Elmiene Elevates Us with New EP ‘Anyway I Can’ (Review)

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Elmiene is the freshest face in UK soul. Find him standing in his kaftan, belting his heart out and delivering some of the most impactful Neo-soul records in recent times. The British-Sudanese singer/songwriter is merging old-school soul with new-school flows. His new EP ‘Anyway I Can‘ is an uplifting, vulnerable listen that showcases his immense talent and yearning for inner peace.

For the traditional R&B/Soul fan, Elmiene might be your breakout star of the year. He sounds like the love child of D’Angelo, Anthony Hamilton, and Musiq Soulchild. His poetic lyricism stems not only from studying creative writing in college but also from studying artists like 2Pac. Like the late great rapper, this young talent delivers music that is as catchy and full of funk as it is full of feeling.

His recent single ‘Light Work‘ has been playlisted by Radio 1, and is a great taster for what the rest of the EP provides. The talented vocalist floats on production effortlessly, often syncopating his lyrics to a groovy baseline or drum beat. Brimming with addictive hooks and crowd-pleasing melodies, no track feels like filler.

‘Ode To Win‘

With some laid-back guitar strums and a hook that’s smooth like honey, the rising star is having an awakening on this track. He is deciding to take life slowly, enjoy the ride, and take advantage of opportunities where he can. Infectiously uplifting, this song will have you swaying and singing along with his gorgeous harmonies.

‘Dark Out (Season of Thieves)‘

This song is criminally short. Acting as an interlude of sorts, it neatly closes out a section of the project dealing with the repercussions of vulnerability. I could imagine this song as an old-school Jodeci hit, housing a timeless R&B hook that could work in the 90s and today. Thieves of joy, hope, love, progress – this artist leaves it open for interpretation.

‘Anyways‘

How often do we ask people how they’ve been, and really listen? This song feels like the heart of this whole project. This song is a warm hug, culminating in an angelic symphony of harmonies. It closes out the entire EP on a sad yet hopeful note. “I, I know all things / Come to an end / But anyways, how’ve you been?” he sings.

Conclusion

After selling out multiple London shows, touring the US, and making a memorable Glastonbury debut – Elmiene’s career is on the up and up.

His talent and his music have made waves online. Social media has played a big part in his journey, as he’s enjoyed a myriad of viral moments performing covers. His warm, playful personality and talent even attracted legends like Robert Glasper, whom he recently performed with.

My only criticism of the project is that I’d like it to be longer. I hope his debut album continues on this trajectory while exploring more of what he has to offer. I’m also looking forward to more collaboration in the future. I could see him making a hit with a legend like Lalah Hathaway, or Kwaku Asante.

In conclusion, this EP shows the industry that Elmiene is the real deal – raw talent and raw emotion. We can’t wait to hear more.

Rating: 9/10

Elmiene is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Read more album reviews here and stream the EP below.

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