The Sound of a World Falling Apart: Kelela's new avatar
- Julia Porras
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Julia Porras
Writer
July 16, 2026
Kelela has solidified her place as one of the most innovative artists in R&B, blending grunge-inspired textures with electronic production. A queer, second-generation Black American artist, Kelela has always maintained a deep connection to her African heritage, something reflected throughout her music. new avatar explores the political struggles and personal obstacles she faces while searching for hope in a world that seems to be getting worse.
The album opens with a soft guitar, setting the stage for her equally soft and soothing vocals. "idea 1" reintroduces her sound while establishing the album's central theme, addressing the hopeless feeling of living in a world that seems to be breaking down. Layered production and stacked vocals create a sound that lingers, as if it could echo through an empty room.
One of Kelela's greatest strengths has always been her transitions between songs, and a standout example on this album is the shift from "against me" to "crystalize." "against me" explores themes familiar from her previous work, focusing on a relationship painfully falling apart, mirroring how she watches the world unravel around her. "crystalize" serves as the perfect follow-up, capturing the immediate aftermath of that breakup through bargaining, emptiness and delusion. "I try to hate you, but the feelin' just grows." "And I'm fine without it, but would it be so bad to want me the most?" She painfully contradicts herself, knowing it's over while still holding onto hope that the relationship can somehow be repaired.
"If we meet again," the album's closing track, is an emotional and raw farewell to that relationship and a reflection on how drained she feels. One lyric that stands out is, "You could hear this song, but you'll never see / All the ways you were killin' me." As emotional and vulnerable as she becomes throughout the album, these songs hint at a deeper pain shaped not only by heartbreak but also by the challenges of navigating her identity in an industry that has only recently become more welcoming to women, queer artists and people of color.
Beyond the intricate production and the intimacy of her songwriting, Kelela delivers a message that feels universally relatable. Losing something important, watching it slowly fall apart with no control and feeling trapped can be its own form of torture.
Whether she's singing about the end of a relationship or the state of the world around her, the emotions remain deeply connected. The album itself feels like a metaphor. "the bridge," for example, can be heard as a song about emotional distance in a relationship, while also reflecting the isolation and pressures faced by marginalized artists within the music industry.
Edited by: Stephanie Rodriguez
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