We’ve got a new track that will make your weekend pop. The American alternative R&B singer Kelela is back bringing us her newest single ‘Contact’ that will make you melt on the dancefloor.
If you’re not fully versed with Kelela, the singer whose full name is Kelela Mizanekristos hails from Washington DC but now splits her time between London and LA. A former telemarketer, she quit her job in 2012 to focus on her music releasing her debut mixtape Cut 4 Me the following year. Since then, she’s been unstoppable. Over the last decade, she has collaborated with many big names in the music scene such as Princess Nokia, Cupcakke, Danny Brown, Solange, Gorillaz, and Arca. It is unsurprising then that the singer has a large following with 200K followers on Instagram and fans in artists such as Janelle Monae and Kali Uchis.
Like the album cover for Raven ‘Contact’ creates the feeling of submersion underwater mixing relaxed DnB beats with trancey synth sounds that wash a wave of calm over its listener. As ever Kelela’s vocals are buttery and sensual. It’s an instant favourite for late-night motives bringing a sense of enchantment to the evening.
In a statement, Kelela said, “Contact” has a little bit of something for every part of the night. It’s a soundtrack for “pre-gaming” (a song to play as you’re getting ready or on your way to the club). It’s also the interior club experience: the heat that envelops you when you walk into a packed rave. All this culminates in a very naughty, psychedelic moment in the back of the club with a lover.”
The single was released on the 18th January and is the fourth single released from Kelela’s forthcoming album Raven which will be on streaming on the 10th February. The album features songwriting by our favourite dreamy R&B singer-songwriter Shygirl. Taking the album’s influences from the Breakbeat and DnB scene, on her Instagram Kelela describes the album as a “15 track deep-dive into facets of dance music that have always excited me”.
The previous singles from Raven are the serene soul-cleansing ‘Washed Away’ released in September of last year, rhythmic brain-itch scratcher ‘Happy Ending’ released in October, and the sexy atmospheric ‘On the Run’ released in November. A music video for ‘On the Run’ was released in early December featuring Kelela and the producer of the track Bambii vibing and driving in a yellow-hued smoke-filled car and some very sexy car hood dancing from the singer. Fashion photographer and filmmaker Lee Wei Swee directed the video who has photographed stars Timothée Chalamet, FKA Twigs, and Maisie Williams, and regularly shoots for Vogue. Kelela posted extra behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot on her TikTok account.
Raven comes six years after the release of Kelela’s debut album Take Me Apart, which was lauded by critics as one of the best albums of 2017 who praised its emotional complexity and innovations within the R&B genre. Take Me Apart charted highly in several countries including number four in the UK R&B charts.
Kelela is touring later this year with a date in London in April. If you love ‘Contact’ as much as we do be sure to snatch a ticket to see Kelela play it live.
