Michael Kiwanuka's identity crisis made him 'depressed'

Singer songwriter Michael Kiwanuka says fighting stereotypes of what is considered "being black" has got him down and depressed.

Micheal grew up in Muswell Hill and describes it as "a predominantly white part of north London".

He says he was questioned a lot by friends over the way he looked and things he liked. Up until now, he says he's struggled with identity.

The 28-year-old was the BBC's Sound of 2012 winner and released an album.

You can watch his new video here.

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After touring his debut album Home Again four years ago Michael disappeared from the public eye.

In his new single, Black Man in a White World, he expresses his struggles with his identity.

"When I was growing up I still had an afro, but it wasn't cool yet and it was like 'Why would you wear an afro', explains to Newsbeat.

"I didn't get a shape up (haircut) every two weeks and that was weird."

He explains he would find remarks like that annoying.

"How I want to present myself and how I want to express myself doesn't necessarily fit in with the black community but it's also completely different to the white community too."

Michael says the questions posed to him were never asked out of "malice or anger", believing instead "it's just people stereotyping and expecting you to be a certain way".

It's taken a long time for Michael to work on new music but that's because it took "a while" for him to be comfortable with himself.

"It did get me down if I'm honest, especially in my teenage years," he admits.

"The thing about teenage years is that what happens in those years stays with you.

"I definitely felt like a fish out of water.

"I didn't feel like I fitted in anywhere and it niggled at me and got me down.

"Sometimes I would get a little depressed about it.

"It starts to affect your self esteem."

But Michael says if anyone ever feels the same as he did, they shouldn't conform to fit in.

"Put simply, be yourself because it's the best way to be," he ends.

Black Man In A White World is Michael's brand new single taken from his forthcoming second album 'Love & Hate' which is set for release on 27th May 2016.

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