Kelela Explained

Kelela should not be confused with Kehlani.

Kelela
Native Name:ከለላ
Native Name Lang:am
Birth Name:Kelela Mizanekristos
Birth Date:4 June 1983
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Years Active:2011–present
Associated Acts:Gorillaz

Kelela Mizanekristos (Amharic: ከለላ ሚዛነክርስቶስ,, pronounced as /am/)[1] (born June 4, 1983) is an American singer. She made her debut in the music industry with the release of her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me. In 2015, she released Hallucinogen, an EP which deals with the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship in reverse chronological order. Her debut studio album, Take Me Apart, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. After a nearly 5-year hiatus, Kelela released her second album, Raven, in February of 2023.

Early life and education

A second-generation Ethiopian American and an only child, Mizanekristos was born in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1983. Growing up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, she learned to play the violin in fourth grade and sang in her school's choir. In 2001, she graduated from Magruder High School.[2] After transferring from Montgomery College to the American University, Mizanekristos began singing jazz standards at cafés.[3] In 2008, she joined an indie band called Dizzy Spells and sang progressive metal after meeting Tosin Abasi, whom she later dated. In 2010, she moved to Los Angeles,[3] where she currently lives, in addition to London.[4]

Career

2012–2015: Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen

In November 2012, Mizanekristos began work on her debut mixtape with already two recorded songs. She later quit her job as a telemarketer to fully pursue her career as a musician.[5] Having moved to Los Angeles, Mizanekristos connected with Teengirl Fantasy and contributed to the group's 2013 album Tracer on the song "EFX", which led her to meet Prince William from the label Fade to Mind.[6] He introduced her to the sound of the record label and its sister imprint from London, Night Slugs. In May 2013, she appeared on Kingdom's "Bank Head", and five months later released her mixtape Cut 4 Me for free.[7] Harriet Gisbone of The Guardian described the mixtape as "an experiment for the production team, the first time the production crew had used vocals on their club tracks." Her track "Go All Night" was included on Saint Heron, a multi-artist compilation album released by Solange Knowles. The mixtape was heavily influenced by grime music, a popular electronic genre based in the UK, and helped revive the subgenre known as rhythm & grime.[8] [9]

In December 2013, DJ Kitty Cash released her Love the Free mixtape, which featured her song, "The High". Mizanekristos later released the track herself on February 4, 2014, on her SoundCloud.[10] She also featured on Bok Bok's song "Melba's Call", which was released on March 5.[11] On March 3, 2015, Mizanekristos announced the release of her first EP, Hallucinogen, alongside the release of the lead single, "A Message", and its accompanying music video.[12] The second single, "Rewind", was released on September 2. The EP covers the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship in reverse chronological order.[13] It includes the previously shared "The High".

2016–2018: Take Me Apart

In 2016, Mizanekristos was featured on "A Breath Away" from Clams Casino's 32 Levels, "From the Ground" from Danny Brown's Atrocity Exhibition, and "Scales" from Solange's A Seat at the Table. In February 2017, she took part in Red Bull Sound Select's 3 Days in Miami.[14] Later that year, she was featured on the track "Submission" alongside rapper Danny Brown and provided additional vocals on the track "Busted and Blue" from Gorillaz's album Humanz.

On July 14, 2017, Mizanekristos announced her debut studio album, Take Me Apart.[15] It was made available for pre-order on August 1 alongside the release of the lead single, "LMK".[16] Three more singles preceded the album, "Frontline",[17] "Waitin"[18] and "Blue Light",[19] before it was released on October 6, 2017.[20] The album received widespread acclaim from music critics and featured on various year-end lists.[21] [22] It was also included in the 2018 edition of the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The music critic Craig Jenkins noted heavy electronic instrumentation on the album with, "deconstructed dubstep wubs in 'Blue Light' and used the Roland synth that gave 'Jupiter' its name—an instrument famous for its blaring leads—to play sultry chiptune instead."[23]

On June 13, 2018, Mizanekristos was featured on the Girl Unit remix of the song "WYWD", which served as the lead single from his upcoming album, Song Feel. The two have previously worked together on Cut 4 Mes "Floor Show" and Hallucinogens "Rewind".[24]

On September 12, 2018, Mizanekristos announced Take Me a_Part, the Remixes, a remix album consisting of remixes from her debut album, and shared a remix for "LMK" featuring Princess Nokia, Junglepussy, Cupcakke and Ms. Boogie. The album features contributions from Kaytranada, Rare Essence, Serpentwithfeet and more.[25] On September 26, Mizanekristos shared Kaytranada's "Waitin" remix as the second single from the album. The album was released on October 5, 2018, making it a year since the release of Take Me Apart.

2022–present: Raven

On September 13, 2022, Mizanekristos released "Washed Away", her first single in five years along with a music video.On November 15, 2022, Mizanekristos announced her second studio album, Raven, would be released in early 2023. "Happy Ending", "On the Run", "Contact", and "Enough for Love" were also released as singles prior to the release of the album.[26]

On February 10, 2023, Raven was released. She performed "Enough for Love" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the same day.[27]

Raven includes collaborators such as Asmara from Fade to Mind's NGUZUNGUZU, Philadelphia-based DJ and producer LSDXOXO, German ambient duo OCA, and Toronto DJ BAMBII. The album showcases Black futurist art and electronic music sharing inspiration with Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Sun Ra to Janelle Monáe, Solange, Beyoncé, Drexciya and Aaliyah.[23]

On November 10, 2023, Mizanekristos was featured on PinkPantheress' debut album, Heaven Knows, on the song "Bury Me".

On December 6, 2023, Mizanekristos announced the release of her remix album, Rave:N, the Remixes, a compilation of remixes from her album Raven released earlier that year. The album is scheduled to be released on February 9, 2024. “Contact (Karen Nyame KG Remix)”, "Closure (Flexulant x BAMBII Remix feat. RahRah Gabor & Brazy)", "Happy Ending (A.G. Remix)", and "Holier (JD. Reid Remix) [feat. [[Shygirl]]]" were singles leading up to the release of Rave:N, the Remixes. A music video was released for "Closure (Flexulant x BAMBII Remix feat. RahRah Gabor & Brazy)" along with vignettes for the other singles.

Personal life

Kelela openly identifies as queer.[28] [29] In 2020, the artist made a reading primer that contained essays and literature, podcasts and videos, and documentaries as reference material for her friends, family and business partners.[30] Resources included Reader on Misogynoir by Kandis Williams, The will to change by bell hooks and Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble; the Seeing White podcast and IGTV videos from Sonya Renee Taylor about Black labour called, Are you stealing from Black folks? and More on Stealing from Black People: Right Relationship Beyond Capitalism; and, The Last Angel of History (1996), which features interviews from the late Octavia E Butler and Greg Tate.[30] The material inspired similar primers created and shared during the George Floyd protests and uprisings in 2020.

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
[31]
US
R&B
[32]
US
Heat.

[33]
US
Indie

[34]
BEL
(FL)

[35]
NZ
Heat.

[36]
SWI
[37]
UK
[38]
UK Indie
[39]
UK
R&B
[40]
Take Me Apart 128 18 4 11 104 3 80 51 7 3
Raven[41]
  • Released: February 10, 2023
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
168 18
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remix albums

Title! scope="col" style="width:16em;"
Album details
Hallucinogen Remixes
  • Released: December 25, 2015
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: Digital download
Take Me a_Part, the Remixes
  • Released: October 5, 2018
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: Digital download
Rave:n, the Remixes
  • Released: February 9, 2024
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

Title! scope="col" style="width:17em;"
Album details
Cut 4 Me
  • Released: October 1, 2013
  • Label: Fade to Mind
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download

Extended plays

Title! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:17em;"
Extended play detailsPeak chart positions
US
Dance

[42]
US
Heat.

US
Indie

Hallucinogen
  • Released: October 9, 2015
  • Label: Warp
  • Formats: LP, digital download
4 4 40

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
BEL (FL)
Tip

JPN
Hot
Over.

[43]
"OICU"
2014
"A Message"2015Hallucinogen
"Rewind"33
"LMK"2017Take Me Apart
"Frontline"
"Waitin"
"Blue Light"
"LMK (What's Really Good)"
2018Take Me a_Part, the Remixes
"Waitin" (Kaytranada remix)[44]
"Washed Away"2022Raven
"Happy Ending"17
"On the Run"
"Contact"2023
"Enough for Love"
"Contact" (Karen Nyame KG remix)Rave:n, the Remixes
"Closure" (Flexulant x Bambii remix)
"Happy Ending" (A.G. remix)
"Holier" (JD. Reid remix)
2024
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"In Tatters"2011DaedelusBespoke
"EFX"2012Teengirl FantasyTracer
"Bank Head"2013KingdomSaint Heron
"Go All Night"
"Bank Head"KingdomVertical XL
"Melba's Call"2014Bok BokYour Charizmatic Self
"With You"KindnessOtherness
"World Restart"Kindness, Ade
"Geneva"Kindness
"For the Young"
"Autumn (Lude I)"BootsWinter Spring Summer Fall
"Want It"Tink, DJ DahiSongs from Scratch
"Dangerzone"2015Future Brown, Ian IsiahFuture Brown
"Soulful Beat"MockyKey Change
"Weather Any Storm"
"Living in the Snow"
"Airy"Obey CityMerlot Sounds
"A Breath Away"2016Clams Casino32 Levels
"From the Ground"Danny BrownAtrocity Exhibition
"Scales"SolangeA Seat at the Table
"Submission"2017Gorillaz, Danny BrownHumanz
"WYWD" 2018Girl UnitSong Feel
"Bury Me"2023PinkPantheressHeaven Knows

Notes and References

  1. Michon . Eva . June 5, 2014 . Say My Name featuring Kelela . video . en-us . Bad Day Magazine .
  2. Web site: Kelela's Philosophy of Love. Pitchfork. August 9, 2017 . August 10, 2017.
  3. News: Kelela: An R&B star-to-be. Richards. Chris. April 14, 2014. Style. The Washington Post. June 28, 2014.
  4. Web site: Starling . Lakin . Kelela Is Ready For You Now . . October 3, 2018.
  5. Web site: Greeley . Shakeil . Kelela Is Thriving in an Unkind World . . March 29, 2018 . March 29, 2018.
  6. Web site: Kelela: Biography. Kellman. Andy. Allmusic. June 28, 2014.
  7. Web site: Cut 4 Me - Kelela. Kellman. Andy. Allmusic. June 28, 2014.
  8. Web site: Sweet Boy Pose: the 25 greatest r'n'g tracks. May 9, 2014. FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.. en-US. June 10, 2019.
  9. Web site: R&G: A Brief History of Grime's Softer Side. Pitchfork.com. January 18, 2017. en. June 10, 2019.
  10. Web site: Kelela - "The High" . . February 5, 2014 . September 26, 2018.
  11. Web site: Video: Bok Bok feat. Kelela, "Melba's Call". Frank. Alex. March 5, 2014. The Fader. June 28, 2014.
  12. Web site: Camp . Zoe . Kelela Announces Hallucinogen EP, Shares Arca Collab "A Message" . Pitchfork . March 3, 2015 . January 24, 2016.
  13. Web site: Album Of The Week: Kelela Hallucinogen. Stereogum. October 6, 2015 . January 15, 2016.
  14. News: Red Bull Sound Select's 3 Days in Miami Returns With Angel Olsen, Goldlink, and Kelela . Duran. Jose D. . January 31, 2017. Miami New Times. April 20, 2017.
  15. Web site: Dandridge-Lemco . Ben . Kelela's Debut Album Is Titled Take Me Apart . . July 14, 2017 . July 31, 2017.
  16. Web site: Moran . Justin . Kelela Debuts 'Take Me Apart' Album Art & Lead Single . . August 1, 2017 . September 26, 2018.
  17. Web site: Lozano . Kevin . "Frontline" by Kelela Review . . September 26, 2018.
  18. Web site: Starling . Lakin . Kelela comes face to face with the past on "Waitin" . It's the third single from her forthcoming debut album Take Me Apart. . . October 3, 2017 . September 26, 2018.
  19. Web site: McInerney . Anastasia . kelela shares moody new track 'Blue Light' . the artist took to Instagram to announce a fourth single from the record titled Blue Light . . October 5, 2017 . September 26, 2018.
  20. Web site: Take Me Apart by Kelela on Apple Music . . October 6, 2017 . September 26, 2018.
  21. Web site: Reviews and Tracks for Take Me Apart by Kelela . . September 26, 2018.
  22. Web site: Best Of 2017: Music Critic Top Ten Lists . . November 27, 2017 . September 26, 2018.
  23. Web site: Jenkins . Craig . 2023-02-10 . Kelela Knows How to Interrupt a Groove . 2023-02-11 . Vulture . en-us.
  24. Web site: Dunn . Frank . wow! girl unit and kelela just created your 2018 summer jam . . June 13, 2018 . June 13, 2018.
  25. Web site: Yoo . Noah . Kelela Shares New "LMK" Remix With CupcakKe, Princess Nokia, More . Pitchfork . September 12, 2018 . September 12, 2018.
  26. Blistein . Jon . September 13, 2022 . Kelela Returns With First New Song in Five Years, 'Washed Away' . Rolling Stone . en-US . October 5, 2022.
  27. Web site: 2023-02-11 . Kelela Performs "Enough for Love" on Fallon: Watch . 2023-02-11 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  28. Web site: Brinkhurst-Cuff . Charlie . Kelela on the joy and pain of being a black, queer musician . . October 14, 2017 . January 26, 2018.
  29. Web site: KELELA – Explores The Intersections Of Being A Queer Woman Of Colour In Music (OysterMag) . The LGBT Update . May 16, 2016 . January 26, 2018.
  30. Web site: Dazed . 2022-09-20 . Grounded: the revival of Kelela . 2023-02-11 . Dazed . en.
  31. Kelela Chart History (Billboard 200). Billboard. October 17, 2017.
  32. Kelela – Chart history: Top R&B Albums. Billboard. October 21, 2017.
  33. Kelela – Chart history: Heatseekers Albums. Billboard. October 21, 2017.
  34. Kelela – Chart history: Independent Albums. Billboard. October 21, 2017.
  35. Web site: Discografie Kelela. Hung Medien. ultratop.be. October 13, 2017. nl.
  36. Web site: NZ Heatseeker Albums. Official New Zealand Music Chart. October 13, 2017. October 13, 2017.
  37. Web site: Discographie Kelela. Hitparade.ch. June 13, 2018.
  38. Web site: Kelela full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. October 13, 2017.
  39. Peaks on the UK Independent Chart:
  40. Web site: Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40: 13 October 2017 – 19 October 2017. Official Charts Company. October 13, 2017.
  41. Web site: Kelela announces new album, Raven, and shares single On The Run. CrackMagazine. November 15, 2022. November 15, 2022.
  42. Kelela – Chart history: Dance/Electronic Albums. Billboard.
  43. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas: January 11, 2023. ja. Billboard Japan. January 11, 2023.
  44. Web site: KAYTRANADA_WAITIN_115 BPM - Single by Kelela & KAYTRANADA on iTunes . . September 26, 2018 . September 26, 2018.