Over his career, Kiefer has been evolving a style, inspired by jazz and other Black American music, that’s warm, approachable, and most importantly, “comes from an emotional place”. His new album When There's Love Around, is inspired by the relationships in his life and feelings about his place in the world. The first half is “about feeling small and insignificant and stressed,” Kiefer says. “It’s about things that cause me to worry, but at the end of the day, are probably unimportant from a larger cosmic perspective.” The second half is reflective and spiritual, its cathartic mood occasioned by the loss of Kiefer’s beloved grandmother. While grief and loss are main themes, the tone is still largely positive – Kiefer describes himself as an optimist, knowing that life can be beautiful and vast but painful.

Over the past few years, Kiefer has released two albums, Kickinit Alone and Happysad, and three EPs, Superbloom, Bridges, and Between Days. Though those releases were crafted largely solo, Kiefer on keys and producing beats, When There’s Love Around is his first album to feature a full band. With this rich accompaniment, there’s a new sense of expressiveness to his music.