new avatar by Kelela
Released: July 10, 2026 on Warp Records
FFO: FKA Twigs, Solange, SOPHIE, Charli xcx
Your first song: "idea 1"
♫ Support: Bandcamp
Kelela (Kelela Mizanekristos) is an R&B singer/songwriter from Washington, DC who has been performing since 2011. new avatar is her third full length album for Warp Records and her first since Raven (2023). Both Raven and Take Me Apart (2017) were well receive and both appeared on many end of year lists for best album.
new avatar dropped with high expectations and I think it lived up to them… as it’s right there with my favorite R&B album of the year so far, Sault’s Chapter 1.
In terms of the album, Kelela has expanded her alt R&B sound to take on elements of shoegaze, dream pop, EDM, and industrial to make a sonically interesting backdrop for her otherworldly vocal ability. All of this makes for a pretty darn good album to listen to at night.
Tracks
- idea 1 ✨
- point blank ✨
- goin down ✨
- Kelela & A. K. Paul - outta time
- against me
- crystalize ✨
- retaliation lullaby
- linknb ✨
- don’t piss me off ✨
- Kelela & Fousheé - new life forms
- Kelela & PinkPantheress - the bridge ✨
- if we meet again