Kelela and KeiyaA @ Theatre of Living Arts
Photos by Kelsea Clarke
2026 isn’t over yet, but I have had my album of the year set in stone since July. I recently had the honor of seeing said album live, further cementing its icon status in my brain. Kelela returned to Philadelphia for the first time since 2018 with a sold-out show on her New Avatar Tour. Fans old and new packed into South Street’s Theatre of Living Arts on Sunday, October 11th, anticipating a night they would never forget. While the weather outside was gloomy, every person packed into the theatre was filled with absolute excitement and energy. As a fan who was introduced through my two older sisters, it was only fitting all three of us went together to experience this once in a lifetime concert.
Kelela is an Ethiopian-American alternative R&B artist and producer who has been making music for over a decade. Born Kelela Mizanekristos in Washington D.C., her musical beginnings range from singing jazz standards in cafes to joining indie band Dizzy Spells, and singing progressive metal on the side. She is best known for her unique approach to integrating various genres into her R&B vocal and production style. Whether it is grime, jazz, grunge, or electronic, Kelela transforms each project into an entirely new landscape for listeners. Her latest album, new avatar, is her third studio release. It marks a grungy and guitar heavy era for the artist. In support of the album, Kelela embarked on a U.S. tour for the first time in a few years with R&B artist KeiyaA as her opener.
KeiyaA is a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Chicago. With a background in jazz and her work producing her own music, KeiyaA has made a name for herself in the R&B scene. As the lights dimmed for her set, the packed venue quickly went silent. Mixing elements of soul, funk, and electronic, just to name a few, KeiyaA’s set was amazing. I was familiar with her music prior to this concert, but seeing her live made me a bigger fan. Constantly engaging with the crowd, she kept the energy up her entire set. If she is an artist you haven’t checked out yet, I recommend going through her discography as soon as possible. Like Kelela, her adoration for various genres and instruments creates a unique sound that deserves to be praised on a wider scale.
After a brief switch over, the time came for Kelela to begin her set. You could see anticipation beaming off every person in the room. Now even more packed than before, we were all ready to be graced by her presence. When her set began, everyone locked in immediately. Her and her band emerged on the dark stage, starting with “Fooley (Leech Ambient Queen Remix).” During the first two acts, she flipped through her catalog, giving us new songs and some of her classics. Most exciting was her rendition of “Rewind.” Known for its classic pop nature, she reworked the instrumental to fit the guitar heavy vibe of new avatar. After performing “Happy Ending,” “idea 1,” and a few others, she ended act two with a remix of “Send Me Out.” One of my favorite songs off of Cut 4 Me, her debut EP and my personal favorite release,, “Send Me Out” sent every person in the room into a frenzy. Remixed with “When It’s All Over” by FAUZIA featuring Kelela, it added a new twist to the classic we all know and love.
As we got into act three, she started with “the bridge,” a newer song featuring her musical daughter, PinkPantheress. As the song continued on, I heard the beat of her classic “Bank Head” begin in the background. Mixing songs into each other is nothing new for Kelela, as she often does it on her own releases, but this specific mix made me light up knowing what was to come. Fully transitioned into “Bank Head,” the crowd was experiencing pure bliss. Every person was moving and passing looks and quick exchanges to strangers about how great the show was. Passing through to act four, she performed “All the Way Down” with a new, guitar-heavy arrangement,, and then went into my favorite track from new avatar, “outta time.” Possibly one of the most heavy handed in its grunginess, her live version of “outta time” had me ascending. Nodding further to the making of this album, she performed a remix of “The High” with Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” during her final act. This remix first gained traction earlier this year when posted on youtube by user okigotalittlefatbutt. Paying homage to a Philly producer and DJ Traps N Trees, she began “linknb” with their remix before going into the original version. Through each act, the crowd was completely enamored with Kelela’s performance and could not stop dancing. It was one big ball of energy and a damn good time.
After “linknb” her and the band left the stage, but we all knew an encore was coming. Following a few minutes of shouting for more and waiting under dimmed lights, Kelela returned to the stage. She began the encore with her latest album’s closing track, “if we meet again.” Kelela had us all put our flashlights up to amplify the moment for this slower paced, melancholic track. She was not done yet, though: she left with a bang, remixing her 2023 hit, “Contact” with Aaliyah’s “One in a Million.” As the lights went up, every person in the room took a second and let the amazement wash over us. Shuffling out of the venue, each group chatted with each other about how great the performance was and what an outstanding experience they had.
Kelela’s latest album, new avatar, is on all streaming services and available for purchase through her website. I was already an enormous fan before this concert, but after seeing her artistry live, I am a changed person. I highly recommended digging through her entire catalog from the beginning to get a true understanding of how immensely talented and unique Kelela truly is.
