Michael Kennedy Woods (MKW) is a Brooklyn-based producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is passionate about delivering good music to his listeners' ears. Al-Lateef Farmer of SoulTrain notes, “heavily inspired by the events transpiring in the world surrounding him, he’s written songs to reflect the times...He’s acutely aware of the power the arts have in transmitting the messages of the people.”

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Woods was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Sparta, Georgia. At a very young age, Woods started to use his ear to play the piano and sing intricate voice parts. He grew up in St. Mark AME church playing the piano and singing gospel songs that brought people to their feet. Having this background, Woods wanted to find a way to blend the musical aspects of the church with the fusion of Jazz, R&B, Pop, Electronic, Soul and New Age Soul. Woods is proud of this Southern narrative throughout his music.

 

He is determined to push the R&B/Soul genre forward. His most recent EP Primal Instinct makes the listener envision an afrofuturist world in which people understand each other differences and love each other regardless. Unfortunately, in the contemporary realm, Woods sees humans as taking on a robotic life form in which our way of being is devoid of empathy, love, sex, joy, happiness, etc. within self-destructive structures. Primal Instinct reminds us of the fact that despite what the world says, our differences make us unabashedly human and beautiful! 

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Woods has currently embarked on releasing singles such as "Night and Day" and "I Choose You." These recent singles directly speak to the beauty of youth, being in love, and trying to live life as free as possible. Radical freedom within "queerdom" is a constant theme in both recently released singles. The versatility in style across singles make it known that MKW will always take a tune and make it his!

 

Woods is a Voting Member of the GRAMMYs Recording Academy and was featured on the National ABC Television show, "Duets" performing with Grammy Award-winning artist Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. Unfortunately, he was too young to compete at the time, so he decided to enter the world of academia. Woods graduated from Vassar College in New York. Woods is a Gates Millennium Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, and Questbridge College Match Scholar. His music is smart, raw, and in tune with the issues. Open your ears, your hearts, and take in the sounds of MKW.