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 and 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.
On February 10, 2023, Raven was released. She performed her song “Enough for Love” during a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the same day.
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.
Contact
Kelela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're party to party, it's late but we're wide awake
The bass in my body, I'm sinkin', it's so right
And time is surreal now I'm floating in outer space
Rollin' up, we bringin' the vibe
It might just render you blind
We're workin' hard every day
Don't need your help, I can pay
You're stressin', that's not allowed
There's nothin' holdin' us down
You see my hips and they sway
Now, see me walkin' away to the dance floor
Oh, it's a sauna, here if you wanna (we're standing in the light)
It's two A.M. And we made it, everybody faded (so wild, so wild, so wild)
And now I'm floatin' away, far and away (you know it feels so right)
You tryna stall and delay, but I wanna play
We're hidin' away on the back, on the new high (new high)
I'll give you a taste if you're good, but you gotta wait (wait, wait)
Your hands on my body, the feeling is so right
I'll go all the way if it's up to me, hey
Loneliness, I see in your eyes
It might just render you blind
We're gettin' hotter these days
Contact, we just have to wait
You're stressin', that's not allowed
Got nothin' holdin' us down
You're leanin' in and I'll sway
Baby, let's dance it away (ohh)
Oh, it's a sauna, here if you wanna (we're standing in the light)
It's two A.M. And we made it, everybody faded (so wild, so wild, so wild)
And now I'm floatin' away, far and away (far away)
(Away, away, away, away) (you know it feels so right)
You tryna stall and delay, but I wanna play, yeah
Ohh
Now, now
The lyrics to Kelela's song "Contact" depict a scene of a late-night outing, where the singer and their friends are driving on the 405 highway, making their way from party to party. The atmosphere is energetic and the singer feels the bass of the music in their body, causing them to feel like they are sinking into the moment. Time feels surreal as they feel weightless, floating in outer space.
The song also explores a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. The singer states that they don't need anyone's help, as they can pay their own way. They refuse to be stressed or held down by anything, and their confidence and freedom is evident in the way they carry themselves. The lyrics mention hips swaying and walking away to the dance floor, highlighting a sense of self-assuredness and liberation.
In the chorus, the song takes a slightly introspective turn. The singer acknowledges the loneliness they see in someone's eyes, recognizing that it can be blinding. They express a desire to escape the solitude and engage in the moment. The lyrics suggest that there is a wait for contact, perhaps referring to a deeper connection or intimacy. Despite the potential delay, the singer expresses a longing to play and enjoy the company of others.
Overall, "Contact" captures a sense of vivacity, empowerment, and desire for connection in the midst of a vibrant nightlife experience.
Line by Line Meaning
We're takin' a ride, 405 through the West Side
We're embarking on a journey, driving on the 405 highway through the western part of the city.
We're party to party, it's late but we're wide awake
We're going from one party to another, despite the late hour, we're still full of energy.
The bass in my body, I'm sinkin', it's so right
The pulsating rhythm of the music resonates within me, making me feel completely immersed and satisfied.
And time is surreal now I'm floating in outer space
The concept of time becomes distorted as I feel weightless and detached from reality, like I'm floating in outer space.
Rollin' up, we bringin' the vibe
As we arrive, we are exuding a positive and energetic atmosphere.
It might just render you blind
Our dynamic presence and energy might overwhelm you.
We're workin' hard every day
We're putting in a lot of effort and dedication daily.
Don't need your help, I can pay
I am financially independent and capable of taking care of myself without assistance.
You're stressin', that's not allowed
You're causing unnecessary worry or anxiety, and it's not acceptable in this context.
There's nothin' holdin' us down
There are no obstacles or constraints limiting our freedom or potential.
You see my hips and they sway
You notice the graceful movement of my hips as I dance.
Now, see me walkin' away to the dance floor
Witness me confidently striding towards the dance floor.
Oh, it's a sauna, here if you wanna (we're standing in the light)
This environment is incredibly intense and vibrant, and you're welcome to experience it with us (we're in the spotlight).
It's two A.M. And we made it, everybody faded (so wild, so wild, so wild)
It's 2 AM, and we've successfully reached this moment, where everyone is heavily intoxicated and enjoying themselves in an enthusiastic and uninhibited manner.
And now I'm floatin' away, far and away (you know it feels so right)
Now, I'm experiencing a sensation of drifting away, being distant or disconnected from reality, which feels incredibly satisfying and pleasurable.
You tryna stall and delay, but I wanna play
You're attempting to delay or prolong this experience, but I'm eager to engage and participate.
We're hidin' away on the back, on the new high (new high)
We're discreetly retreating to a more secluded area, experiencing an exhilarating state of euphoria.
I'll give you a taste if you're good, but you gotta wait (wait, wait)
I'll offer you a glimpse of this pleasurable experience only if you show proper behavior, but you'll need to exercise patience.
Your hands on my body, the feeling is so right
As your hands touch my body, it creates a sensation that is incredibly satisfying and fulfilling.
I'll go all the way if it's up to me, hey
If it's solely my decision, I'm willing to go to the extreme or take things to the highest level.
Loneliness, I see in your eyes
I can perceive your feelings of loneliness and isolation through the expression in your eyes.
We're gettin' hotter these days
Our situation or circumstances are becoming more intense and exciting as time passes.
Contact, we just have to wait
We need to exercise patience and wait for the opportunity to make a connection or initiate contact.
You're leanin' in and I'll sway
You're attempting to get closer, and I'll respond by moving my body in a graceful and enticing manner.
Baby, let's dance it away (ohh)
Darling, let's escape or distract ourselves through dance and leave behind our current concerns or issues.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Asmara, Kelela Mizanekristos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind