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From the LCCM stage to the London Jazz Festival’s Opening Gala, Caleb Kunle’s soulful journey showcases where authentic artistry can lead.
In a full-circle moment, LCCM alum and rising star Caleb Kunle returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival, stepping onto its main gala stage for a milestone performance that celebrates his creative journey.
Meet Caleb
Lagos-born, raised in rural Laois in Ireland, and now based in London, Caleb Kunle is an artist who exists between genres – and that’s exactly what makes his sound so distinct. Drawing inspiration from the three places he calls home, Caleb’s music carries the warmth of soul, the storytelling of folk, and the electric energy of jazz.
His journey as a musician started as a teenager learning guitar and piano alongside his three brothers, acting as self-taught songwriters, vocalists, and producers. After leaving home, Caleb spent a year in New York, busking and collaborating with other musicians – a time of both challenge and growth. Briefly homeless, he kept creating and refining his sound before finally making the jump to London. Within his first year there, he won NME’s Emerging Artists Project Award in 2017 and released his debut EP Eden, which has since racked up over 300,000 streams on Spotify.
“It all feels very humbling,” Caleb says. “I remember the early days – late nights and small rooms, chasing the feeling more than the outcome. Seeing it grow into something that reaches people across the world reminds me that with patience, passion and positivity, there’s nothing we’re incapable of achieving.”
“Right now,” he adds, “I want people to feel alive – to reconnect with their own sense of joy, freedom, and self-worth. My music has always been about healing and about finding power in vulnerability. If people leave a show feeling a little lighter, more seen, or more connected – then I’ve done my job.”
Whether layering velvety vocals over intricate arrangements or lighting up stages at Glastonbury, The Great Escape, and beyond, Caleb’s music is always personal, alive, and rooted in real experience.
From Music Box to Main Gala Stage
For Caleb, the EFG London Jazz Festival has marked a game-changing chapter in his career. In 2024, he took to the stage as part of LCCM’s partnership with the festival, which saw the Music Box campus become one of its official venues. The week featured performances from LCCM’s exceptional student talent, but Caleb’s set stood out – catching attention across the festival and hinting at what was to come.
Now, in 2025, he’s returning to the festival to perform at its Opening Gala at the Southbank Centre, joining an international line-up of world-class artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater and Tanita Tikaram. This time, Caleb and the other acts will perform alongside a 44-piece orchestra conducted by Guy Barker, with guest conductor Jack Murray. For Caleb, it’s a full-circle moment that reflects just how far he’s come since his appearance on the Music Box stage.
“None of this happens in isolation,” he says. “The energy of community – whether that’s my band, my family, or the wider creative world – has shaped everything I do.”
Authenticity Over Perfection
As Caleb prepares to step onto the London Jazz Festival main stage, he’s quick to point out that achievements like this are rooted in collaboration. Reflecting on his time at LCCM, he describes it as a space that helped him grow through community and creative freedom.
“LCCM gave me a space to experiment without fear,” he says. “It was a melting pot of ideas and sounds, a bedrock full of legends to come. It taught me to value authenticity over perfection. The friendships and collaborations that started there still play a big role in my journey today.”
That same sense of community lives on in Unity Sessions, an all-night jam Caleb runs in Stoke Newington where musicians – both established and emerging – come together to play and connect.
As he looks ahead, Caleb’s advice for current LCCM students is simple:
“Stay curious, stay kind, and keep your fire lit. The industry changes all the time, but your truth – that’s timeless. Protect it, nurture it, and don’t rush the bloom.”
The London Jazz Festival kicks off Friday 14th November at 7:30pm at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre. Get tickets here.
Caleb’s next Unity Sessions night is a free Christmas jam in collaboration with Brighter Days, happening on Saturday 7th December at Doña in Stoke Newington.
