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.
Cut 4 Me
Kelela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got me high
Someone who won't bite
Don't wanna stop her
I gave it time, I'm in no rush
You're slippin' now, that's right
Can't wait to tear it apart
You're all that I need
Tenderly
Give me what I need
Would you please rock
Carefully?
You're all that I need
Talk to me
Give me what I need
Would you please breakdown?
Stop thinking twice
You say it's wrong
But it feels so right
Now you can't handle
A kiss from behind
I make you blush
You're slippin' now, don't fight
Can't wait to tear that apart
Cut for me
You're all that I need
Tenderly
Give me what I need
Would you please rock
Carefully?
You're all that need
Talk to me
Give me what I need
Would you please bite hard?
Bite, bite, bite, bite hard
Break, break, break, break down
The lyrics to Kelela's song Cut 4 Me talk about an intense desire for someone that she can't resist. She has been waiting for a long time to meet someone who won't hurt her, and she's finally found them. The lyrics also mention that this person is now slipping away from her, and she can't wait to get back to them. Throughout the song, she speaks about how this person is all she needs, tenderly, and how she wants them to give her what she needs.
The chorus makes it clear that she wants this person to cut for her, which may refer to a desire for this person to be vulnerable or to let their guard down with her. She repeats that this person is all she needs and asks them to talk to her and give her what she needs. The bridge of the song talks about the hesitation and uncertainty that this person may be feeling, but Kelela makes it clear that what they have is worth it and feels right.
Overall, Cut 4 Me is a song about a strong, erotic connection between two people. The lyrics suggest that this relationship is intense and passionate, but also potentially fraught with uncertainty and risk.
Line by Line Meaning
So many nights
The singer has spent many nights thinking about this person.
She's got me high
This person fills the singer with joy and excitement.
Someone who won't bite
The singer wants someone who won't hurt them.
Don't wanna stop her
The singer wants to keep going with this relationship.
I gave it time, I'm in no rush
The singer is willing to be patient for this relationship to develop.
You're slippin' now, that's right
The singer is noticing the other person losing their grip on the relationship.
Can't wait to tear it apart
The singer is excited to end the relationship.
Cut for me
The singer wants the other person to make a commitment to them.
You're all that I need
The singer feels that they only need this person to be happy.
Tenderly
The singer wants to be treated gently and carefully.
Give me what I need
The singer wants the other person to fulfill their needs.
Would you please rock
The singer wants to be comforted and reassured.
Carefully?
The singer wants the other person to be gentle and cautious with their feelings.
Talk to me
The singer wants to communicate and work things out.
Would you please breakdown?
The singer wants the other person to open up and show their emotions.
Stop thinking twice
The singer wants the other person to stop second-guessing themselves.
You say it's wrong
The other person thinks that the relationship is a mistake.
But it feels so right
The singer believes that the relationship is meant to be.
Now you can't handle
The singer believes that the other person is struggling with their feelings.
A kiss from behind
The singer has surprised the other person with their affection.
I make you blush
The singer has made the other person feel embarrassed or flustered.
You're slippin' now, don't fight
The singer thinks that the other person is losing their commitment to the relationship.
Can't wait to tear that apart
The singer is eager to end the relationship.
Would you please bite hard?
The singer wants the other person to give more effort into the relationship.
Bite, bite, bite, bite hard
The singer wants the other person to put more energy into the relationship.
Break, break, break, break down
The singer wants to break down emotional barriers with the other person.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kelela Mizanekristos, Will Boston, Ezra Rubin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AliciaLele
Definitely representing her Ethiopian heritage on this beat. The intro is a typically Ethiopian beat... ❤️
@nuredeankelebu5409
Her style reminds me of listening to some 80s/90s pop 💯💯 its unique!
@kiityg6124
Kelela, fka twigs, and banks would have me dead of they collab
@9gottaloveme9
The dramatic contrast between the dynamics of this song are pure bliss to my ears ❤️ this 💪🏾👀💪🏾
@numberonefan313
I used to listen to this EP back in my sophomore year of college, still hits tho.
@Fortheloveofcoils
Love it!! Reminds me of an MJ song. pple coming at the beat and forget that most 80s/70s pop sounded just like this lol
@Vampiress16
I love her music!!' Listen to her every single day i walk to school or walk home from school! Even in school i listen to her music! Its soo goood I'm inspired to make an R&B album with my cousin with this sort of style! Loveeee ittt!!! :3
@22018
She closed her show yesterday with this song. Couldn't believe it
@Dnell29
I love this song. Reminds me of Aaliyah what if. 😍
@TheMilanBlanc
this has to be one of her best songs