In a BRITs first, enigmatic producer Inflo wins the BRIT Award for Producer of the Year, the first time a Black artist has won the award since its introduction in 1977. Inflo, who has produced for massive artists including Little Simz and Michael Kiwaunka, will be presented with the award on the 8th of February, the night of the awards ceremony.
Inflo is almost ubiquitous in UK music despite most not knowing his name or who he is. Many would be surprised to know he is the leader and main producer of the band SAULT, a band known for their intersection between neo-soul, chill-hop, funk, and UK rap.
In the last 6 years, Inflo has produced a critically acclaimed string of albums, starting with Michael Kiwaunka’s Love & Hate, Jungle’s For Ever, Little Simz’s GREY Area and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, and most recently, Adele’s 30.
With the last two aforementioned albums, Inflo has credits on two of the five albums nominated for BRIT Awards’ album of the year.
He has also produced albums for fellow SAULT member Cleo Sol, both Rose in the Dark and last years Mother.
Not only is he the first Black artist to win in this award category, but indeed the first non-white person to win it at all.
“There is no one more deserving of this award”, says rapper Little Simz.
“Flo is a true creative in every sense of the word. Music is in his DNA. He really loves, lives and breathes this.”
Speaking of the win, Inflo says “I feel honoured to be a part of change.
“All the Black producers before me, I’m in awe and have studied you. I am you. Thank you for both paving the way and for your integral contribution to British music.”
The award, traditionally given to producers of rock and indie music, including producers like Paul Epworth, Brian Eno, and Peter Gabriel, is now being increasingly given to artists of electronic and hip-hop music. 2020 saw Fred Again win the award, an artist who went on to produce for drill artist Headie One. Now with Inflo, we are seeing the industry increasingly recognise the underground music emerging from the UK.
This years BRIT Awards is to be the most ‘inclusive’ iteration of the ceremony, with the erasure of gendered categories for the Best Artist catergories, along with more female artists nominated than ever before. Voting for the BRIT Awards closes on the 3rd of February and can be found here.
