Visionary American dance producer Kelela has returned with a brand new single, an ethereal piece of R&B dubbed ‘Washed Away’. Produced by Yo van Lenz, Kelela’s comeback song falls on the softer side of dance music, tackling the artist’s beliefs around autonomy, personal belonging and self-renewal as a form of healing.
“I love a banger, but for the first point of contact out of my hiatus, it felt more honest to lead with an ambient heart-check,” Kelela said in a statement.
WATCH: Kelela – Washed Away
The song is accompanied by a visual directed by Yasser Abubeker, which was filmed on location in the middle of the Danakil Depression in the northern section of Ethiopia’s Afar region.
“I specifically want to speak to marginalised Black folk and highlight the work we do to find renewal in a world that’s built to make us feel inadequate,” the artist said. “This song is the soundtrack to the relief we find after going inward.” You can watch the clip above.
Kelela released her debut album, Take Me Apart, in 2017, which followed her breakthrough 2013 EP Cut 4 Me, which included the internationally acclaimed single ‘Bank Head’. She’s had multiple visits to Australia over the years, including appearances at Sugar Mountain, Meredith Music Festival and a tour supporting The xx in 2018.
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