Kelela – Washed Away (Audio, Lyrics, Video)

American singer-songwriter, Kelela unveils the music video for the “Washed Away” track produced by Yo Van Lenz.

Kelela Washed Away

As the song title suggests, the song’s instrumentation and vocals are washed in reverb effects and echo through the song, with no catchy melody or steady drums to push the track forward. Instead, it lingers in its mood, with only Kelela’s vocals there to break up the synthesizer ambience. The D.C. native sings of being far away and “riding out on metal waves,” accentuating the track’s otherworldly and serene tone.

“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,” said the 39-year-old in a 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. This song is the soundtrack to the relief we find after going inward.”

The music video for the Yo van Lenz-produced track was filmed in Dankail Depression, located in the northern region of the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia. Not only does Kelela go back to her roots with this release, but she’s aware of the wait fans have endured. A promotional video of fans asking “Do you know where Kelela’s been?” was released over the weekend to promote the song’s release.

Kelela – Washed Away (prod. Yo Van Lenz)

Watch Video

Lyrics

[Intro]
[Non-Lyrical Vocals]

[Chorus]
Far away
Far away
Far away
Washed away

[Verse]
The mist, the light, the dust that settles the night
The hope, the longing, fade away, blurry-eyed
Riding out on metal rays
Moving on, a change of pace, and I’m

[Chorus]
Far away
Far away
Washed away
Away, way