“I don’t want to give up all the juice,” Michael Mwenso says, “but listen: the real key is you take all that stuff that you say is old, you mix it up, and then you get something new.” The belief that “nothing is old if you haven’t heard it before” is somewhat of a guiding principle for Michael.
This month, we sat down with the artist, creator, curator, and educator to discuss his new single “Be Free,” his creative process, and advice he has for emerging artists. You can watch the full interview below or read on for key takeaways.
About Mwenso
Born in West Africa, Michael moved to London with his mother as a child. When his mother was deported to Nigeria, he found solace in Black music — listening to records, spending countless nights at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, and eventually finding mentorship in great artists like James Brown.
That early foundation set the direction for everything that followed. Wynton Marsalis invited him to join the programming team as curator at Jazz at Lincoln Center. There, he developed late night programming at Dizzy’s Club and networked with new musicians to start his group, Mwenso & The Shakes. With his creative collaborator, Jono Gasparro, he later co-founded Electric Root, which partners with institutions to decolonize music curricula with anti-racist, artist-led programming. And in 2022, he won an Emmy for Michael Mwenso Honors George Floyd, a documentary special that demonstrated his deeply held belief that art and activism are one.
Mwenso’s new single, “Be Free”
After more than a decade in the United States, Michael recently returned to London, and released his solo debut single “Be Free” — the first track off his upcoming album. Where much of his work to date has centered on collective language, the new single captures Michael taking on a more personal lyrical perspective and pushing his vocals to new heights.
The single’s release lined up with the Jon Batiste World Festival, a multi-night residency at Koko in London that Michael co-curated with Batiste. It was the perfect, organic platform for promoting “Be Free.”
3 lessons for independent artists from Mwenso
Michael opened up about the people, values, and musical ideas that keep him inspired. The following three pieces of advice from our conversation stood out — lightly edited for brevity.
1. Love the music, but love the people first
Michael has spent most of his life creating spaces, platforms, and events for artists to perform and connect with people. The secret to his success in curation? Loving people. He explained that every performance provides an opportunity for listeners to reconnect with the artists, experiences, and emotions that shape a musical lineage. Enabling that as a curator is a selfless and spiritual exercise, Michael notes, and a source of true joy.
2. Embody the qualities of successful artists
Asked what it takes to succeed today, Michael pointed to three successful artists, each of whom exemplify characteristics he values: James Brown demonstrated focus and concentration, Wynton Marsalis showcases discipline, consistency, and practice, and Jon Batiste exemplifies foresight, calculation, and manifestation.
3. Nothing is old if you haven’t heard it yet
Michael believes futuristic music comes from keeping the past alive and reinterpreting it. “Just because it’s from nineteen-something doesn’t mean you can’t play it with fire and funk now,” he said. In his framework, tradition pushes music forward, instead of holding it in place.
What will you take from Mwenso’s story?
Here are a few actionable tips based on what he shared:
- Build creative spaces (or support those who do) in your community for rehearsal, performance, networking, and inspiration
- Learn from your heroes — identify the characteristics that propelled their careers and seek to embody those in your work
- Break free of the shallowness of trends and the stuffiness of tradition – trace your inspirations back to their origins and aim to create something new from what you find
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