Kelela
Ethiopia-descended R&B and electro pop singer
| Fact title | Fact data |
|---|---|
| From |
Washington, USA
|
| Age |
30
|
LA-based Kelela Mizanekristos is at the forefront of the 鈥渆xperimental R&B鈥� movement, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Drake and Frank Ocean.聽
She鈥檚 one of my favourite vocalists out at the momentMoxie - INDWT
Now 30, she was raised in Rockville, Maryland, the sole daughter of Ethiopian parents who emigrated to the US in the 1970s. She says her earliest musical memories are of car journeys to meet her cousins, when she would sing along to Tracy Chapman鈥檚 debut album at full volume.
Performing under her first name, Kelela鈥檚 calling card was a well-received mixtape, Cut 4 Me, released on the influential Fade to Mind label in October. The first vocal release by the label, they had hand-picked her to work with them after hearing early demos. Beyonc茅 is also a fan and has featured Kelela on her Beyhive blog.
Fusing sooth R&B vocals with unconventional, glitchy productions, the singer says her music is 鈥渘ot just weird, it's deliberately offputting鈥�. Nonetheless, she has been compared to US chart royalty: 鈥淭here is something Janet Jackson about those harmonies.鈥� said Radio1鈥檚 Benji B in a recent interview with the singer.
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