Kelela
Kelela Mizanekristos (Amharic: ከለላ ሚዛነክርስቶስ, käläla mizanäkərəsətosə; born … Read Full Bio ↴Kelela Mizanekristos (Amharic: ከለላ ሚዛነክርስቶስ, käläla mizanäkərəsətosə; 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.
Early life and education
A second-generation Ethiopian American and an only child, Mizanekristos was born in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1983.[6] Growing up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, she learned to play the violin in fourth grade and sang in her school's choir.[7] In 2001, she graduated from Magruder High School.[7][8] After transferring from Montgomery College to the American University, Mizanekristos began singing jazz standards at cafés.[7] 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,[7] where she currently lives, in addition to London.
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.[10] 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.[11] 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."[1] 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.
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.[14] She also featured on Bok Bok's song "Melba's Call", which was released on March 5.[15] 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.[16] The second single, "Rewind", was released on September 2. The EP covers the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship in reverse chronological order.[17] It includes the previously shared "The High".
2016–2018: Take Me Apart
Kelela in 2014
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.[18] 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.[19] It was made available for pre-order on August 1 alongside the release of the lead single, "LMK".[20] Three more singles preceded the album, "Frontline",[21] "Waitin"[22] and "Blue Light",[23] before it was released on October 6, 2017.[24] The album received widespread acclaim from music critics and featured on various year-end lists.[25][26] 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."
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 Me's "Floor Show" and Hallucinogen's "Rewind".
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.[29] On September 26, Mizanekristos shared Kaytranada's "Waitin" remix as the second single from the album.[30] The album was released on October 5, 2018, making it a year since the release of Take Me Apart.
2019–present: Hiatus, Raven, and In The Blue Light
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.
On February 10th, 2023, Raven was released. She performed her song “Enough for Love” during a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the same day.
In The Blue Light releases on February 11th, 2025. Every track name features the denotation (unplugged), as some tracks are alternative versions of already released music.
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.
Early life and education
A second-generation Ethiopian American and an only child, Mizanekristos was born in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1983.[6] Growing up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, she learned to play the violin in fourth grade and sang in her school's choir.[7] In 2001, she graduated from Magruder High School.[7][8] After transferring from Montgomery College to the American University, Mizanekristos began singing jazz standards at cafés.[7] 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,[7] where she currently lives, in addition to London.
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.[10] 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.[11] 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."[1] 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.
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.[14] She also featured on Bok Bok's song "Melba's Call", which was released on March 5.[15] 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.[16] The second single, "Rewind", was released on September 2. The EP covers the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship in reverse chronological order.[17] It includes the previously shared "The High".
2016–2018: Take Me Apart
Kelela in 2014
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.[18] 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.[19] It was made available for pre-order on August 1 alongside the release of the lead single, "LMK".[20] Three more singles preceded the album, "Frontline",[21] "Waitin"[22] and "Blue Light",[23] before it was released on October 6, 2017.[24] The album received widespread acclaim from music critics and featured on various year-end lists.[25][26] 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."
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 Me's "Floor Show" and Hallucinogen's "Rewind".
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.[29] On September 26, Mizanekristos shared Kaytranada's "Waitin" remix as the second single from the album.[30] The album was released on October 5, 2018, making it a year since the release of Take Me Apart.
2019–present: Hiatus, Raven, and In The Blue Light
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.
On February 10th, 2023, Raven was released. She performed her song “Enough for Love” during a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the same day.
In The Blue Light releases on February 11th, 2025. Every track name features the denotation (unplugged), as some tracks are alternative versions of already released music.
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.
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Kelela Lyrics
03. FLOOR SHOW Give me a reason to listen Tell me, I already know…
06. Bank Head Like kickin' an old bad habit It's hard, but I'm not…
08. KEEP IT COOL Beautiful, you're not mine You can't stop and it's a crime …
30 Years Darling, come close, let's talk Wrap your arms around me lik…
A Lie Grey and cloudy It rains every day With/without Either way w…
A Message You're so clear to me I can see right through you When…
All The Way Down When you're riding Down at night But you say The only way t…
Altadena Now that you're up my love Let me remind you Those dreams…
Bank Head Like kickin' an old bad habit It's hard, but I'm not…
Better We got back it's not the same And I'm afraid to…
Blue Light Fallin', fallin' Fallin, fallin' Although I've hardened Dar…
Bluff I'm calling your bluff There's no way that you really leavin…
Bruises Right (just right, just right, just right, just right) Right…
Cherry Coffee Trust me, I'll feel better Say it's over, baby Been tellin' …
Closure Mmh, no Mmh, no, no Throw it on the flame, ignite it If…
Contact We're takin' a ride, 405 through the West Side We're party…
Cut 4 Me So many nights She's got me high Someone who won't bite Don'…
DIVOLI S'VERE_TRUTH OR DARE_130 BPM We both know why we're playing Keep us in this moment We…
Divorce Under the surface, I'm lying Fighting the tide, now I'm drow…
DJ LAG_ONANON_127 BPM A promise we made to do it our way We're not…
Do It Again Late at night you feel me creep in One touch takes…
Enemy You're all up on me now That you're my enemy There's nothing…
Enough Hit me up Why you sitting by yourself? Taken me out So I…
Enough for Love Stop so we can talk about it Tell me, what's goin'…
Far Away Far away Far away, far away, far away, far away Far away,…
Floor Show Give me a reason to listen Tell me, I already know…
Fooley Far away from Submerged sound Far away from Submerge now Fa…
Frontline There's a place you hold I left behind, I'm finished Since…
Go All Night Stayed up talkin' all night Take my body, it's so right Tire…
Gomenasai It must be scary How will you ever get out Sorry, not…
Guns There's a part of me That feels like I've got this Not…
Guns %26 Synth There's a part of me That feels like I've got this Not…
Guns %26 Synths There's a part of me That feels like I've got this Not…
Guns & Synths (Prod. Bok Bok) There's a part of me That feels like I got this not…
Happy Ending Too far away Ahh You're too far away Always knew we could'v…
Holier Take it away And though we struggle apart The love was good…
In The Blue Light Fallin', fallin' Fallin, fallin' Although I've hardened Dar…
JOEY LABEIJA_BETTER_107 BPM Been around the block once or twice Breaking up in the…
Jupiter It's hard to hear, you're in and out I can tell…
KAYTRANADA_WAITIN_115 BPM Falling into the sky Falling into each other Falling into th…
Keep It Cool Beautiful, you're not mine You can't stop and it's a crime W…
Let It Go Mm, no Let it sink in, my love The way you're at…
LMK Look, I'll give up right away And you'll never figure out Wh…
Love Notes No, no, no Music can come from nowhere Store emotion deep in…
LSDXOXO_TRUTH OR DARE_123 BPM It's my turn now Truth or dare You have to exactly what…
Missed Call Gone away are the days when I needed someone around Far…
NÍDIA_BLUE LIGHT_123 BPM Although I've hardened Darling, my guard is down When I know…
On the Run Baby, you're out on the run, oh Nothin' in this world…
Onanon We was cool and now you're talking back at me Like…
RARE ESSENCE_TMA_83 BPM Seven in the morning When they wake you gotta be ghost Let…
Raven The long way A raven reborn Pour it up The weaving through s…
Rewind Since that day you're all I think about Thought you were…
S.O.S I'm feeling a lot of pressure Only you can help me…
Santa Muerte_Bluff_94 Bpm I'm calling your bluff I'm calling your bluff I'm calling yo…
Send Me Out Send, send Send me out (out, out, out) Love, do I have…
SERPENTWITHFEET_ALTADENA _88 BPM Boy, good morning Boy, good morning Now that you're up, my…
Something Else Watch the replay I give it all away Another girl's takin' Yo…
Sorbet Waves when we touch, rippling in Soft on my mouth, sweeter…
Take Me Apart Seven in the morning When they wake, you gotta be ghost Let…
The High My lips are creeping up your neck You shiver and try…
Truth Or Dare T-shirt off Tease me It's getting dark, stay or leave It's r…
Turn to Dust First off, I'm not new to this Is it a consequence…
Underwaters Riding, at night, when you're riding At night Riding, at nig…
Waitin Falling into the sky Falling into each other Falling into th…
Washed Away Far away, yeah Far away, oh, oh Far away, oh, oh-oh-oh Washe…