Embark on a journey through singer-songwriter Kelia’s discography and you will find yourself drenched in catchy melodies, impressive vocals, and honest lyrics — components that come together to make Kelia’s music as captivating as it is.
Since her first single release, “Too Bad to Be Sad,” Kelia has approached songwriting from a collaborative perspective, having spent countless hours in the studio with producer and instrumentalist Quinton Davis.
“We come up with melodic ideas together, and then do a bunch of test tracks in the booth,” she explains. Recently, Kelia has also collaborated with artist SenGupta, where she is featured on a track called “anticlimactic.”
What results from Kelia’s writing and recording process is a series of songs that merge aspects of both pop and R&B genres, utilizing catchy structures and hooks alongside impressive, sultry vocals and engaging instrumentation. Influenced by a number of people, Kelia’s songs in some ways resemble those of the artists that are sprinkled in her Spotify playlists — names like NIKI, Victoria Monet, and Ariana Grande.
When her schedule isn’t quite so full of various ensembles and classes, she tries to make it to the studio once a week, where she is currently working on an album. Compiling fragments of lyrics and snippets of melody buried in her phone’s notes, the process is a long but gratifying one — for Kelia as well as her listeners.
Her latest solo release, “LU4L,” is impossible not to sing along to: with its delivery of hook after hook and tasteful harmonies on the chorus, it is a must-add for your spring playlist.
While we wait patiently for Kelia’s album to make its way to streaming services, take a dive into her collection of singles to find a welcome breath of catchy tunes that will make you want to drive with the windows down.