Kelela, one of the goddesses of current electronic black pop – if not the supreme divinity, with forgiveness from FKA twigs – returns, but not as you remembered her.
‘Idea 1’ is the single that inaugurates the new era of Kelela and marks the launch of her third official album, fourth if we count the innovative and pioneering ‘CUT 4 ME’, considered, in reality, a mixtape.
The song surprises with the presence of electric guitars, giving rise to a kind of floating hyper-grunge hitherto unheard of in their discography. The heartfelt melody, so typical of Kelela, is still there, but now the packaging is electric, even shoegaze.
The change of direction makes more sense than it seems: although there are no recordings available, Kelela was part of a progressive metal band called Dizzy Spells, active around 2008-2009, years before their foray into electronica. In this way, Kelela returns to her roots, in addition to using this music to comment on the state of the world today.
‘Idea 1’ reflects on “what it feels like to exist in this climate: the weight of being forced to witness, absorb and speak the truth at a time when the world seems to be falling apart.” Kelela adds: “That’s a particular kind of burden that black women know intimately. This song offers no answers; He simply refuses to look away. “Co-writing it with my best friend Janiva Ellis, hearing how the Oscar production shaped it, and then seeing how 91 Rules brings that tension to life visually feels like the beginning of a much larger conversation that I’m ready to have.”
