Interlude (Loving The People)

Album: Kiwanuka (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is built around an excerpt of a speech by the US congressional representative and Civil Rights leader John Lewis. After the sample, Michael Kiwanuka and his band then spin-off into a musical world of their own making.
  • Michael Kiwanuka explained to Apple Music that "Loving The People" was originally an instrumental he created on his Wurlitzer tagged on at the end of the "Final Days" track. However, he thought the tune had some potential, so he stretched it out with co-producers Inflo and Danger Mouse's help.

    Then Danger Mouse found the John Lewis sample in a 1960 NBC White Paper news documentary on the sit-in movement for civil rights in the South. They thought it "sounded beautiful and moving over these chords," so Kiwanuka slotted in the speech and made it a separate track.
  • US filmmaker Phillip Youmans directed the video, which illustrates an idyllic image of youth. The director reflected on the making of the clip, explaining: "Listening to Interlude (Loving the People) feels like sunshine on my skin. This film is an escapist trip where young black people revel in the psychedelic experience. For me, Loving the People is about the adrenaline of unconfined love and joy, a celebration of black youth and imagination."

    Youmans took home the 2019 Founders Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, which he received for his directorial debut, Burning Cane.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.