The consistently great post-genre artist @kelelam released ‘Raven,’ a Stereogum Album Of The Week, in 2023, then followed it with a remix collection and the incredible live album ‘In The Blue Light.’ Now she’s ushering in a new era with “idea 1.”
Kelela wrote the single with painter Janiva Ellis and produced it with @oscar_scheller, who worked on PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s current smash “Stateside.” She says she was reading Octavia Butler’s dystopian novel ‘Parable Of The Sower’ at the time.
“Tighter and tighter, holdin’ her lover / He’ll burn it down, darker and darker,” Kelela sings over soft drones and acoustic arpeggios. Charlotte, NC shoegazer Scarlet House adds a wash of guitar on the chorus: “Bearing your cross, it’s your loss, now I’m jaded / Know it ain’t right / Don’t you look away.”
“idea 1” arrives with a video directed by 91 Rules, which premiered in NYC’s SoHo on Tuesday night. It’s billed as the first glimpse of Kelela’s new sonic and visual direction.
https://t.co/qeLXxoLpiH
born in a garage🤘🏾and written while I was reading octavia butler’s 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, “idea 1” is about what it feels like to exist in this climate — the weight of being expected to witness, absorb, and speak truth at a time when the world feels like it's unraveling. that's a particular kind of burden Black women know intimately. this song doesn't offer answers, it just refuses to look away.
produced by the brilliant @oscar_scheller
additional guitar by @scarlethouse_
co-written with my talented bestie janiva ellis
mixed by moi 💁🏾♀️
visual directed by 91 rules
creative direction yasser abubeker
https://t.co/kr70DuwjGp
born in a garage🤘🏾and written while I was reading octavia butler’s 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, “idea 1” is about what it feels like to exist in this climate — the weight of being expected to witness, absorb, and speak truth at a time when the world feels like it's unraveling. that's a particular kind of burden Black women know intimately. this song doesn't offer answers, it just refuses to look away.
produced by the brilliant @oscar_scheller
additional guitar by @scarlethouse_
co-written with my talented bestie janiva ellis
mixed by moi 💁🏾♀️
visual directed by 91 rules
creative direction yasser abubeker
https://t.co/kr70DuwjGp