Kelela returns with first new single in five years ‘Washed Away’

Kelela is back.

Returning after five years, the US singer song writer has just dropped new single ‘Washed Away’.

Produced by Yo van Lenz and out via Warp Records, this makes it Kelela’s first release since her debut album ‘Take Me Apart’ in 2017.

The music video for ‘Washed Away’ directed by Yasser Abubeker, sees Kelela in the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia.

Read this next: Kelela: "The 'making something out of thin air' feeling is so delicious"

Earlier this week, Kelela had been hinting at the news of her return to music on Instagram with different meme-styled videos on her Instagram account which joked about her disappearance from the industry.

Kelela revealed her new track on Instagram with the caption: “A BITCH IS BACK and feeling v [water fountain emoji] after my hiatus. please TRUST the bangers are on the way. but first: how’s your heart?”

“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 press statement.

“I specifically want to speak to marginalized Black folk and highlight the work we do to find renewal in a world that’s built to make us feel inadequate,” she added. “This song is the soundtrack to the relief we find after going inward.”

Read this next: Listen to an ambient-heavy new mix from Kelela

Kelela explains: "This song is the soundtrack to the relief we find after going inward."

After releasing her debut album, Kelela released a remix album in 2018 which featured work from Kaytranada and Serpentwithfeet, and guest vocals from Princess Nokia, Junglepussy, CupcakKe and Ms. Boogie on the remix of ‘LMK (What’s Really Good’).

Kelela has also had notable features on work from Solange’s 2016 track ‘Scales’ to Gorillaz's 2017 track ‘Submission’ with Danny Brown, however, has always remained relatively silent.

Watch the music video of ‘Washed Away’ below.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Video and Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter