Kelela Announces Third Album New Avatar

Kelela is releasing her third album this summer. Out July 10, New Avatar pays homage to the singer-songwriter’s early days writing music in the D.C. indie scene, before she made a pivot to electronic-tinged R&B. The full-length blends shoegaze, grunge, R&B, and electronic music, and features collaborations with PinkPantheress, A. K. Paul, and Fousheé. To mark the occasion, the New York-based artist has released a Mischa Notcutt-directed music video full of shots of the city landscape for the album single “Linknb.” Watch it below.

“This album finds solace in confronting,” Kelela says in a statement. “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 while helping people get in touch with the beauty and joy they’re also experiencing.” The announcement confirms fan speculation of a new project, after the singer wiped her Instagram in March. In April, she previewed what she called her “new era” at an intimate SoHo screening of the album’s first single, “Idea 1.”

Kelela’s last album, Raven, was released in 2023. That rave-inspired project was followed up with a remix album featuring electronic artists such as LSDXOXO, Tygapaw, and Shygirl.