“She Was One of the Reasons I Started Writing”: PinkPantheress calls Kelela a major influence in recent interview

When PinkPantheress sat down with Coveteur for their "Unplugged" series interview, she spoke openly about one of her earliest inspirations: Kelela. The UK-born electronic / alt-pop singer, known for her alien voice and genre-defying textures, explained that Kelela was the first woman of color she saw in electronic music who felt authentic. That inspiration, she explained to us, not only helped shape what she listens to but also how she writes.

Internet enthusiasts quickly got into that moment. To others, it was more than a passing name drop: it was an acknowledgment of representation by music, of individuals breaking down walls, and of power seeping through unfamiliar currents. The instant the quote dropped "She's East African too, makes electronic music, is true to herself.". She was one of the reasons why I started writing in that way." it started conversations. On Threads, X, Instagram, folks were grateful that PinkPantheress saw someone in the same position, someone who arrived without compromise. Why Kelela Matters to PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress has also spoken repeatedly about finding her voice in spaces where women and artists of color are most underrepresented. In some interviews over the years she's spoken about how others presumed that she was white when she first came into focus. When someone like Kelela emerges East African heritage, electronic-biased sound, sharply defined identity it's powerful. It reshapes the landscape of possibility.

Why Kelela Matters to PinkPantheress

She also spoke to how Kelela's creativity her writing, her production, her genre-bending helped her to break new ground. She was held back by what she thought was possible for a Black woman in electronic music prior to venturing into her work. When she went back through Kelela's catalog (Take Me Apart, included), she was encouraged to play around with textures, moods, styles that she might not otherwise have felt empowered to do. The post quickly went viral on music forums because it spoke to what most fans and artists share in common: the power of witnessing someone who looks like you doing something that you want to do without apology. It's a flicker of recognition, of validation.

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PinkPantheress name-checking Kelela isn't name-dropping; it's tracing lineage, claiming influence, and stating "you made this possible." To most listeners, that means a lot. And in a music industry that has the tendency to isolate genre and identity, those moments linger. PinkPantheress's statements during the Coveteur interview go beyond commendation. They establish a line from influence to identity to artistry.

By naming Kelela not just for her music but for herself, she highlights the amount of representation within electronic music especially for those who have been made invisible. In giving credit to Kelela, she is giving credit where credit is due, and in doing so, she reminds us all just how much power there is in witnessing someone do it first. It's not always about inspiration; it's about having the courage to pen your own truth.

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