In a musical landscape where many artists prefer to obscure their influences, Kelela remains refreshingly transparent. Her ability to communicate complex emotional states stems from her willingness to share the inspirations that shape her practice. For over a decade, she has masterfully fused R&B vocals with diverse traditions—from East Coast club and drum’n’bass to ambient and D.C. go-go. With her latest album, new avatar, she pivots toward a new sonic frontier: the indie and punk rock textures of her youth.
A Shift Toward Guitar-Driven Soundscapes
Following the success of 2023’s Raven, which explored themes of solitude and emergence, new avatar feels like a direct response to a world in crisis. Kelela has noted that the mood of this project is significantly heavier, reflecting the social and economic tensions of the current era. By incorporating “guitar music,” she finds a natural vehicle for the rage, angst, and uncertainty that define the record’s core.
Tracks like “idea 1” utilize shoegaze-inspired production from Oscar Scheller to underscore the frustration of emotional stasis. Similarly, “goin down” employs tense guitar strums that evoke the dance-rock energy of late 1980s Janet Jackson, proving that Kelela’s voice remains a versatile instrument capable of navigating any genre landscape.
The Evolution of a Genre-Defying Artist
Throughout new avatar, Kelela balances these new, jagged textures with the polished, atmospheric R&B that established her career. On “against me,” she channels the trip-hop influence of Portishead, while “don’t piss me off” leans into the ambient, garage-inflected sound associated with Burial. These choices reinforce her thesis that R&B is perhaps the most expansive genre in existence.
The album also features moments of levity and collaboration. “new life forms,” featuring Fousheé, offers a brief, dreamy respite from the album’s heavier themes, blending vocal interplay with lush, synth-heavy production. Meanwhile, the return of A.K. Paul on “outta time” provides a nostalgic nod to her earlier work, grounding the project in the continuity of her artistic journey.
Ultimately, new avatar is a testament to Kelela’s refusal to be one-note. While it may not carry the same high-stakes narrative weight as Raven, it stands as a potent expansion of her legacy, proving that she remains one of the most intuitive and adventurous voices in contemporary music.