Kelela

American singer Kelela Mizanekristos was born in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1983, and has a wide range of styles, from soul and electro to R&B and jazz. She grew up in Maryland and studied jazz, before settling in Los Angeles. A collaborator of the duo Teengirl Fantasy and Kingdom, she recorded her first mixtape Cut 4 Me (2013), with appearances by the producer alongside Bok Bok, Girl Unit, Jam City and Nguzunguzu. Signed by UK label Warp Records, Kelela followed up with the Hallucinogen EP (2015), this time featuring Arca, Obey City and Ariel Rechtsaid. Her alternative R&B style tinged with bass and atmospheric layers sets her apart, and her suave voice attracts collaborators from rappers and electro producers alike. Released in October 2017, her debut album Take Me Apart reached #18 on the Billboard R&B charts and #3 on the UK equivalent. Above all, the critically acclaimed collection of the year's greatest hits was selected for inclusion in the reference work Les 1001 albums qu'il faut avoir écoutés dans sa vie. On the strength of this recognition, Kelela followed up with Raven (2023), which went virtually unnoticed in the charts. Like its predecessor, it was followed by an album of remixes, before the 2025 release of the live, acoustic album In the Blue Light, recorded at New York's Blue Note Jazz Club.