Kelela facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelela
Kelela in June 2018
Background information
Native name	ከለላ
Birth name	Kelela Mizanekristos
Born	(1983-06-04) June 4, 1983 (age 42) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	Alternative R&B electronic R&G
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Warp Fade to Mind
Associated acts	Gorillaz

Kelela Mizanekristos (born June 4, 1983) is an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her unique blend of R&B and electronic music. Kelela started her music journey in 2013 with her mixtape Cut 4 Me.

..... This EP told the story of a relationship from end to beginning. Her first full album, Take Me Apart, came out in 2017 and was highly praised. After a break, Kelela released her second album, Raven, in February 2023.

About Kelela's Early Life

Kelela Mizanekristos was born in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1983. Her parents were from Ethiopia, and she was an only child. She grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Kelela started playing the violin in fourth grade. She also sang in her school choir. After high school, she went to college. She began singing jazz songs in cafés. Later, she joined an indie band called Dizzy Spells. In 2010, she moved to Los Angeles, where she still lives part-time.

Kelela's Music Career

Starting with Cut 4 Me and ... (2012–2015)

Kelela began working on her first mixtape in November 2012. She decided to focus fully on music. She quit her job as a telemarketer to follow her dream. In Los Angeles, she met the group Teengirl Fantasy. She sang on their song "EFX" in 2013. This led her to meet Prince William from the Fade to Mind record label.

He introduced her to the sounds of his label and another one called Night Slugs. In May 2013, she was featured on Kingdom's song "Bank Head." Five months later, she released her mixtape Cut 4 Me for free. This mixtape was an experiment for the producers. It was their first time using vocals on their club tracks. The mixtape was influenced by grime music from the UK. It helped bring back a style called rhythm & grime.

In December 2013, DJ Kitty Cash released a mixtape with Kelela's song "The High." Kelela later released this song herself in February 2014. She also sang on Bok Bok's song "Melba's Call" in March 2014. ..... She released the first song, "A Message," with a music video. The second song, "Rewind," came out in September. The EP tells the story of a relationship in reverse order.

Success with Take Me Apart (2016–2018)

Kelela in 2014

In 2016, Kelela was featured on songs by other artists. These included "A Breath Away" by Clams Casino and "From the Ground" by Danny Brown. She also sang on "Scales" from Solange's album A Seat at the Table. In 2017, she sang on "Submission" with Danny Brown for Gorillaz's album Humanz. She also provided extra vocals on "Busted and Blue" from the same album.

On July 14, 2017, Kelela announced her first studio album, Take Me Apart. It was released on October 6, 2017. Before the album came out, she released four songs: "LMK", "Frontline", "Waitin", and "Blue Light". The album was highly praised by music critics. It appeared on many "best of the year" lists. It was even included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album used a lot of electronic sounds.

In June 2018, Kelela was featured on a remix of the song "WYWD" by Girl Unit. They had worked together before on her earlier music. On September 12, 2018, Kelela announced Take Me a_Part, the Remixes. This album had new versions of songs from her debut album. It included a remix of "LMK" with other artists like Princess Nokia. The album featured contributions from many talented artists. It was released on October 5, 2018, one year after Take Me Apart.

New Music: Raven (2022–Present)

On September 13, 2022, Kelela released "Washed Away." This was her first new song in five years. A music video came out with it. On November 15, 2022, Kelela announced her second studio album, Raven. It was released in early 2023. Other songs like "Happy Ending" and "On the Run" were released before the album.

Raven was released on February 10, 2023. Kelela performed "Enough for Love" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that same day. The album featured collaborations with artists like Asmara and LSDXOXO. Raven explores themes of Black futurist art and electronic music. It draws inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé.

On November 10, 2023, Kelela was featured on PinkPantheress' album Heaven Knows. She sang on the song "Bury Me." On December 6, 2023, Kelela announced her second remix album, Rave:N, the Remixes. This album has remixes from her Raven album. It was released on February 9, 2024. Several remix singles were released before the album.

Kelela's Personal Life

Kelela is interested in social justice and learning. In 2020, she created a list of resources for her friends and family. This list included essays, podcasts, and documentaries. These materials helped people learn about important social topics. Her work inspired others to create similar learning guides.

Kelela's Music Albums

Here is a list of Kelela's studio albums, remix albums, live albums, mixtapes, and extended plays.

Studio Albums

Remix Albums

Live Albums

Mixtapes

Extended Plays

Singles

Guest Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Kelela para niños