{{short description|Zimbabwean singer-songwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use British English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kwayedza Kureya (Kwaye) | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | origin = Zimbabwe | genre = {{Flat list| * Indie electronic * Synth-pop * neo-soul * funk }}{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} | years_active = {{Start date|2017}}–present }} '''Kwayedza Kureya''', mononymously known by his stage name '''Kwaye''', is a British-Zimbabwean<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-12|title=Kwaye on rediscovering himself for his transformational new music|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/kwaye-elevate/|access-date=2021-11-22|website=GAY TIMES|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-08-31|title=R&B star Kwaye on being discovered in an Uber: 'I thought it was a bit weird'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/31/rb-star-kwaye-on-being-discovered-in-an-uber-i-thought-it-was-a-bit-weird|access-date=2021-11-22|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. He has released two EPs and his songs have been featured in Netflix's ''Topboy'' and ''On My Block''. He played Jacob in the Julian Fellowes 2009 movie ''From Time to Time''.
==Early life and singing career== Kwaye was born to a social worker mother and a doctor father.<ref name=":0" /> He lived in Zimbabwe until he was three.<ref name=":0" /> His family then moved to London, later settling in Kent.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Kwaye is Going to Be Your Next Favourite Pop Star|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kwaye-is-going-to-be-your-next-favourite-pop-star/|access-date=2021-11-22|website=Vice.com|language=en}}</ref>
Kureya began performing at an early age and grew up playing the viola, sax, and guitar.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} He later moved to Brighton to pursue a degree in American Studies.<ref name=":1" /> While on a study abroad program in Los Angeles, Kureya played a demo of one of his recently recorded songs for an Uber driver who was a former A&R executive. Within a few weeks, Kureya had signed a deal to release his music.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} His debut single, entitled "Cool Kids", was released in March 2017, under the stage name "Kwaye".{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}
In May 2017, Kwaye announced the release of his second single entitled "Little Ones", released on 30 May 2017; and in July 2017, he announced the upcoming release of his debut extended play, entitled ''Solar'', and also announced a third single release would be titled "Sweetest Life". Both songs debuted on 25 July 2017. After a break from music, Kwaye released three singles, "Run", "Runaway" and "Kindness" in 2021.
Kureya has three older sisters,<ref name=":0" /> one of whom is Shingai Shoniwa, lead singer of the indie rock band Noisettes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gravesendreporter.co.uk/entertainment/music/following-in-his-sister-s-steps-1-592502 |website=Gravesend Reporter |title=Following in his sister's steps |accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref>
==Discography== ===EPs=== {{Track listing | headline = ''Solar'' (2017) | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 12:03 | title1 = Cool Kids | writer1 = {{hlist|Kwayedza Kureya|William Leong}} | extra1 = Willson | length1 = 3:44 | title2 = Little Ones | writer2 = {{hlist|Kureya|Leong}} | extra2 = Willson | length2 = 4:27 | title3 = Sweetest Life | writer3 = {{hlist|Kureya|Leong}} | extra3 = Willson | length3 = 3:52 }}
{{Track listing | headline = ''Love & Affliction'' (2018) | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 22:51
| title1 = Straight Lines | writer1 = {{hlist|Kwayedza Kureya|Aram Vehuni|Benjamin Barsocchini}} | extra1 = Slenderbodies | length1 = 3:59 | title2 = What Have You Done | writer2 = {{hlist|Kureya|William Leong}} | extra2 = Willson | length2 = 3:32 | title3 = Hanging On | writer3 = {{hlist|Kureya|Leong}} | extra3 = Willson | length3 = 3:30 | title4 = Keep On Lovin' You | writer4 = {{hlist|Kureya|Leong}} | extra4 = Willson | length4 = 3:12 | title5 = Made for It | writer5 = {{hlist|Kureya|Daniel Klein|Matthew Campfield}} | extra5 = Some Randoms | length5 = 4:31 | title6 = Paralyzed | writer6 = {{hlist|Kureya|Tinashe Fazakerley}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Rationale|Henry Guy}} | length6 = 4:07 }}
===Singles=== ====As lead artist==== * "Cool Kids" (2017) * "Little Ones" (2017) * "Sweetest Life" (2017) * "Lost in My Boots" (2017) * "Jasmine" (2017) * "I Go" (2018) * "What Have You Done" (2018) * "Paralyzed" (2018) * "Keep On Loving You" (2018) * “Kindness” (2021) * "Pendulum" (2023)
====As featured artist==== * "Steady Motion" (2019) {{small|(Motez featuring Kwaye)}}
===Songwriting Credits=== {{Color box|#ffffcc|border=darkgray}} indicates a background vocal contribution.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Artist !! Album !! Song !! Co-written with |- | rowspan="2"| 2019 || rowspan="2"| Tiffany Young || rowspan="2" {{TBA}} ||style="background:#ffffcc"| "Magnetic Moon"<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/oM_t7Y8gBwU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190803220041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM_t7Y8gBwU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM_t7Y8gBwU| title = Tiffany Young - Magnetic Moon (Official Music Video) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || Tiffany Huang, Viktoria Hansen, Kevin Nishimura |- |style="background:#ffffcc"| "Run for Your Life" || Tiffany Huang, April Nhem, Kevin Nishimura |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kureya, Kwayedza}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Zimbabwean male singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to the United Kingdom