Take Me Apart (album)

## **Take Me Apart**Studio album by Kelela

### Genre

R&B, electro-R&B, alternative R&B, soul, new age, jazz, electronica, electronic, art pop, IDM, dance

### Writer(s)

Kelela, Al Shux, Arca, Asmara, Bok Bok, BOOTS, Dean Bein, Jam City, Jay Prince, Jeremiah Jerry, Mocky, Nia Andrews, Romy, Sabina Sciubba, Sam Dew, Talay Riley & Will Boston

### Producer(s)

ADRBeats, Al Shux, Arca, Ariel Rechtshaid, Asma Maroof, Bok Bok, Dubbel Dutch, Jam City, Kingdom, Kwes , Mocky, Nick Weiss & Terror Danjah

## Singles

1. "LMK"
Released: August 1, 2017
2. "Frontline"
Released: September 4, 2017
3. "Waitin"
Released: October 3, 2017
4. "Blue Light"
Released: October 4, 2017

"**Take Me Apart**" is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Kelela. It was released October 6, 2017 via Warp Records. The album was supported by the singles "LMK", "Frontline", "Waitin", and "Blue Light", which were released in respective order. Combining electronic music and R&B, the album was noted for its futuristic sound and its incorporation of various musical styles. Kelela worked on the album for four years with producers she had previously collaborated with on her previous releases, Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen. Various recordings were at the following studios: Heavy Duty, Burbank, Mutant, London, Rooftop, London.

A remix album was released in favor of Take Me Apart, which is titled "TAKE ME A\_PART, THE REMIXES". It was released October 5, 2018, and was supported by the singles "KAYTRANDA\_WAITIN\_115 BPM" and "LMK\_WHAT'S REALLY GOOD REMIX\_ FEAT\_PRINCESS NOKIA\_JUNGLEPUSSY\_CUPCAKKE\_MS. BOOGIE\_100 BPM".

## Background

On July 14, 2017, Kelela had announced the album title and written a paragraph, which goes as followed: "To all my ride-or-dies, I'm writing today to acknowledge the miracle I live in and the undying support I've received from each and every one of you since the beginning. I battled so much (mainly myself) during the making of this album, so I'm reaching out to thank you all for continuing to listen, for all of your loving comments and even that Judge Judy "Your late!" gif lol... It's a blessing to have access to a constant stream of positive reinforcement when I'm not feeling like my real self, when I don't think like I can do it. Y'all are truly da bess... Anyways the shit is called Take Me Apart and I'm beyond excited to share it with you. More very soon... ::Kelela::". Two days later, Kelela had teased the single "LMK" simply by sharing a photo of her and the song title as the caption. On July 31, 2017, Kelela had posted the album cover along with the previously announced album title. The next day, the lead and first single "LMK" was released, and the album was properly announced. Alongside, Kelela had posted pictures of the Take Me Apart vinyl. 9 days after the announced announcement, the music video for "LMK" was released. 15 days after the announcement, Kelela had announced the first leg of the Take Me Apart tour. A month later, the second single "Frontline" was announced three days before official release date. In the same week, both "Waitin'" and "Blue Light" were released. After the release of the album, Kelela had hosted a exclusive twitter Q&A for fans, titled Take Her Apart. She also explained each track off of the album on iHeart Radio. On November 7, 2017, Kelela had announced the video for the single "Blue Light". On February 16, 2018, Kelela had announced the second leg for the Take Me Apart tour.

Kelela had been working on Take Me Apart for 4 years. Alongside working on it, she had pulled previous collaborators Jam City & Arca. The two had previously worked on her projects Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen. She stated the pair "anchored" the album and "had produced the bulk of it" On February 18, 2016, Kelela featured on a short film by *Dazed* named "Interlude", which later was revealed to be new material & snippets off the album. Kelela explained that the album expresses "an honest vision of how we navigate dissolving ties with each other and yet remain sanguine for the next chance at love," continuing: "despite it being a personal record, the politics of my identity informs how it sounds and how I choose to articulate my vulnerability and strength. I am a black woman, a second-generation Ethiopian-American, who grew up in the 'burbs listening to R&B, jazz and Björk. All of it comes out in one way or another.

## Composition

Take Me Apart is described as electronic and R&B, which also lauded it as one of the best albums of 2017. Many critics had praised the album because of the mixture and incorporation of electronic music and R&B music. The album also contains many other genres mixed in as well, such as jazz, soul, funk, electronica, and dance. The Guardian described the album as "glitchy R&B", while also stating that the album offers "tracks that are both pop-minded and gratifyingly future-facing." Clash labeled it as "cavernous, avant-garde R&B that moves the body and heals the broken heart." *Fact* called the album "a genre-melding journey," and said it has "a subtle, playful Afro-futurist vision." *DIY* noted the usage of "glacial synths" and "trap beats," in contrast to *Consequence of Sound* who commended the producers for "their refusal to use trap as a crutch." The Skinny added that the album differs from the "heavy, industrial beats" from Kelela's previous releases, despite many of the same producers appearing on this album. The album was also said to evoke the music of Janet Jackson and Björk, whom Kelela named as influences. Lyrically, the album deals with various themes, such as love, romance, sex, impatience, vulnerability, the rewards and pitfalls of relationships, and "the complicated things that can happen when complicated people try to understand each other."

Take Me Apart is produced and written by a number of people, most noticeable Jam City and Arca, which had produced a latter of Kelela's prior releases. Many people include Bok Bok, Kingdom, Dubbel Dutch, Al Shux, Ariel Rechtshaid and many more.

## Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 23 reviews, indicating "widespread critical acclaim". Stereogum awarded it as their album of the week, with Tom Breihan deeming it as "a towering achievement of an album." Treble Zine also labeled it as the album of the week, with Jackie Im stating: "Underlying is a desire to privilege her own voice, which is a lot of what makes Kelela's music so urgent." The New York Times critic Jon Pareles wrote, "The songs are intricately plotted to give the illusion of being impulsive and obsessive, buffeted by shifting emotions: by turns sensual and wary, vulnerable and guarded, leisurely and urgent." Kyle Mullin of Exclaim! praised the album, stating that "Take Me Apart is a subtle, sexy LP from a woman who knows what she wants, and clearly aims to write anthems for fans feeling the same way." Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone described the album as "forward-thinking R&B," and called it "restlessly innovative." NME's Nick Levine said "nothing about this lush and accomplished album suggests Kelela is an artist who wants to repeat herself." Julianne Escobedo Shepherd of Pitchfork said that Kelela "might be singing about different partners, but it's the value and dignity she gives to her feelings that provides the true backdrop on Take Me Apart. In the process of setting out to solidify her own sound, Kelela has finally fallen for herself." The Skinny's Nadia Younes wrote, "Take Me Apart may not appear as immediately interesting and unique as her previous work but there are layers upon layers of elements to be explored, digested and, ironically enough, taken apart." Rachel Aroesti from The Guardian said "Kelela's vocal stops Take Me Apart ending up as a fragmented series of sounds: consistently exquisite as it dances between lovesick confusion and shrewd sensuality." Spin's Brian Josephs wrote, "Kelela proudly stands within the genre's tradition. For the most part, she avoids making any grandstanding romantic or political statements, but Take Me Apart finds its purpose within the subdued complexities." AllMusic's Andy Kellman compared it favorably to its predecessor, claiming "Like Cut 4 Me, Take Me Apart is predominantly electronic and progressive R&B, one moment as dreamlike and fevered as an intense courtship, then as startling and chilling as a breakup. It's more composed, less pieced together, with mixtape and EP collaborators Jam City, Ariel Rechtshaid, and Arca primary among a comparatively supplemental and mostly new crew of associates. This also comes across more as a work of in-person interaction than one of distanced communication." In his rave review for Spectrum Culture, Jake Cole wrote Kelela "gave the impression of immediately finding her groove with cutting edge electronic backing, sharp songwriting and a powerful voice. Yet the leap from Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen to Take Me Apart is as impressive in its own way as the growth toward Homogenic. Though technically Kelela's full-length debut, the album feels like a next step, proof that her striking sound was no mere gimmick but instead the foundation for one of the most advanced, daring artists in contemporary pop. By the time her emotional journey crests with the hopeful closer "Altadena," Kelela gives the impression not only of being more secure in love but in her own skin, firmly on the same wavelength with her collaborators, more capable than ever of pushing boundaries with her work."

## Tour

Main article: Take Me Apart Tour
Take Me Apart was supported by the Take Me Apart tour. The tour started in San Francisco and ended in Vancouver. The tour expanded throughout North America and Europe. The first leg was supported by 26 shows, and the second leg was supported by 14 shows.

## Merchandise

**Clear Vinyl**
$25.99, 2xLP
Purchase

**Standard Black Vinyl**
$24.99, 1xLP
Purchase

**Compact Disc**
$15.99, includes fold out CD booklet
Purchase

## Gallery

Main article: Photography of Take Me ApartAlbum coverTrack list
## Singles

Prior to release, Take Me Apart was supported with the release of four singles, with were respectively released in order.

* The first and lead single, "LMK", was released August 1st, 2017.
* The second single, "Frontline", was released September 4th, 2017.
* The third single, "Waitin", was released October 3rd, 2017.
* The fourth and final single, "Blue Light", was released October 4th, 2017.

"LMK""Frontline""Waitin""Blue Light"
## Videography

Main article: Videography of Take Me Apart
Singles for the album had received a music video either along the single's release or after the single's release. In total, 3 music videos were released in favor of Take Me Apart's tracklist.

### Music videos

* "LMK"
	+ Released: August 9th, 2017
* "Blue Light"
	+ Released: November 7th, 2017
* "Frontline"
	+ Released: February 28th, 2018

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/885917352235290624
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/887020713491652609
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/892052612723294208
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/892063592568180736
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/892433316279795713
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/892456902663254016
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/897495908283277313
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/903649752725823488
9. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/904540041275432960
10. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/915186018743148545
11. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/915296126093406209
12. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/915687451963854849
13. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/915721451067596800
14. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/918220299421863937
15. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/920764970354257921
16. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/927678274666459137
17. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/964555633390481408

## Navigation

TAKE ME A\_PART, THE REMIXES · Take Me Apart Tour · Videography · Photography

"**Frontline**"
"**Waitin**"
"Take Me Apart
"Enough"
"Jupiter"
"Better"
"**LMK**"

"Truth Or Dare"
"S.O.S"
"**Blue Light**"
"Onanon"
"Turn To Dust"
"Bluff"
"Altadena"

Kelela · Ariel Rechtshaid · Jam City · Warp Records · See personnel →