brand New Ancients' Stars Kate Tempest in a Tragic Tale - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |author=Isherwood, Charles |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref>
In 2013, Tempest released their first poetry book ''Everything Speaks in its Own Way'', a limited edition run on their own imprint, Zingaro. At 26, she launched the theatrical spoken word piece ''Brand New Ancients'' at the [[Battersea Arts Centre]] (2012), to great critical acclaim.<ref name="Cain" /><ref name="Brits" /><ref name="Mahoney" /><ref name="Nationalbooktokens">{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalbooktokens.com/vote |title=Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2017 sponsored by National Book Tokens |publisher=National Book Tokens|access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref> The piece also won Tempest the Herald Angel and The Ted Hughes Prize. Some of Tempest's influences include [[Samuel Beckett]], [[James Joyce]], [[W B Yeats]], [[William Blake]], [[W H Auden]] and [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref name="Brits" /><ref name="Mahoney" /><ref name="Isherwood">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/theater/brand-new-ancients-stars-kate-tempest-in-a-tragic-tale.html |title='Brand New Ancients' Stars Kate Tempest in a Tragic Tale - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |author=Isherwood, Charles |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref>


In September 2013, their play ''Hopelessly Devoted'' was produced by Paines Plough and premiered at Birmingham Rep Theatre.<ref name="Brennan">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/sep/29/hopelessly-devoted-review |author=Brennan, Clare |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=6 February 2018 |work=The Guardian |title=Hoplessly Devoted - review - Stage - The Guardian}}</ref>
In September 2013, their play ''Hopelessly Devoted'' was produced by Paines Plough and premiered at Birmingham Rep Theatre.<ref name="Brennan">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/sep/29/hopelessly-devoted-review |author=Brennan, Clare |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=6 February 2018 |work=The Guardian |title=Hoplessly Devoted - review - Stage - The Guardian}}</ref>


In 2014, they released the album ''[[Everybody Down]]'' ([[Big Dada]], [[Ninja Tune]]), which was produced by [[Dan Carey (record producer)|Dan Carey]] and was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize.<ref name="Kakutani">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/books/review-kate-tempest-a-young-poet-conjuring-ancient-gods.html |title=Review - Kate Tempest, a Young Poet Conjuring Ancient Gods - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |author=Kakutani, Michiko |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref>
In 2014, she released the album ''[[Everybody Down]]'' ([[Big Dada]], [[Ninja Tune]]), which was produced by [[Dan Carey (record producer)|Dan Carey]] and was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize.<ref name="Kakutani">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/books/review-kate-tempest-a-young-poet-conjuring-ancient-gods.html |title=Review - Kate Tempest, a Young Poet Conjuring Ancient Gods - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |author=Kakutani, Michiko |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref>


Since the release of ''Everybody Down'', Tempest has increased touring as a musician,<ref name="IndependentTempest">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kate-tempest-glastonbury-2017-west-holts-stage-watch-performance-latest-poems-a7805781.html|website=independent.co.uk|title=Kate Tempest 'moves people to tears' with powerful Glastonbury set|access-date=12 November 2018|date=23 June 2017|last=Farand|first= Chloe}}</ref> playing at festivals and headlining shows with their live band which consists of Kwake Bass on drums,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2017/kate-tempest-everything-is-defined-in-monetary-terms |access-date= 19 June 2018 |last= Tripney|first=Natasha |date= 4 May 2017 |website= thestage.co.uk|title=Kate Tempest: 'Everything is defined in monetary terms'}}</ref> Dan Carey on synths and Clare Uchima on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.volksbuehne.berlin/en/programm/489/let-them-eat-chaos |access-date= 19 June 2018 |website= volksbuehne.berlin|title=Let Them Eat Chaos Kate Tempest06.10. Tempelhof Hangar 5}}</ref>
Since the release of ''Everybody Down'', Tempest has increased touring as a musician,<ref name="IndependentTempest">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kate-tempest-glastonbury-2017-west-holts-stage-watch-performance-latest-poems-a7805781.html|website=independent.co.uk|title=Kate Tempest 'moves people to tears' with powerful Glastonbury set|access-date=12 November 2018|date=23 June 2017|last=Farand|first= Chloe}}</ref> playing at festivals and headlining shows with their live band which consists of Kwake Bass on drums,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2017/kate-tempest-everything-is-defined-in-monetary-terms |access-date= 19 June 2018 |last= Tripney|first=Natasha |date= 4 May 2017 |website= thestage.co.uk|title=Kate Tempest: 'Everything is defined in monetary terms'}}</ref> Dan Carey on synths and Clare Uchima on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.volksbuehne.berlin/en/programm/489/let-them-eat-chaos |access-date= 19 June 2018 |website= volksbuehne.berlin|title=Let Them Eat Chaos Kate Tempest06.10. Tempelhof Hangar 5}}</ref>
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In April 2016, their debut novel ''The Bricks That Built The Houses'' was published by [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] and was a [[Sunday Times]] Bestseller. It won the [[Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards|Books Are My Bag]] Best Breakthrough Author Award.<ref name="Nationalbooktokens" />
In April 2016, their debut novel ''The Bricks That Built The Houses'' was published by [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] and was a [[Sunday Times]] Bestseller. It won the [[Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards|Books Are My Bag]] Best Breakthrough Author Award.<ref name="Nationalbooktokens" />


In September 2016, it was announced that Tempest would curate the 2017 Brighton Festival. They released the album ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'' on 7 October 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/oct/09/kate-tempest-let-them-eat-chaos-review|title=Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos review – a state-of-the-world address|last=Clark|first=Alex|date=9 October 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref> It debuted at no. 28 on the UK Albums Chart, and was also released in book format (Picador).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/kerrang-uk/20161019/281496455812451|publisher=Press Reader|title=2017:The Year of the Wolf|date=19 October 2016}}</ref> The album was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, this time in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/27/2017-mercury-shortlist-british-music|work=The Guardian|date=27 July 2017|title=2017 Mercury shortlist fails to spotlight truly exciting British music|author=Alexis Petridis}}</ref> They were nominated for Best British Female Solo Performer at the 2018 Brit Awards.<ref name="Brits" />
In September 2016, it was announced that Tempest would curate the 2017 Brighton Festival. she released the album ''[[Let Them Eat Chaos]]'' on 7 October 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/oct/09/kate-tempest-let-them-eat-chaos-review|title=Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos review – a state-of-the-world address|last=Clark|first=Alex|date=9 October 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref> It debuted at no. 28 on the UK Albums Chart, and was also released in book format (Picador).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/kerrang-uk/20161019/281496455812451|publisher=Press Reader|title=2017:The Year of the Wolf|date=19 October 2016}}</ref> The album was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, this time in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/27/2017-mercury-shortlist-british-music|work=The Guardian|date=27 July 2017|title=2017 Mercury shortlist fails to spotlight truly exciting British music|author=Alexis Petridis}}</ref> she were nominated for Best British Female Solo Performer at the 2018 Brit Awards.<ref name="Brits" />


Tempest's song "People's Faces" was used for the Facebook commercial "We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other", created by the agency [[Droga5]], and released on 9 April 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook TV Commercial, 'We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other' Song by Kate Tempest |url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/nLM9/facebook-were-never-lost-if-we-can-find-each-other-song-by-kate-tempest|website=iSpot.tv|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
Tempest's song "People's Faces" was used for the Facebook commercial "We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other", created by the agency [[Droga5]], and released on 9 April 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook TV Commercial, 'We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other' Song by Kate Tempest |url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/nLM9/facebook-were-never-lost-if-we-can-find-each-other-song-by-kate-tempest|website=iSpot.tv|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>


==Politics==
==Politics==
In November 2019, along with other public figures, Tempest signed a letter supporting [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 UK general election]].<ref name="nme">{{cite news |last=Neale|first=Matthew|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-letter-supporting-jeremy-corbyn-2568734|title=Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more |work=[[NME]]|date=16 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, they signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/vote-for-hope-and-a-decent-future|title= Vote for hope and a decent future |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="theguardian2">{{cite news |last=Proctor|first=Kate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/coogan-klein-lead-cultural-figures-backing-corbyn-labour|title=Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
In November 2019, along with other public figures, Tempest signed a letter supporting [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 UK general election]].<ref name="nme">{{cite news |last=Neale|first=Matthew|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-letter-supporting-jeremy-corbyn-2568734|title=Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more |work=[[NME]]|date=16 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, she signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/vote-for-hope-and-a-decent-future|title= Vote for hope and a decent future |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="theguardian2">{{cite news |last=Proctor|first=Kate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/coogan-klein-lead-cultural-figures-backing-corbyn-labour|title=Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
''[[The Economist]]'' said of Tempest's commission from the Royal Shakespeare Company: "A stunning piece by [Kae] Tempest, a London-born performance poet, comes bursting off the screen. Rarely has the relevance of Shakespeare to our language, to the very fabric of our feelings, been expressed with quite such youthful passion. (It should be mandatory viewing for all teenagers.)"<ref name="Economist">{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/08/william-shakespeare|title=William Shakespeare: A digital reinvention |date=28 August 2012|publisher=[[The Economist]] |access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> The ''[[Huffington Post]]'' describes them as "Britain's leading young poet, playwright and rapper...one of the most widely respected performers in the country – the complete package of lyrics and delivery. [They are] also one of the most exciting young writers working in Britain today" (2012). ''The Guardian'' commented of ''Brand New Ancients'', "Suddenly it feels as if we are not in a theatre but a church... gathered around a hearth, hearing the age-old stories that help us make sense of our lives. We're given the sense that what we are watching is something sacred."<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/10/brand-new-ancients-review?INTCMP=SRCH|title= Brand New Ancients – review BAC, London|last=Gardner |first=Lyn|date= 10 September 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> In 2013, the newspaper noted:
''[[The Economist]]'' said of Tempest's commission from the Royal Shakespeare Company: "A stunning piece by [Kae] Tempest, a London-born performance poet, comes bursting off the screen. Rarely has the relevance of Shakespeare to our language, to the very fabric of our feelings, been expressed with quite such youthful passion. (It should be mandatory viewing for all teenagers.)"<ref name="Economist">{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/08/william-shakespeare|title=William Shakespeare: A digital reinvention |date=28 August 2012|publisher=[[The Economist]] |access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> The ''[[Huffington Post]]'' describes them as "Britain's leading young poet, playwright and rapper...one of the most widely respected performers in the country – the complete package of lyrics and delivery. [she are] also one of the most exciting young writers working in Britain today" (2012). ''The Guardian'' commented of ''Brand New Ancients'', "Suddenly it feels as if we are not in a theatre but a church... gathered around a hearth, hearing the age-old stories that help us make sense of our lives. We're given the sense that what we are watching is something sacred."<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/10/brand-new-ancients-review?INTCMP=SRCH|title= Brand New Ancients – review BAC, London|last=Gardner |first=Lyn|date= 10 September 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> In 2013, the newspaper noted:


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
[They are] one of the brightest talents around. [Their] spoken-word performances have the metre and craft of traditional poetry, the kinetic agitation of hip-hop and the intimacy of a whispered heart-to-heart... Tempest deals bravely with poverty, class and consumerism. [They do] so in a way that not only avoids the pitfalls of sounding trite, but manages to be beautiful too, drawing on ancient mythology and sermonic cadence to tell stories of the everyday.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/apr/10/kate-tempest-performance-poet-cant-be-ignored "Kate Tempest: the performance poet who can't be ignored"] 10 April 2013, ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>
[she are] one of the brightest talents around. [Their] spoken-word performances have the metre and craft of traditional poetry, the kinetic agitation of hip-hop and the intimacy of a whispered heart-to-heart... Tempest deals bravely with poverty, class and consumerism. [she do] so in a way that not only avoids the pitfalls of sounding trite, but manages to be beautiful too, drawing on ancient mythology and sermonic cadence to tell stories of the everyday.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/apr/10/kate-tempest-performance-poet-cant-be-ignored "Kate Tempest: the performance poet who can't be ignored"] 10 April 2013, ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


In 2013, they won the [[Ted Hughes Award]] for their work ''Brand New Ancients'', the first person under the age of 40 to win the award,<ref name="Auto">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/sep/14/kate-tempest-poet-rapper-mercury-prize-profile|title=Kate Tempest: a winning wielder of words|author=Michael Hogan|work=The Guardian|date=14 September 2014}}</ref> and was selected as one of the 2014 Next Generation Poets by the [[Poetry Society]].<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/11/next-generation-20-poets-poetry-book-society-kate-tempest|work=The Guardian|title='Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society|date=11 September 2014|author=Alison Flood}}</ref>
In 2013, she won the [[Ted Hughes Award]] for their work ''Brand New Ancients'', the first person under the age of 40 to win the award,<ref name="Auto">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/sep/14/kate-tempest-poet-rapper-mercury-prize-profile|title=Kate Tempest: a winning wielder of words|author=Michael Hogan|work=The Guardian|date=14 September 2014}}</ref> and was selected as one of the 2014 Next Generation Poets by the [[Poetry Society]].<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/11/next-generation-20-poets-poetry-book-society-kate-tempest|work=The Guardian|title='Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society|date=11 September 2014|author=Alison Flood}}</ref>


Tempest has received wide critical acclaim for their written and live work.<ref name="Economist"/> A performance of ''Brand New Ancients'' prompted the New York Times to say “As gorgeous streams of words flow out, [they conjure] a story so vivid it’s as if you had a state-of-the-art Blu-ray player stuffed into your brain, projecting image after image that sears itself into your consciousness”<ref name="Isherwood" /> while a review by Michiko Kakutani of their poetry collections in the same paper explored their written style: “While [their] intense performances on stage add a fierce urgency to the words, these text versions of [their] work stand powerfully on their own on the page...using [their] pictorial imagination to sear specific images into the reader’s mind”.<ref name="Kakutani" />
Tempest has received wide critical acclaim for their written and live work.<ref name="Economist"/> A performance of ''Brand New Ancients'' prompted the New York Times to say “As gorgeous streams of words flow out, [she conjure] a story so vivid it’s as if you had a state-of-the-art Blu-ray player stuffed into your brain, projecting image after image that sears itself into your consciousness”<ref name="Isherwood" /> while a review by Michiko Kakutani of their poetry collections in the same paper explored their written style: “While [their] intense performances on stage add a fierce urgency to the words, these text versions of [their] work stand powerfully on their own on the page...using [their] pictorial imagination to sear specific images into the reader’s mind”.<ref name="Kakutani" />


They have been published in nine languages.
she have been published in nine languages.


''Everybody Down'' was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize and ''Let Them Eat Chaos'' have been nominated for the 2017 Mercury Music Prize. Their accompanying poetry book ''Let Them Eat Chaos'' was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category in 2016. They were nominated as [[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|Best Female Solo Performer]] at the 2018 Brit Awards.
''Everybody Down'' was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize and ''Let Them Eat Chaos'' have been nominated for the 2017 Mercury Music Prize. Their accompanying poetry book ''Let Them Eat Chaos'' was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category in 2016. she were nominated as [[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|Best Female Solo Performer]] at the 2018 Brit Awards.


== Works ==
== Works ==

Revision as of 01:09, 1 August 2021

Kae Tempest
Kae Tempest at Haldern Pop Festival in 2017
Born
Kate Esther Calvert[1]

(1985-12-22) 22 December 1985 (age 38)
Westminster, London, England
Occupation(s)Poet, playwright, rapper, recording artist
Notable workHopelessly Devoted, Wasted, Brand New Ancients, Everybody Down, Hold Your Own, The Bricks That Built The Houses, Let Them Eat Chaos
Musical career
GenresSpoken word, hip-hop
InstrumentVocals
LabelsAmerican Recordings, Fiction, Big Dada, Ninja Tune, Lex
Websitewww.kaetempest.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Kae Tempest[2][3] (born 22 December 1985) is an English spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright. At the age of 16, she were accepted into the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. In 2013, she won the Ted Hughes Award for their work Brand New Ancients.[4] she were named a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Book Society,[5] a once-a-decade accolade. Their albums Everybody Down[4] and Let Them Eat Chaos have been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.[6] The latter's accompanying poetry book (also titled Let Them Eat Chaos) was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category.[7] Their debut novel The Bricks That Built the Houses was a Sunday Times bestseller and won the 2017 Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Breakthrough Author. she were nominated as Best Female Solo Performer at the 2018 Brit Awards.[8]

Personal life

Kae Tempest performing at Way Out West 2015 in Gothenburg, Sweden

Tempest grew up in Brockley, South East London, one of five children. Their father was a corporate media lawyer and their mother a teacher. Tempest worked in a record shop from age 14 to 18. she went to Thomas Tallis School, leaving at 16 to study at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, going on to graduate in English Literature from Goldsmiths, University of London.[4][6] Tempest first performed when she were 16, at open mic nights at Deal Real, a small hip-hop store in Carnaby Street in London's West End. she went on to support acts such as John Cooper Clarke, Billy Bragg and Benjamin Zephaniah. she toured internationally with their band Sound of Rum until she disbanded in 2012 before being commissioned to write their first play, Wasted.[9]

In August 2020, Tempest came out as non-binary, began using she/them pronouns, and changed their name to Kae.[10]

Kae Tempest performs hip hop, namely their signature piece Let Them Eat Chaos, at the 2017 Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho

Career

In 2013, Tempest released their first poetry book Everything Speaks in its Own Way, a limited edition run on their own imprint, Zingaro. At 26, she launched the theatrical spoken word piece Brand New Ancients at the Battersea Arts Centre (2012), to great critical acclaim.[7][8][9][11] The piece also won Tempest the Herald Angel and The Ted Hughes Prize. Some of Tempest's influences include Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, W B Yeats, William Blake, W H Auden and Wu-Tang Clan.[8][9][12]

In September 2013, their play Hopelessly Devoted was produced by Paines Plough and premiered at Birmingham Rep Theatre.[13]

In 2014, she released the album Everybody Down (Big Dada, Ninja Tune), which was produced by Dan Carey and was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize.[14]

Since the release of Everybody Down, Tempest has increased touring as a musician,[15] playing at festivals and headlining shows with their live band which consists of Kwake Bass on drums,[16] Dan Carey on synths and Clare Uchima on keyboards.[17]

In October 2014, their first poetry collection for Picador, Hold Your Own, was published. The collection was a commercial and critical success and its release coincided with Tempest being named a Next Generation Poet.

Tempest was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2015.[18]

In April 2016, their debut novel The Bricks That Built The Houses was published by Bloomsbury and was a Sunday Times Bestseller. It won the Books Are My Bag Best Breakthrough Author Award.[11]

In September 2016, it was announced that Tempest would curate the 2017 Brighton Festival. she released the album Let Them Eat Chaos on 7 October 2016.[19] It debuted at no. 28 on the UK Albums Chart, and was also released in book format (Picador).[20] The album was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, this time in 2017.[21] she were nominated for Best British Female Solo Performer at the 2018 Brit Awards.[8]

Tempest's song "People's Faces" was used for the Facebook commercial "We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other", created by the agency Droga5, and released on 9 April 2020.[22]

Politics

In November 2019, along with other public figures, Tempest signed a letter supporting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the 2019 UK general election.[23] In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, she signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."[24][25]

Reception

The Economist said of Tempest's commission from the Royal Shakespeare Company: "A stunning piece by [Kae] Tempest, a London-born performance poet, comes bursting off the screen. Rarely has the relevance of Shakespeare to our language, to the very fabric of our feelings, been expressed with quite such youthful passion. (It should be mandatory viewing for all teenagers.)"[26] The Huffington Post describes them as "Britain's leading young poet, playwright and rapper...one of the most widely respected performers in the country – the complete package of lyrics and delivery. [she are] also one of the most exciting young writers working in Britain today" (2012). The Guardian commented of Brand New Ancients, "Suddenly it feels as if we are not in a theatre but a church... gathered around a hearth, hearing the age-old stories that help us make sense of our lives. We're given the sense that what we are watching is something sacred."[27] In 2013, the newspaper noted:

[she are] one of the brightest talents around. [Their] spoken-word performances have the metre and craft of traditional poetry, the kinetic agitation of hip-hop and the intimacy of a whispered heart-to-heart... Tempest deals bravely with poverty, class and consumerism. [she do] so in a way that not only avoids the pitfalls of sounding trite, but manages to be beautiful too, drawing on ancient mythology and sermonic cadence to tell stories of the everyday.[28]

In 2013, she won the Ted Hughes Award for their work Brand New Ancients, the first person under the age of 40 to win the award,[29] and was selected as one of the 2014 Next Generation Poets by the Poetry Society.[30]

Tempest has received wide critical acclaim for their written and live work.[26] A performance of Brand New Ancients prompted the New York Times to say “As gorgeous streams of words flow out, [she conjure] a story so vivid it’s as if you had a state-of-the-art Blu-ray player stuffed into your brain, projecting image after image that sears itself into your consciousness”[12] while a review by Michiko Kakutani of their poetry collections in the same paper explored their written style: “While [their] intense performances on stage add a fierce urgency to the words, these text versions of [their] work stand powerfully on their own on the page...using [their] pictorial imagination to sear specific images into the reader’s mind”.[14]

she have been published in nine languages.

Everybody Down was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize and Let Them Eat Chaos have been nominated for the 2017 Mercury Music Prize. Their accompanying poetry book Let Them Eat Chaos was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the Poetry Category in 2016. she were nominated as Best Female Solo Performer at the 2018 Brit Awards.

Works

Poetry collections

  • 2012: Everything Speaks in its Own Way
  • 2013: Brand New Ancients
  • 2014: Hold Your Own
  • 2016: Let Them Eat Chaos
  • 2016: “ Pictures on a Screen”
  • 2018: Running Upon The Wires

Spoken word performance

  • 2012: Brand New Ancients – Ted Hughes Award 2013 (2014 released as CD)
Kae Tempest at Primavera Sound 2019

Plays

  • 2013: Wasted
  • 2014: Glasshouse
  • 2014: Hopelessly Devoted

Novel

  • 2016: The Bricks That Built the Houses, Bloomsbury Circus, London

Non-fiction book

  • 2020: On Connection, Faber & Faber, London

Discography

Studio albums

  • 2011: Balance (with "Sound of Rum")
  • 2014: Everybody Down – nominated for Mercury Prize 2014
  • 2016: Let Them Eat Chaos - nominated for Mercury Prize 2017[31]
  • 2019: The Book of Traps and Lessons

Singles

  • 2014: "Our Town"
  • 2014: "Hot Night Cold Spaceship"
  • 2015: "Bad Place for a Good Time"
  • 2016: "Guts (with Loyle Carner)"
  • 2016: "Truth Is Telling (with Blasco Says)"

As featured artist

  • 2008: "I Got Love (remix)" (The King Blues featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2010: "Drum Song (brentonLABS Remix)" (The Temper Trap featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2012: "Forever Ever" (Bastille featuring Kae Tempest & Jay Brown)
  • 2014: "Our Town" (letthemusicplay featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2014: "Rain" (Rag'n'Bone Man featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2014: "Summer" (letthemusicplay featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2018: "Kairos" (Warsnare featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2018: "A Child Is an Open Book" (Damien Dempsey featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2018: "Usubscribe" (Jam Baxter featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2018: "6 Millions Stories" (Foreign Beggars featuring Kae Tempest, Bangzy, Scott Garcia & Bionic)
  • 2019: "Blood of the Past" (The Comet is Coming featuring Kae Tempest)
  • 2020: "Time Is Hardcore" (High Contrast featuring Kae Tempest & Anita Blay)

References

  1. ^ Wroe, Nicholas (4 October 2014). "Kate Tempest: 'Rapping changed my life'". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. ^ Murray, Robin (6 August 2020). "Kate Tempest Changes Name To Kae Tempest". Clash. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. ^ Kae Tempest [@kaetempest] (6 August 2020). "kae tempest on Twitter" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 August 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b c "'Mercury nominees 2014: Kate Tempest". Guardian Music Blog. London: Guardian Media Group. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. ^ Flood, Alison (11 September 2014). "'Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Kate Tempest - 'Let Them Eat Chaos'". mercuryprize.com. Mercury Prize. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b Cain, Sian (22 November 2016). "Costa book award 2016 shortlists dominated by female writers". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d "British Female Solo Artist Nominees Announced". brits.co.uk. BRIT Awards. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Mahoney, Elisabeth (27 March 2012). "Wasted – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (6 August 2020). "Kate Tempest announces she are non-binary, changes name to Kae". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2017 sponsored by National Book Tokens". National Book Tokens. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  12. ^ a b Isherwood, Charles (14 January 2014). "'Brand New Ancients' Stars Kate Tempest in a Tragic Tale - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  13. ^ Brennan, Clare (23 September 2013). "Hoplessly Devoted - review - Stage - The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b Kakutani, Michiko (18 March 2015). "Review - Kate Tempest, a Young Poet Conjuring Ancient Gods - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  15. ^ Farand, Chloe (23 June 2017). "Kate Tempest 'moves people to tears' with powerful Glastonbury set". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  16. ^ Tripney, Natasha (4 May 2017). "Kate Tempest: 'Everything is defined in monetary terms'". thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Let Them Eat Chaos Kate Tempest06.10. Tempelhof Hangar 5". volksbuehne.berlin. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Kate Tempest". The Royal Society of Literature. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  19. ^ Clark, Alex (9 October 2016). "Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos review – a state-of-the-world address". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  20. ^ "2017:The Year of the Wolf". Press Reader. 19 October 2016.
  21. ^ Alexis Petridis (27 July 2017). "2017 Mercury shortlist fails to spotlight truly exciting British music". The Guardian.
  22. ^ "Facebook TV Commercial, 'We're Never Lost If We Can Find Each Other' Song by Kate Tempest". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  23. ^ Neale, Matthew (16 November 2019). "Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more". NME. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Vote for hope and a decent future". The Guardian. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  25. ^ Proctor, Kate (3 December 2019). "Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  26. ^ a b "William Shakespeare: A digital reinvention". The Economist. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  27. ^ Gardner, Lyn (10 September 2012). "Brand New Ancients – review BAC, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  28. ^ "Kate Tempest: the performance poet who can't be ignored" 10 April 2013, The Guardian.
  29. ^ Michael Hogan (14 September 2014). "Kate Tempest: a winning wielder of words". The Guardian.
  30. ^ Alison Flood (11 September 2014). "'Next Generation' of 20 hotly-tipped poets announced by Poetry Book Society". The Guardian.
  31. ^ "Kate Tempest shortlisted for Mercury Prize 2017". Panmacmillan.com.
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