Kiiōtō is what happens when two musicians with completely different stories decide to make music together. Lou Rhodes, Mercury Prize-nominated singer and founding member of Lamb, brings her unmistakable voice and a lifetime of stories. Rohan Heath, the man behind Urban Cookie Collective and the 90s classic The Key, The Secret, has had a rather unusual journey himself, from studying insects to making dancefloor anthems and writing about life along the way. Two curious minds, plenty of stories and absolutely no interest in sticking to one genre.
Their second album, Black Salt, released in April 2026, explores themes ranging from social media and urban violence to family, identity and loss. Written primarily in their North London home studio, the album moves between intimate reflections and wider perspectives, drawing on influences as varied as Carole King, Khruangbin and Alice Coltrane. Featuring guest musicians including guitarist Hawi Gondwe and double bassist Andy Hamill, Black Salt resists easy genre definitions while maintaining a focus on storytelling and the interplay between voice and instrumentation.
Listen to the interview with Kiiōtō, led by Kate Magic for W1 Radio, here:
