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.
A Lie
Kelela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It rains every day
With/without
Either way we're both suffering
We rode away
Wish you didn't draw it out this long
Blowing smoke out my window
On our way home
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
Bound, though you are free
To do what you want
It'll be just fine and I know it, I love you
I know we'll speak
It's only a matter of time
Couldn't hate you forever you know it
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
In Kelela's song "A Lie", she explores a relationship that is plagued with doubt and complications. The first verse describes the constant rain and gloomy weather, which is a metaphor for the state of the relationship. Despite their suffering, the two individuals still come together, but there is a sense of regret and frustration expressed in the line "Wish you didn't draw it out this long." Kelela's use of the phrase "Blowing smoke out my window" portrays a sense of restlessness and uncertainty.
The second verse delves deeper into the complexity of the relationship, with the line "Bound, though you are free to do what you want." This suggests that while the two may be committed to each other, there are still boundaries and limitations within the relationship. However, Kelela remains hopeful as she expresses her love and assures the other person that they will eventually reconnect. The final lines of the song "Kiss that story goodbye, it's what they call a lie" indicates that the story they had been telling themselves about their relationship was not true and it is time to accept that fact and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Grey and cloudy
The environment is dull due to the gloomy and dark weather outside.
It rains every day
It is raining continuously, adding to the gloomy atmosphere.
With/without
Despite being present or absent, the situation remains painful and unbearable for both of us.
Either way we're both suffering
The present situation is painful for both of us, regardless of the circumstances.
We rode away
We left the place where we were together.
Wish you didn't draw it out this long
I wish you didn't prolong our departure and made the process shorter.
Blowing smoke out my window
I am feeling overwhelmed and despondent, as evident from me blowing smoke out of the window of my car.
On our way home
We are on our way back to our respective homes.
I see, too
I also understand and acknowledge.
You're not the only one
You are not the only one who is going through this phase.
Kiss that story goodbye
Say goodbye to that past story.
It's what they call a lie
That past story is a lie because it was false or didn't establish the truth.
Bound, though you are free
Even though you are free to make your own choices, you are still bound to the consequences of those choices.
To do what you want
You have the freedom to do what you please.
It'll be just fine and I know it, I love you
Everything will be alright, and I have faith in you and love you.
I know we'll speak
I believe we will communicate with each other in the future.
It's only a matter of time
It is only a question of time before we speak again.
Couldn't hate you forever you know it
I couldn't hate you forever, and you understand it.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Sushon, Dashaun Dickins, Kelela Mizanekristos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@torianolockhart1028
Grey and cloudy
It rains every day
With/without
Either way we're both suffering
We rode away
Wish you didn't draw it out this long
Blowing smoke out my window
On our way home
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
Bound, though you are free
To do what you want
It'll be just fine and i know it
I love you
I know we'll speak
It's only a matter of time
Couldn't hate you forever
You know it
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
@torianolockhart1028
Grey and cloudy
It rains every day
With/without
Either way we're both suffering
We rode away
Wish you didn't draw it out this long
Blowing smoke out my window
On our way home
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
Bound, though you are free
To do what you want
It'll be just fine and i know it
I love you
I know we'll speak
It's only a matter of time
Couldn't hate you forever
You know it
I see, too
You're not the only one
Kiss that story goodbye
It's what they call a lie
@MoniqueBlairASMR
Thank u!
@9gottaloveme9
Ur tha best 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾✊🏾🙌🏾
@MissCairoG
Beautiful song! I was cleaning and feelin it.....then i started checking the smoke detectors for old batteries. I was like THATS IN THE MUSIC.🤣😂🤣
@dragonnnfruit811
this mixtape has gotten me through the tough and easy. just play and listen in your flat with some trees and crystals. Love and Light
@JsRf13
this is a beautiful intersection of folk and R&B. <3
@terrismith6848
I Love her lyrics & sound.. touches the core of my being send me out will sorted it through all through the night go girl Kelela.. Nov. 2016
@MoniqueBlairASMR
This track makes me so emotional' Love it
@Blk_Orchid
beautiful , soulful , eerie , unique
@ButterflyaTai
glad you are a nwe and different artist ..your work is inspiration to the unique ones out here . thank you