Kelela (born Kelela Mizanekristos)
Ethiopian-American
R&B/Electro-pop Singer + Songwriter
Instagram: @kelelam
Soundcloud: kelela
Born to Ethiopian immigrants, Kelela (pronounced ‘kuh-luh-lah’) has been on a journey to showcase her love of music since 2008. Born in Washington, D.C., Kelela majored in international studies at American University, with the desire to figure out postcolonial poverty in Africa. In early 2010, she changed gears to follow her love for music; so she quit school and started an indie band called Dizzy Spells, where she sung progressive metal. She would work odd jobs before deciding to drop everything and move to Los Angeles in 2010 to join the west coast music scene.
While working as a telemarketer to make ends meet, Kelela wrote and sung on the EFX track on Teengirl Fantasy’s (an electronic music duo) Tracer album in 2012. And by December 2012, Kelela quit her job and accEPted an offer from Solange herself, to be an opening act on tour. This transition would also be made possible through a blessing in disguise – a traffic accident where her car was deemed ‘totaled’; Kelela received a large insurance check that afforded her a smooth transition from telemarketing to music full-time.
2013 would bring fresh wind for Kelela and made her hit the underground music world with full force. Thanks to a growing following, she continued to travel the word playing gigs, released her Cut 4 Me mixtape under Fade to Mind (an electronic label in Los Angeles), and made two appearances on Solange’s Saint Heron compilation album.
As Kelela continues on a path synergized by like-minded collaborators, you can catch her on Solange’s A Seat At The Table track, Scales (2016), her own Cut 4 Me album (2015), Hallucinogen EP (2015) and as a featured artist on many other singles.