“Whatever box I might be falling into if I even was, just get out.” Elmiene is entering a defining moment with that mindset at the center. Born Abdala Elamin, the British-Sudanese singer from Oxford stepped into R&B in 2022 with a sound built on vulnerability and control. His voice and approach have positioned him as one of the most promising artists in the genre. His musical shift began in London. That period shaped both his identity and direction. In 2021, his single “Golden” gained early traction and caught the attention of industry figures, such as DJ Benji B. The track alter appeared at Virgil Abloh’s final Louis Vuitton show in Miami, placing Elmiene with a wider cultural space early on. During the March 5th press conference with °1824, that growth and personal understanding was clear. His energy carried through the screen. Elmiene spoke about how he defines soul music and what it allows him to do. “I feel like the superpower in the soul genre is that the name only alludes to music that comes from the soul,” Elmiene said.
That perspective shapes his debut album, “sounds for someone,” set for release March 27. The 12-track project features production from Sampha, with contributions from Raphael Saadiq and Baby Rose. The album is described as personal and centered on feeling. As he approaches the release, Elmiene keeps his focus simple. “The only thing I can hope for that this album brings is that the people can expect me to be a free sounding albums,” he said. Freedom sits at the core of the project. It also drives how he sees his future. “In five years I hope that’s the route that we go down, more expression in strange ways. More unique ways. More personality,” he said. He does not position himself within a fixed version of R&B. He is building something more open. His stance on labels and expectations stays clear. With “sounds for someone,” Elmiene is not asking to fit into a space. He is defining one on his own terms.
- Ava Kellner Pence
