Kae Tempest is a British poet, rapper, playwright, and recording artist whose artistic career bridges spoken word, literature, theatre, and music. Born in Westminster in 1985 and raised in Brockley, South East London, Kae’s creative roots took hold early. He began performing at open mic nights as a teenager and later honed his talents at the BRIT School, laying the foundation for a dynamic and genre-defying career.
Tempest rose to prominence with electrifying work that combined raw lyricism and emotional insight. His debut novel The Bricks That Built the Houses became a Sunday Times bestseller, and his theatre piece Brand New Ancients received the Ted Hughes Award for innovation in poetry. His albums Everybody Down and Let Them Eat Chaos garnered critical acclaim, both earning Mercury Prize nominations.
In 2020, Tempest publicly came out as non-binary, adopting the name Kae and using they/them pronouns—a deeply personal revelation that shaped his next wave of artistic work. In 2025, he came out as a trans man, sharing his experience with top surgery, hormone therapy, and the deeper emotional journey of transition. This evolution has inspired countless fans and opened powerful conversations around identity, visibility, and creative freedom.
His newest album, Self Titled, released in July 2025, is a triumphant declaration of queer joy, resilience, and artistic rebirth. Among its standout tracks is Prayers to Whisper, featuring a haunting and soulful contribution from iconic singer Annie Lennox. Her voice threads gently through the song like a quiet echo of solidarity. Lennox described working with Kae as “profound,” and the collaboration stands as a symbol of mutual respect between two generations of lyrical storytellers.
Kae’s live performances are legendary for their emotional depth and hypnotic presence. At Glastonbury Festival 2025, he delivered a captivating set on the Park Stage, blending poetry and music with piercing honesty. The performance included tracks like Know Yourself and Statue in the Square, and closed with Prayers to Whisper—a moment that left the audience stunned into silence before erupting in applause. Glastonbury has become something of a second home for Tempest, who’s appeared there multiple times and is now recognised as one of the festival’s most soul-stirring performers.
Through poetry, music, and sheer magnetic presence, Kae Tempest continues to challenge conventions and celebrate vulnerability. His work is a call to self-reflection and radical empathy—redefining what it means to be a modern artist. With a voice that resonates across art forms and identities, Tempest stands firmly as one of the UK’s most urgent and eloquent creative forces.
