#kelela

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This year sucked in a lot of ways.  But the music helped me get through a lot of it.  Here are my top albums of the year, anecdotes and all- in no specific order.

*Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen

This is an album that you need a deep velvet fainting chair,  long silk robe and burgundy glass of wine while you listen to it on vinyl.  Her Thoreau-ian lyrics about the physical world and how they materialize into our emotional landscapes emote a sadness that soothes as it plays. Listen from start to finish, repeat. 

*Shygirl - Cruel Practice 

This album is like being chased through an underground club by a serial killer but when they catch you, you both just pop your pussy on the dance floor till 6AM. In a world where dance music feels all too the same, Shygirl’s album stands out.

*U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited

By far my most played record of the year.  In a year for me that often felt as though my emotions and my actions were futile this album fit the bill.  IAPU is like if Kyley Minogue sang on Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Heart Clubs Band in the 1980’s.

Favorite song L-Over.  “Can you imagine trying to get some satisfaction out of stone? One would have to wait their whole life and I don’t have time for that.” I fucking wish she told me this sooner TBFH.

*Smerz - Have Fun

This album sounds like whispering into a vocoder through gritted teeth to an old crush from grade school on the playground you first met.  It starts to rain on your jorts so you go home to download music on limewire over your dial up internet connection to burn them a CD.  You write “To:______ From:______” but hate your hand writing to so you have to burn a new CD.  You regret the time and effort spent so you microwave the CD and watch it burn.  The next day your parents ask why the microwave is broken and you just whisper “love.” 

*Boyboy - Boy

Hi, it’s me your local fag here to talk about representation and diversity in the music industry.  Growing up I had limited sight of LGBTQ in media.  Having always longed for things that were not “popular,” same sex pronouns in music, queer love stories.  This gives me a taste of what I needed. This album is like falling in love at a concert, you dance a little bit, make lots of eye contact and make a move and allow those butterflies to take over.  

*Kelela - Take Me_A Part, The Remixes

If you don’t know already it’s pronounced kuh-leh-lah. Get that shit right it’s nearly 2019.  TMAP got me through the roughest part of a break up and these remixes are here to remind you that men still ain’t shit.  Asmara was the executive producer on the album and killed it, each remix is a new interpretation or a beef up of the original. Features junglepussy, Cupcakke Joey LAbeija and Serpent with feet. 

*Blood Orange - Negro Swan

This album wasn’t made for me, but I appreciate its beauty regardless.  Hynes is an idiosyncratic genius.  PERIOD. 

“exploration into my own and many types of black depression, an honest look at the corners of black existence, and the ongoing anxieties of queer/people of color. A reach back into childhood and modern traumas, and the things we do to get through it all”

Negro Swan was a perfect example of art imitating life. Although this album very much is an affectation of our current climate, Hynes was able to create something with which the meaning will not be lost in time.  Every person regardless of race, sexuality, religion can find themes they can relate with on this gem.

*Tirzah - Devotion

Tirzah has the ability to say a lot without actually saying too much.  Her lyrics can be blunt but her instrumental cuts and loops help to soften the blow. Her loops and hooks drive home points that none of us are always able to say aloud, but with practice and repetition we speak it to truth.  

*Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-insides 

If you think PC music is just beep boop beep (it can be), Sophie adds soul.  Each song on the album is different; from thumping club bangers like Ponyboy and Faceshopping to blissed out ballads like It’s Okay to Cry.  Although this album covers a lot of territory, it’s common thread is how beautiful it is to be human. 

*Beach House - 7

Like, duh.  Having been a fan of Beach House forever this album is a no brainer.  Upon closer inspection though, this album really stands out from the rest of the Beach House discography. Subtly darker, the instrumentation deeper at times and lyrics feel fed up with the ennui of their day to day-  Or maybe I’m projecting. 

*Ah-Mer-Ah-Su - Star

If you don’t already know Star, she’s a musician from the bay who already has some amazing EP’s under her belt.

The album covers lots of ground, from pop anthems like Heartbreaker, spirit lifting ballads like Powerful as well as being punctuated by vignette’s about moving through the world as trans, practicing self compassion etc.  

*Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour

Howdy.  Never in my life did I think I would chose to listen to a “country” album.  This album has the power to defy preconceived notions of what country is, while still remaining true to its roots.  This album is lyric gold, Kacey loves to speak in metaphor and is able to paint vivid pictures in under 3 minutes.  (NGL I started listening to this album under the guise that Kacey was a lesbian- although now I know otherwise the album still ~slaps~ and she’s a gay icon tbh)

*Suspiria - Soundtrack 

The marriage of music and film is a difficult one, to create an entire album that holds up as well as the movie is even more troubling.  Yorke always delivers. 

I miss Tumblr’s golden age bc of the music I got introduced to: Death Grips, Azealia Banks, Mykki Blanco, Princess Nokia (fka Wavy Spice), Cakes da Killa, Dai Burger, Junglepussy, CupcakKe, Kelela, Zebra Katz, FKA Twigs, Maluca and so many more.

Fun times, popping artists.

I miss her, so much.

I miss her, so much.


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Finally got to see @kelelam at Afropunk, amazing performance !!! #Afropunkfest #afropunk2015 #kelela (at Afropunkfest)

#afropunk2015    #afropunkfest    #kelela    

italiennenoire:

thesnobbyartsyblog:

italiennenoire:

We all know that colorism is rampant in the music industry, so I made a short list of talented dark-skinned singers who need more recognition.

NAO


LAURA MVULA


KELELA


KWABS


BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE

Please add more

MOKO


MICHAEL KIWANUKA


ABRA


MOSES SUMNEY


ASA

THE 90:Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017THE TENS Pt 2:11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON12. Saturation THE 90:Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017THE TENS Pt 2:11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON12. Saturation THE 90:Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017THE TENS Pt 2:11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON12. Saturation THE 90:Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017THE TENS Pt 2:11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON12. Saturation THE 90:Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017THE TENS Pt 2:11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON12. Saturation

THE 90:

Best Hip Hop/R&B Albums of 2017

THE TENS Pt 2:

11. Saturation x BROCKHAMPTON

12. Saturation II BROCKHAMPTON

13. Fin x Syd

14. Take Me Apart x Kelela

15. 4eva is a Mighty Long Time x Big K.R.I.T.


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Beautiful. Listen to Kelela’s music here. 

Beautiful. 

Listen to Kelela’s music here. 


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Niijournal’s second issue featuring Kelela - - - #niijournal #magazine #publication #photograp

Niijournal’s second issue featuring Kelela
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#niijournal #magazine #publication #photography #cover #portrait #kelela #gold #child #f4f


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What could you be on..?



(Original edit)

#PopFix Kelela ~ RewindPeep it here http://bit.ly/1ERQWFmBlog Daily Herald had this to say about

#PopFix

Kelela ~ Rewind

Peep it here http://bit.ly/1ERQWFm

Blog Daily Herald had this to say about her music:

“Kelela, a.k.a. Kelela Mizanekristos, is a Los Angeles-based electronic-alternative-R&B vocalist whose sound can best be described as unwaveringly honest, genre-defying, experimental, ethereal over heavy instrumentals, and consistently raw.”

Cheers to the weekend!


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So excited to share this full page illustration for Washingtonian’s Best of DC issue. Among others,

So excited to share this full page illustration for Washingtonian’s Best of DC issue. Among others, I got to draw the great @kelelam who, like me is originally from Gaithersburg and @jaketapper who I watch every day and flexes some drawing muscle himself with State of the Cartoonion. Thanks @jasonwlancaster for this fun assignment! #artistsoninstagram #editorialillustration #dc #bryceharper #joseandres #naomiwadler #kelela #jaketapper #obama #michelleobama #marchforourlives


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Can I objectify myself
Lap up the power
feel the blood on my thighs
Warm and sour
veins of velvet
an ocean they can’t swim
Iron and grass and discontent

And that good body
The vascular, the valleys
Squeezing the fruit
Rivulets of sugars
sticking and sinking in
gluing hair to the tiny moguls
Of riveted skin

Can I kneel in the mirror
grow nails long and sharp
Can I sink them in the center
To pull it apart
build a kingdom
make them sick
swim in the moat
lick my lips


I’m writing a poem every day this December. I hope you enjoy some of them. I wrote this one listening to “Desire” by Meg Myers, “Blue Light” by Kelela, and “Leave The Light On” by Overcoats. And if you’d like to subscribe to the newsletter, click here.

Getty Free Concert Series

Getty Free Concert Series

Returning for the first time since 2019, the Getty’s free concert series Off the 405 is back with an impressive lineup, kicking off May 21 and running through August 27. Featured artists include Zsela, Bartees Strange, Los Retros, Hand Habits, and Standing on the Corner. 

Concerts take place from 6 to 9 PM and attendees are welcome to arrive early, explore the Getty Center‘s current exhibitions,…


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