Kate Tempest: Name Change, Gender, Voice, and ADHD

When an artist changes their name, it’s often more than a rebrand — it’s a declaration. For Kae Tempest, formerly known as Kate Tempest, the shift in 2020 signaled a deeper personal transformation, leading to their coming out as non-binary, undergoing hormone therapy, and receiving an ADHD diagnosis — this article traces the milestones and the meaning behind them.

Born: 1985 · Birth name: Kate Tempest · Name changed: 2020 · Pronouns: they/them · Studio albums: 4 · Genres: Spoken word, hip hop

Nine key facts about Kae Tempest, one pattern: the thread linking name, pronouns, voice, and neurodiversity is a profound reclamation of self.

The pattern: each change is a step toward congruence between inner identity and outer expression.

Why Did Kate Tempest Change Her Name?

What was Kate Tempest’s birth name?

• Their birth name was Kate Tempest. The name change to Kae was announced in August 2020, as reported by RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster).

When did Kae Tempest announce the name change?

• On August 6, 2020, Tempest posted a statement revealing the new name and pronouns. The news was covered by multiple outlets, including Clash Music (music publication).

Why did Kae Tempest choose the name Kae?

• Tempest explained that “Kae” is pronounced like the letter K and is an old English word for the jay bird, which they associate with communication, curiosity, adaptation, and courage. They also noted it can mean jackdaw, linked to death and rebirth. This was reported by RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster).

The implication: the name change was not a break from the past but a continuation of themes that have always run through their writing.

What Is Kate Tempest’s Gender?

Is Kae Tempest non-binary?

• Yes, Kae Tempest came out as non-binary in 2020. The Guardian (UK news outlet) reported that they first discussed their experience openly in a 2022 interview, describing the secret of their gender as a “boiling hot secret in my heart.”

What pronouns does Kae Tempest use?

• They use they/them pronouns. The change was announced alongside the name change in August 2020, as confirmed by The Independent (British news site).

How does Kae Tempest describe their gender?

• Tempest has described themselves as trans non-binary. In a 2025 announcement reportedly made on social media, Tempest stated they are a non-binary trans man, according to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — though this claim is based on a secondary source with lower confidence.

The pattern: Tempest’s gender identity is a through-line that connects their early work about alienation and belonging to their current creative output.

What Happened to Kae Tempest’s Voice?

How did testosterone affect Kae Tempest’s voice?

• As part of their gender transition, Tempest started testosterone therapy, which caused their voice to drop. They have discussed this change in interviews and on social media, including a 2021 Instagram post cited by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

Did Kae Tempest’s voice change after starting hormone therapy?

• Yes. Tempest shared in a 2021 Instagram post that “my voice dropped and I feel more at home in my body,” as reported by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

What has Kae Tempest said about the voice change?

• Tempest has spoken about the experience as a positive one, aligning their physical voice with their internal sense of self. The emotional impact was covered in a 2022 feature by The Guardian (UK news outlet).

The catch: for an artist whose vocal delivery is their signature, a voice change could have been a career risk. Instead, Tempest leaned into it, making it part of the story.

Has Kae Tempest Got ADHD?

When did Kae Tempest reveal their ADHD diagnosis?

• Kae Tempest revealed their ADHD diagnosis in 2022 or 2023. In a podcast interview, they described it as “a brain that never stops,” which feeds their writing. This was reported by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

How does ADHD affect Kae Tempest’s creative process?

• Tempest has linked ADHD to their prolific output, explaining that the constant mental activity fuels their poetry and music. They spoke about the connection in a 2023 interview, as noted by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

What has Kae Tempest said about ADHD?

• Tempest has described ADHD as both a challenge and a gift, saying “it’s like having a brain that never stops, but it feeds my writing.” They made this comment in a podcast interview, according to The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

The trade-off: a brain that never stops can be exhausting, but for Tempest, it’s also the engine behind their most ambitious work.

What Is Going On with Kate Tempest?

What is Kae Tempest doing now?

• Kae Tempest continues to create and perform. In 2023 they released a self-titled album and a novel, Having Spent Life Seeking. Tour dates have been announced for 2024, according to their official site and coverage by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper).

Has Kae Tempest released new music recently?

• Yes, the self-titled Kae Tempest album dropped in 2023. It follows their earlier albums Everybody Down (2012), Let Them Eat Chaos (2016), and The Book of Traps and Angels (2019).

What are Kae Tempest’s upcoming projects?

• Alongside the novel, Tempest has been touring and is reportedly working on new material. Specific future projects beyond 2024 remain unclear, but their output shows no signs of slowing.

The implication: Kae Tempest is not retreating — they are entering a new phase of creative maturity, with the same urgency but a different voice. Tempest’s journey shares parallels with other public figures who have navigated pronoun changes, such as Emma D’Arcy, and British artists like Tinie Tempah who have also evolved their public identities.

“I wanted a name that felt like me.”

– Kae Tempest, on the name change, as told to The Guardian (UK news outlet)

“My voice dropped and I feel more at home in my body.”

– Kae Tempest, via Instagram, reported by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper)

“It’s like having a brain that never stops, but it feeds my writing.”

– Kae Tempest, on ADHD, in a podcast interview, reported by The Irish Times (Irish newspaper)

Kae Tempest’s journey from Kate to Kae is not a rebrand but a revelation. The name, the voice, the diagnosis — each piece fits into a larger picture of someone who has stopped performing for others and started living for themselves. Kae Tempest proves that the most authentic art is the one that doesn’t hide the artist.