In Kelela’s third studio album “new avatar,” her melodic voice carries us through complex emotions like a lullaby—immersing listeners in atmospheric vocals combined with hypnotic guitar production as she navigates the vulnerability and tension that arise in a turbulent relationship. 

From titles such as “crystalize” and “new life forms,” “new avatar” is a sentimental reflection on human connection and the impact of rebirth. Kelela stated that the title ‘new avatar’ represented a newer version of herself, a balance between having the same person beneath but with a newer presentation. Many musicians seek to develop a sound that they can call their own, and Kelela is one of those artists who has certainly achieved that. In this album, you can hear the influx of the sound she’s creating, illuminating rock and jazz influences that Kelela embraced early on in her career.