Raven Kelela Jun 2026

Released six years after her groundbreaking mixtape Take Me Apart , Raven arrives not with a bang, but with a humid, subterranean pulse. This is not an album of bangers—it’s an album of hovering . Think less dancefloor, more after-hours: 3 a.m., still sweating, eyes adjusting to the dark.

The album’s title track reimagines the raven—traditionally a symbol of death—as a harbinger of hope and resilience. In the lyrics, "A raven is reborn / They tried to break her / There’s nothing here to mourn," Kelela asserts her independence after a long hiatus marked by industry frustrations and personal reflection. This "rebirth" is deeply tied to her study of Black feminist scholars like bell hooks and her experiences with misogynoir within the music industry. raven kelela

Critically acclaimed as one of the best releases of 2023, Raven was lauded for its "sensual, dynamic, and cathartic" energy. Reviewers from Pitchfork and NPR highlighted its ability to oscillate between intimate introspection and club-ready innovation, solidifying Kelela's place as a singular force in contemporary music. Kelela : Raven | Album review - Treble Zine Released six years after her groundbreaking mixtape Take

The Sonic Architecture: From Ambient Openings to Club Realities Critically acclaimed as one of the best releases

In an era where club music is often about escape, Kelela’s Raven dares to ask: What if the club is where you finally face yourself?

Released on February 10, 2023, via Warp Records , Kelela's sophomore studio album, , stands as a monumental blueprint for contemporary electronic soul. Arriving after a six-year hiatus following her critically acclaimed 2017 debut Take Me Apart , the album moves beyond traditional verse-chorus frameworks to establish a fluid, subaquatic sonic landscape. Across its 15 closely linked tracks, Raven explores themes of queer Black womanhood, radical vulnerability, and historical erasure , positioning the dancefloor not merely as a space for escapism, but as a site for deep emotional and political reclamation.