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New Avatar

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New Avatar
Studio album by
Kelela
ReleasedJuly 10, 2026 (2026-07-10)
Genres
Length40:47
LabelWarp
Producers
Kelela chronology
In the Blue Light
(2025)		 New Avatar
(2026)
Singles from New Avatar
  1. "Idea 1"
    Released: April 8, 2026
  2. "Linknb"
    Released: May 5, 2026
  3. "Point Blank"
    Released: June 1, 2026
  4. "Outta Time"
    Released: June 16, 2026
  5. "The Bridge"
    Released: July 7, 2026

New Avatar (stylized in all lowercase) is the third studio album by the American singer and songwriter Kelela. It was released on July 10, 2026, via Warp Records.The album was preceded by the singles "Idea 1", "Linknb", "Point Blank", "Outta Time" and "The Bridge". Album features guest appearances by A. K. Paul, Fousheé, and PinkPantheress.

Background

[edit]

New Avatar draws from everywhere Kelela has "lived musically", resulting in a sound described as "R&B run through distorted guitar" as well as elements of dance music.[1] Kelela stated that the album "finds solace in confronting" and does not seek to distract from what is happening in the world, but instead to "make sense in this crazy moment", with the hope of helping listeners reconnect with the "beauty and joy" they could experience.[2]

Composition

[edit]

New Avatar marks a stylistic departure from the electronic R&B of Kelela's previous work by drawing on her early experiences in the Washington, D.C., indie music scene. The album incorporates elements of alternative R&B, shoegaze, grunge, indie rock and electronic music, while maintaining aspects of the experimental electronic sound that has characterized much of her discography.[3]

DJ Mag similarly described the record as drawing from indie rock, shoegaze and grunge while retaining ties to her experimental club and electronic sound.[4]

Reviewing the album, Resident Advisor wrote that New Avatar "reconfigures shoegaze, IDM and R&B into a Black, femme sound of the future", noting its fusion of distorted guitars with electronic production and contemporary R&B songwriting.[5] In its review of the lead single "Idea 1", Pitchfork highlighted the prominence of shoegaze guitar textures and identified the song as signalling a return to Kelela's rock and indie influences.[6]

Singles

[edit]

Following the release of her first live album, In the Blue Light, in 2025, and a social media blackout in March 2026,[7] the singer returned with original material on April 8, 2026, releasing the lead single "Idea 1". Produced by Oscar Scheller, the "guitar-driven" indie rock and shoegaze track explores "what it feels like to exist in this climate" and was written by Kelela while she was reading Parable of the Sower.[8] The song received critical acclaim, earning "Best New Track" from Pitchfork, among other praise.[9]

The album was announced on May 5, 2026, alongside the release of its second single, "Linknb".[10] Also produced by Scheller, the track was built around "a busy Mk.gee-like guitar figure".[11] "Point Blank", the album's third single, was released on June 1, 2026.[12] The album's fourth single, a collaboration with A. K. Paul titled "Outta Time", was released on June 16, 2026.[13] The album's final single, "The Bridge" with PinkPantheress, was released on July 7, 2026.[14] A music video for the single was released on July 10, 2026, alongside the album.[15]

Critical reception

[edit]
New Avatar ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[16]
Metacritic85/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[18]
Clash8/10[19]
Financial TimesStarStarStarStar[20]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[21]
NMEStarStarStarStar[22]
PasteA−[23]
The Quietus8/10[24]
Resident Advisor90/100[5]
The SkinnyStarStarStarStar[25]
SlantStarStarStarStar[26]

New Avatar was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received a weighted average score of 85, based on fourteen reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.9 out of 10 from twelve reviews.[16]

Reviewers widely praised New Avatar for expanding Kelela's established alternative R&B sound through the incorporation of shoegaze, indie rock, electronic music and jazz influences.[18][5][24][20] Paul Simpson of AllMusic described the album as a "full-circle moment", while Jesse Dorris of Resident Advisor wrote that Kelela "reconfigures shoegaze, IDM and R&B into a Black, femme sound of the future". Kate French-Morris of The Quietus argued that the record demonstrated "that R&B vocals and guitar music can and do belong together", and the Financial Times praised Kelela's ability to move between jazz, indie rock and electronic music while maintaining a consistent artistic identity.[18][5][24][20]

Critics also highlighted the album's cohesion despite its broad sonic palette. Robin Murray of Clash described New Avatar as "cohesive and fully-realised", adding that it was "both new Kelela and classic Kelela, all at once". Tony Inglis of The Skinny considered the album a more streamlined work than Raven, while Paul Attard of Slant Magazine praised its intimate production and the combination of trip-hop, neo-soul, gothic rock and funk influences. Marie Hascoët of The Line of Best Fit similarly commended the album's blend of experimentation and accessibility.[19][25][26][21]

Kelela's vocal performances and songwriting also received widespread acclaim. Eric Bennett of Paste described New Avatar as "the sound of an artist with nothing left to prove", calling it "one of the best pop albums of the year". Kyann-Sian Williams of NME wrote that the album "stretches her sound into new territory", while Simpson concluded that it was Kelela's "darkest, moodiest release to date", one that "uniquely manages to be tough as well as comforting".[23][22][18]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks produced by Kelela and Oscar Scheller, except "Outta Time", produced by A. K. Paul with Kelela.

New Avatar track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Idea 1"
3:25
2."Point Blank"
  • Mizanekristos
  • Scheller
4:26
3."Goin Down"
3:20
4."Outta Time" (featuring A. K. Paul)
  • Mizanekristos
  • Jessica Chambliss
  • A. K. Paul
4:11
5."Against Me"
  • Mizanekristos
  • Scheller
2:40
6."Crystalize"
  • Mizanekristos
  • Scheller
4:11
7."Retaliation Lullaby"
  • Mizanekristos
  • Ellis
  • Scheller
3:07
8."Linknb"
1:55
9."Don't Piss Me Off"
3:30
10."New Life Forms" (featuring Fousheé)
  • Mizanekristos
  • Fousheé
  • Scheller
3:24
11."The Bridge" (featuring PinkPantheress)
  • Mizanekristos
  • PinkPantheress
  • Scheller
3:53
12."If We Meet Again"
  • Mizanekristos
  • Scheller
2:45

Notes

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from Tidal.[27]

  • Kelela – production, mixing (all tracks); vocal engineering (tracks 1, 8)
  • Oscar Scheller – production (1–3, 5–12), vocal engineering (1–3, 5, 6, 8–12); vocal production, vocal arrangement (11)
  • A. K. Paul – production, vocal engineering (4)
  • Zion Russell – vocal engineering (2, 3, 5, 7, 9–12)
  • Chris Kasych – vocal engineering (4)
  • PinkPantheress – vocal engineering (11)
  • Nickie Jon Pabón – vocal engineering (11)
  • Joe LaPorta – mastering
  • Scarlet House – guitar (1)
  • Kezia Warioba – additional vocals (8)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for New Avatar
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] 61
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29]138
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[30]79
Portuguese Streaming Albums (AFP)[31] 191
UK Albums Sales (Official Charts)[32] 51
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[33]15
UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[34]2
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[35] 34

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Hussain, Shazaib (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Announces Third Album New Avatar". Clash. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ Pappis, Konstantinos (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Announces New Album New Avatar, Shares New Song 'linknb'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  3. ↑ Mickles, Kiana (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Announces Third Album New Avatar". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kelela unveils third album, 'new avatar', shares single and video: Watch". DJ Mag. May 6, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Dorris, Jesse (July 8, 2026). "Kelela - new avatar". Resident Advisor. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ Mickles, Kiana (April 8, 2026). "Kelela: "Idea 1"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  7. ↑ Mickles, Kiana (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Announces Third Album New Avatar". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ Hess, Tobias (April 8, 2026). "Kelela returns with indie rock song "idea 1"". The Fader. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ Mickles, Kiana (April 8, 2026). "Kelela: "idea 1" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  10. ↑ Eede, Christian (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Details New Album, 'new avatar'". The Quietus. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ DeVille, Chris (May 5, 2026). "Kelela Announces New Album new avatar Feat. PinkPantheress, Fousheé, & A. K. Paul: Hear "linknb"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ Eede, Christian (June 1, 2026). "Kelela Shares New Song, 'point blank'". The Quietus. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ Mickles, Kiana (June 16, 2026). "Kelela Can't Work It Out With A.K. Paul on New Single "Outta Time"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  14. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 7, 2026). "Kelela & PinkPantheress Team Up On New Song "the bridge": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (July 7, 2026). "Kelela and PinkPantheress Take It to "The Bridge" in Sultry New Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "new avatar by Kelela reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "New Avatar". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Simpson, Paul. "Kelela – new avatar Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. 1 2 Murray, Robin. "Kelela – new avatar". Clash. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. 1 2 3 "Kelela effortlessly switches from jazz to indie rock with New Avatar". Financial Times. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. 1 2 Hascoët, Marie. "Kelela crafts a sultry summer classic with new avatar". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. 1 2 Williams, Kyann-Sian. "Kelela – 'new avatar' review: the alt-R&B visionary stretches her sound into new territory". NME. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. 1 2 Bennett, Eric. "Kelela's New Avatar Is the Sound of an Artist With Nothing Left to Prove". Paste. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. 1 2 3 French-Morris, Kate. "The Expanding Universe: New Avatar by Kelela". The Quietus. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. 1 2 Hoban, Rory. "Kelela – new avatar". The Skinny. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. 1 2 Attard, Paul. "Kelela 'New Avatar' Review: A Return to Her Indie Rock Roots". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ↑ "new avatar / Kelela / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  28. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 20 July 2026". The ARIA Report. No. 1898. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 20, 2026. p. 6.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kelela – New Avatar" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 17/7/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Top 200 Stream Álbuns Semana 29 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 6. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 17/7/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 17/7/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 17/7/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Top Album Sales: Week of July 25, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
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