Michael Kiwanuka performs Love & Hate "closest to the record" for the first time

Since winning BBC Sound of 2012 Michael Kiwanuka has come a long way, with his recent album Love and Hate reaching number one. He came back to Maida Vale Studios to take to the 6 Music Live stage for the first time.

Accompanied by Wired Strings Michael brought new depths to his soulful melodies and a touch of class to proceedings.

After opening with the epic 10-minute track Cold Little Heart, Michael went on to play the lead single from Love & Hate, Black Man in A White World

He told Lauren Laverne his performance with the string quartet on 6 Music Live 2016 is the first time he's been able to play the songs "closest to the record."

While writing the album Michael ended up dropping many of the songs he wrote for Love & Hate from the album. Using only three out of the original 16 left him feeling distraught.

But after turning a corner, he saw how the collaboration with Rosie Danvers and Wired Strings became "fun because when you scrap things, you've got nothing to really lose so you just do anything."

All of the songs on the setlist came from his new album. Michael then revisited I'm Getting Ready from his debut album Home Again before performing the penultimate track Father's Child.

Michael confessed to Lauren that he found it nerve-wrecking being "more lyrically vulnerable" on his album Love & Hate but that ultimately "it's the only way you can make music."

After taking listeners on an emotional journey he ended his set on high with the uplifting single Love & Hate.