Inflo, the genre-straddling producer known for work with Adele, Little Simz and Michael Kiwanuka, has been announced as producer of the year in 2022’s Brit awards.
It is the first time a non-white artist has won the award since the inception of the Brits in 1977.
“I feel honoured to be a part of change,” said Inflo, whose real name is Dean Josiah Cover. “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.”
Inflo, also a songwriter, musician and label head, came to prominence in 2014 after producing and co-writing the Kooks’ 2014 album Listen. He has since worked on award-winning projects including Michael Kiwanuka’s Mercury-winning 2019 album Kiwanuka. Two of the five albums nominated for album of the year at this year’s Brit awards, Adele’s 30 and Little Simz’ Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, carry credits for Inflo.
“Flo is a true creative in every sense of the word,” said Little Simz. “Music is in his DNA. He really loves, lives and breathes this. There is no one more deserving of this award.” Kiwanuka credited him as someone who “helps you find what it is you want to say, and always puts his stamp on the work which always elevates the music”.
Alongside his work producing records for other artists, Inflo – who maintains a low public profile – is at the helm of Sault, a semi-anonymous UK collective who explore strands of Black music, culture and history through genre-defying output.
The breadth in Sault’s discography, which includes five albums released in two years, is testament to Inflo’s skill as a multidisciplinary artist and collaborator: traces of R&B, soul, funk and house can be heard alongside lo-fi vocal samples and intimate spoken word interludes. All of the group’s work has been released through Inflo’s label Forever Living Originals. Their most recent album Nine, released in June 2021, was a time-limited work, deleted by the group from streaming and download services after 99 days.
Also in 2021, he produced the album Mother by soul singer Cleo Sol, who has appeared on Sault recordings.
Previous winners of producer of the year include Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and Calvin Harris. In 2020, the last time it was awarded, it was received by south London-based producer Fred Again.
Unlike the other Brit award categories, the producer award is voted by a panel of record label executives rather than the wider industry panel in the Brits Academy, or the public, who are able to vote in four new genre-focused awards this year.
Inflo is the first non-white winner of the category in 42 Brit award ceremonies, but there has yet to be a female recipient of the award.
Inflo will receive his award at the Brits ceremony on 8 February at the O2 Arena, London. Adele, Ed Sheeran, Little Simz and Dave are top of the nominations, with four each.
