Kelela - New Avatar

Kelela will bring her New Avatar Live to Bürgerhaus Stollwerck in Cologne on October 28, 2026. The Washington, D.C.-born singer of Ethiopian descent has been blending alternative R&B with electronic club sounds since the early 2010s. Her vocals meet rhythms from grime, bass and R&G, a line that runs from the mixtape phase with Cut 4 Me (2013) through the EP Hallucinogen (2015) to the Warp album Take Me Apart (2017). With Raven (2023) she further sharpened her hybrid approach, followed by Rave:N, the Remixes (2024) and the live album In the Blue Light (2025). Collaborations with Solange, Danny Brown, Gorillaz, Clams Casino and PinkPantheress demonstrate how naturally she moves between pop experimentation, contemporary R&B and club culture. On stage, Kelela condenses pared-back melodies, clear hooks and cool textures into a set that merges intimate moments with the energy of British clubs. Pauses, breaks and seamless transitions shape the dramaturgy, while her precise vocals anchor the production. New Avatar Live puts this very balance in the spotlight.