Kele Okereke released his first solo album, titled The Boxer on 21 June 2010, through Wichita / Polydor in the UK and Europe and Glassnote Records for the rest of the world. The album was released under the name Kele, dropping his surname. Okereke explained the album title, saying "as a boxer, you have to rely on nobody else but yourself to achieve what it is you want to achieve. Even though you take hits, you have to keep focus on your priorities and keep going. I thought that was an inspiring image". The first single from the album Tenderoni was released on 14 June 2010.
Okereke sees the 'Kele' brand as a way for him to embrace his interest in dance music. "I've been into clubbing for years. I've said from the beginning I'm into dance, it gets me excited and I think this record is going to go some way to prove that to people, hopefully." - Kele Okereke
In September 2011 it was announced that Kele would be releasing a follow up to The Boxer; an EP titled The Hunter.
On 23 July 2014 Kele announced his second solo album, entitled Trick, to be released on his own label Lilac Records via Kobalt Label Services on 13 October 2014.
He released his third album Fatherland on 6 October 2017 under his full name Kele Okereke. The album features the singles Streets Been Talking and Grounds For Resentment feat. Olly Alexander. Fatherland also features the duet Versions of Us with Grammy-winning English singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rea
In January 2019, Leave to Remain a new musical written by Okereke and Matt Jones debuted in London. Announced in September 2018, the musical about an interracial gay couple was preceded by the single Not the Drugs Talking which showed a move back towards beats following the more acoustic Fatherland. Telling a love story through the Prism of Brexit, the new show is accompanied by a tie-in album of new songs. Speaking about the subject matter and his feelings on the UK in 2019, Okereke claimed that “It’s not a time that I’ve been proud to be British. It’s an ugly time”.
www.iamkele.com
Closer
Kele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know what's not being said
Fall asleep in my clothes again
On your side of the bed
Underneath an open window
You'll find me biding my time
Howling and empty-hearted
Cause you're not here
In your absence, I unravel
In your absence, I am gone
So go easy on this heart, time to love or fall apart
In your absence, I unravel
I need you closer
I need you back here in my life
I need you closer (closer)
I need you closer
23rd of Loneliness
Our secrets stopped being shared
Walk the streets on my own again
With your laughter in my head
In every face I see, there's you, there's you
These wounds stay open and raw
In every voice I hear, there's you, there's you
But you're not here
In your absence, I unravel
In your absence, I am gone
So go easy on this heart, time to love or fall apart
In your absence, I unravel
I need you closer
I need you back here in my life
I need you closer (closer)
I need you closer
The song Closer by Kele is a melancholic and emotionally charged ballad that expresses the feelings of loss and longing for someone who has left. The lyrics speak of being alone and unraveling in the absence of the person, indicating that the heartache of their absence is weighing heavily on the singer.
The opening verse, where Kele sings about falling asleep in his clothes and lying on the other side of the bed, conveys a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The following lines, "Howling and empty-hearted/Cause you're not here," further emphasize the pain of separation. The second verse talks about the memories of the shared secrets and laughter that once were present in the singer's life, but now they are just a distant memory haunting him/her.
The chorus of the song, "I need you closer/I need you back here in my life" is a plea by Kele to the person who left, asking them to come back and fill the void in his/her life. The repeated line "I need you closer" reflects the desperation of Kele to be reunited with the lost love. However, the final line "I need you closer (closer)/I need you closer" carries a hint of resignation, acknowledging that the person may not come back, and Kele may need to learn to live with their absence.
Overall, the song is powerful in its expression of loss and heartache, with a mournful melody and emotive lyrics that perfectly capture the sentiment of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
22nd of Loneliness
The singer is feeling lonely and isolated.
I know what's not being said
The singer is aware of something important that is not being communicated.
Fall asleep in my clothes again
The singer is having difficulty sleeping and may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
On your side of the bed
The artist is longing for their partner who is no longer there.
Underneath an open window
The artist is feeling exposed and vulnerable.
You'll find me biding my time
The singer is waiting for something to happen.
Howling and empty-hearted
The singer is expressing emotional pain and sadness.
Cause you're not here
The source of the artist's pain is their partner's absence.
In your absence, I unravel
The artist feels lost and undone when their partner is not around.
In your absence, I am gone
The artist feels like they are not themselves when their partner is not around.
So go easy on this heart, time to love or fall apart
The singer is asking for the listener to be gentle with their emotions during this difficult time.
I need you closer
The artist wants their partner to be physically closer to them.
I need you back here in my life
The singer wants their partner to be present and active in their life.
23rd of Loneliness
The singer is still feeling lonely and isolated.
Our secrets stopped being shared
The singer feels like they have lost intimacy and connection with their partner.
Walk the streets on my own again
The artist is feeling isolated and disconnected from others.
With your laughter in my head
The artist is holding onto memories of their partner, particularly happy moments.
In every face I see, there's you, there's you
The singer is constantly reminded of their partner and feels their absence deeply.
These wounds stay open and raw
The singer is experiencing emotional pain that has not healed.
In every voice I hear, there's you, there's you
The artist feels like they can hear their partner's voice even when they are not there.
But you're not here
The source of the artist's pain is still their partner's absence.
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@resolnator
This album is so amazing, I’ve only recently discovered it and I didn’t realize there were videos even.
@blacksunshine7485
Such a strong, consistent album. Kele shows his knowledge and appreciation of British beat driven music extremely well on this album and manages to make the transition from Bloc Party's work to the garage/dance/electronica sound of the album easy for Bloc Party fans to digest while also welcoming fans unaware of his previous musical endeavors largely thanks to his unique vocal and song arrangements. A truly hidden gem. Highly recommended.
@Kcbll1
Been listening to this album for what feels like months. Anything Kele puts out never disappoints.
@exploredancemusic
Another great track from the new KELE album! We love this one :)
@rwatkins489
Amazing piece of work!
@JoseEBodre
Kele has a good resume in music.
@ripplefashions5624
so underrated...Love your work
@Michi2197V
Kele has actually good music!
@CatEyeZOfficial
Video definitely compliments the song. Well done.
@akiuemu6299
love it