Singer, writer, chef, farmer, gourmet-sauce creator, and undisputed queen of milkshakes, Kelis is an artist whose appetite has always defined her sound.
Blending elements of R&B, pop, hip hop, soul, and something else not quite definable into the mix, she creates music that hits like umami for your ears. "I grew up hanging out in jazz clubs," she told The Guardian in 2020. "Falling asleep there with people stepping over me, because that's where my parents were."This heady introduction to the music and storytelling styles that flow in dimly lit jazz bars is another key ingredient to the distinctive voice she's rocked from the start.
Thinking back on her debut record, 1999's 'Kaleidoscope', Kelis is her own staunchest supporter, saying she loves "the femaleness of the album, the freaking outspokenness of it, the blackness of it, the alternativeness of it".
Leaping ahead a few years to the era-defining moment that was 'Milkshake' and the whole 'Tasty' album in 2003, she told People in 2022: "This is going to sound really cocky and really arrogant, but I saw a picture of myself [from that era] that someone posted earlier today, and I was like, 'you know what, I was freaking killing it'." She's not wrong. 'Milkshake' was one of the defining tracks of the Y2K era, and it's still winning fans today.
Speaking to Brit + Co last year, Kelis marvelled at the song’s ongoing influence. "You never know what's gonna stick and what's not. . . 20 years later we're still talking about it, and it's still relevant, and it's still fun – I definitely had no idea that was gonna happen."
What exactly is the elusive milkshake she speaks of? "I love the innuendos," Kelis explained. "It's not clear, but it's clear. . . so, you know, [it] leaves room for imagination, and you can have a lot of fun with it."
Though it's an undisputed banger, Kelis revealed it was a surprisingly tough track to sell. "I fought for that record for almost two years," she told Brit + Co, "because no one would play it originally. So it's vindicating to be sitting here now."
The staunch self-assuredness and boundless determination she showed in fighting for her artistic vision are among many reasons the singer, farmer, and mother of three has been invited to give a keynote at BIGSOUND this September.
Kelis is set to spice up the stage at the southern hemisphere's biggest music industry gathering, speaking about 'the importance of being authentic and her fearless approach to transformation'.
Fans will be stoked to know she'll also be belting out some tunes on her trip down under. Kelis is headlining Brisbane Festival's Sweet Relief! – her first Australian performance in five years. Whether you're here for her industry insights or simply to enjoy a nostalgia-infused dance party, Kelis has something on the menu for you.
After a career spanning 25 years and a life filled with food, travel, farming, cheffing, and carving out her own unique way of being, she sure as hell has some wisdom to share.
Speaking to Business Insider in 2022Business Insider in 2022, the multi-talented, food-loving musician said: "I focus on what I'm interested in at the time and I don't stop until I get to a place where I feel like 'OK, now I can try something else'."
Kelis performs as part of Brisbane Festival's Sweet Relief! joining The Presets, Electric Fields, Haiku Hands and others at Ballymore Stadium on 7 September. Kelis gives a keynote at BIGSOUND (Brisbane) on 5 September.
