Jack White has produced a single for London singer Michael Kiwanuka.
The former White Stripes frontman has worked on the ‘Home Again’ hitmaker’s new song ‘You’ve Got Nothing to Lose’, which is part of Jack’s Third Man Record Blue Series of releases.
Michael said: "I’m a big fan of Jack White. I used to hear his guitar riffs in secondary school growing up as a teenager. He inspired loads of us to start bands and pick up a guitar which I did.
"He’s an artist that still inspires me today, so it was such a pleasure getting to work with him, and put out this single on Third Man Records."
The song has been recorded ahead of sessions for Michael’s next album, the follow-up to ‘Home Again’, his successful 2012 debut record.
The video for the song was directed by James Cathart, who also works for Third Man Records.
He said: "Michael’s song has this air about it – of a father figure imparting wisdom. So I looked for an unexpected context to apply that to.
"It’s about misleading perceptions – not just in terms of the character’s gender, but also from what we expect of the people she encounters.
"Acceptance comes from a camo-clad country boy, while it’s the presumably enlightened young person that harasses her on the bus … we were able to strike just the right tone – sweetness tainted by melancholy … or perhaps it’s the other way around? We’ve all had bittersweet birthdays."
The single is available on vinyl and through iTunes now and also features a B-side of Townes Van Zandt’s song ‘Waitin’ ‘Round to Die’.