Who Is Kate Tempest? Everything You Need to Know About Kae Tempest

Kate Tempest, now known as Kae Tempest, is a prominent English poet, spoken-word performer, rapper, novelist and playwright whose career spans more than two decades. Born Kate Esther Tempest in Brockley, South London on 22 December 1986, they announced a public name change to Kae in August 2020 alongside a shift to they/them pronouns, describing the change as “a first step towards knowing and respecting myself better.”

Tempest grew up in a working-class family of five children. Their father worked as a labourer before qualifying as a criminal lawyer. They left school without A levels, later attended The BRIT School and studied briefly at Goldsmiths, University of London. Early performances included open-mic appearances in London’s hip-hop scene, laying the groundwork for a multidisciplinary career that would earn critical acclaim across poetry, theatre, fiction and music.

Today, Kae Tempest continues to release new work – including novels and albums – while maintaining a relatively private personal life. The following article addresses the most frequently asked questions about their identity, background, relationships and creative output, drawing on verified information from official sources and published interviews.

Who Is Kate Tempest and Why Did They Change Their Name?

• Kate Tempest publicly changed their name to Kae in August 2020, explaining it was part of “a long process of becoming myself.”
• The new name is spelled Kae and pronounced like the letter K.
• They came out as non-binary at the same time and began using singular they/them pronouns.
• Tempest has described struggling to accept themselves prior to the change and wanted to live “with integrity.”
• Their work consistently explores themes of class, identity and social justice, earning them recognition as a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Book Society.
• Albums Everybody Down and Let Them Eat Chaos were both nominated for the Mercury Prize.

What Is Known About Kate Tempest’s Personal Life?

Who Is Kae Tempest’s Partner?

Public information about Tempest’s partner is limited. While some online sources reference a partner, the person’s name has not been confirmed or widely disclosed. Tempest has not made any official statement about a current relationship. The question of whether they are married remains unanswered – no reliable source confirms a spouse or wife.

How Old Is Kate Tempest and Where Were They Born?

Kae Tempest was born on 22 December 1986 in Brockley, South London. This makes them 38 years old as of early 2025. Their upbringing was working-class but relatively secure; they have said they grew up in “a shitty part of town, but in a nice house where there was always food.”

Tempest has spoken publicly about self-acceptance and gender dysphoria. In interviews following the name change, they described the experience of coming out as “euphoric” after years of repression. Their Instagram presence – @kaetempest – continues to identify them as Kae Tempest and promotes current writing and tour dates.

What Books, Poems and Major Works Has Kate Tempest Created?

Tempest’s body of work spans poetry collections, stage performances, novels and music albums. Their debut poetry collection was Everything Speaks in Its Own Way. The performance piece Brand New Ancients received major critical acclaim in 2012 and won the Ted Hughes Award in 2013.

Novels and Prose

The Bricks that Built the Houses (2016) is Tempest’s debut novel, following three characters in London and exploring crime, relationships and aspiration. They have also written a book-length essay and, according to their Instagram bio, a new novel has been released.

Poetry

Beyond Everything Speaks in Its Own Way, Tempest’s poetry collections include Hold Your Own and Brand New Ancients (the latter exists as both a performance and a published book). Their work has been translated and widely acclaimed. No official free PDFs of their poems are available; published collections can be purchased from booksellers.

Music

Tempest has released several albums. Everybody Down (2012) and Let Them Eat Chaos (2016) were both nominated for the Mercury Prize. Let Them Eat Chaos also exists as an accompanying poetry book that was nominated for the Costa Book of the Year in the poetry category. A self-titled album was released in 2024.

Theatre

Tempest’s early theatrical work includes Wasted. Brand New Ancients was performed as a one-person show in 2012 and later published as a book.

For readers interested in other prominent performers, see the biography of Lisa Dwan.

Timeline: Key Events in Kate Tempest’s Career

1. 1986: Born Kate Esther Tempest in Brockley, South London.
2. Early 2000s: Begins performing as a spoken word artist at open-mic nights in London’s hip-hop scene.
3. 2012: Releases debut album Everybody Down; performs Brand New Ancients to critical acclaim.
4. 2013: Wins the Ted Hughes Award for Brand New Ancients.
5. 2016: Publishes debut novel The Bricks that Built the Houses; album Let Them Eat Chaos released and nominated for Mercury Prize.
6. 2020: Announces name change to Kae Tempest and adoption of they/them pronouns.
7. 2024: Releases self-titled album; publishes a new novel.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Kate Tempest?

What Is the Cultural Significance of Kae Tempest’s Work?

Kae Tempest’s career reflects a shift from underground spoken word to mainstream literary and musical recognition. Their work consistently challenges societal norms around class, gender and identity, making them a significant figure in contemporary British culture. The name change in 2020 aligns with a broader public expression of non-binary identity and has been discussed in major media outlets such as The Guardian.

Despite high search interest in personal life, Tempest maintains a degree of privacy. Most verified information comes from their Wikipedia page, official website and occasional interviews. Competitors like Instagram and YouTube offer direct access to their work but lack structured biographical detail.

Where Can I Find Reliable Information About Kate Tempest?

“Having spent life seeking – new novel out now. Self-titled album out now.” – Instagram bio, @kaetempest

“I have changed my name to Kae Tempest. It’s part of a long process of becoming myself.” – Kae Tempest on the name change, from interviews.

Primary sources for accurate information include:

• Wikipedia – Kae Tempest (comprehensive biography with citations)
• Official website (current news, works, tour dates)
• Instagram profile (official updates)
• British Council Literature profile (curated overview)

What Is the Bottom Line on Kate Tempest?

Kae Tempest, formerly known as Kate Tempest, is a multi-award-winning poet, novelist and musician whose name change in 2020 reflected a personal journey toward self-acceptance. Their creative output – from the novel The Bricks that Built the Houses to Mercury-nominated albums – has earned a lasting place in contemporary British arts. While details of their personal life remain largely private, the public record shows an artist committed to exploring identity, class and social justice through every medium they touch. For the latest updates, follow their official channels or check the official website.

Another notable literary figure whose work continues to resonate is Mark Twain.

Frequently Asked Questions