Kelela has officially announced that her highly anticipated new album, new avatar, will be released on July 10. Marking the singer-songwriter’s third studio album on Warp Records and her fifth full-length project overall, the announcement follows the recent release of lead single “idea 1” and the track “linknb.”
Kelela.Neva Wireko / via publicistExploring a New Sonic Direction
The latest singles, “idea 1” and “linknb,” signal a shift toward a guitar-driven, rock-inspired sound for the D.C.-raised, NYC-based artist. These tracks were produced by Oscar Scheller, who noted in a recent interview that Kelela arrived with a clear vision for this cross-genre evolution.
“She bridges the gap between those spaces that haven’t been explored and I love doing that too,” Scheller shared. “We listened to Incubus and Morning View… We were just exploring where it could go in this very open way.”
A Reflection on the Current Moment
In a press release, Kelela emphasized that new avatar is deeply connected to the current state of the world. “It finds solace in confronting… I don’t want the music to be a distraction from what’s really going on in the world; I want it to make sense in this crazy moment,” she stated. She also highlighted the importance of community and humor, noting that laughter among her peers serves as an expression of their sharp perspective on the world.
Collaborations and Tracklist
The upcoming album features high-profile collaborations with PinkPantheress, A.K. Paul, and Fousheé. While full production credits are pending, it is expected that Oscar Scheller played a significant role in the project’s development.
Still from “idea 1” video (dir. 91 Rules) / via publicistTracklist for new avatar:
1. idea 1
2. point blank
3. goin down
4. outta time (feat. A. K. Paul)
5. against me
6. crystalize
7. retaliation lullaby
8. linknb
9. don’t piss me off
10. new life forms (feat. Fousheé)
11. the bridge (feat. PinkPantheress)
12. if we meet again
