Elmiene: I am 100 percent here for the cinematically chill ‘Reclusive’ music video
The sound is chill but the visual is jam-packed - literally. It’s all impressive and must-see coming courtesy of crooner Elmiene’s ‘Reclusive’ music video.
The song is audio flames but the wildness of an overly crowded elevator? Holy smokes. Geek out with me.
“Reclusive” is the latest debut behind his most recent single “Cry Against The Wind” marking an emotional turning point in his artistic journey. He recently released his EP titled Heat The Streets Some Mo’ - a remix EP of his highly acclaimed mixtape Heat The Streets - which is receiving playlisting love from BBC Radio 1Xtra and Tune of the Week on BBC Radio 1, a special nod of excitement from notable R&B songstress, Kehlani as well as “Damage Control” making its live performance debut on Apple Music’s The Ebro Show. In addition to the new remix EP, Elmiene delivers brand new track “By Now” - a melodic reflection of trying to move on from a past flame. Most recently, Elmiene was nominated for Outstanding New Artist at The 2026 NAACP Image Awards as well as nominated for The People’s Choice Award at the 2025 EBONY Power 100.
Elmiene’s slew of live shows feels like bucket list accolades: he performed at the BET Awards, played at the Roots Picnic, and supported Stevie Wonder at BST Hyde Park. His iconic NPR Tiny Desk Concert recently surpassed 1 million viewers, and his interview on The Terrell Show found further reverence for Elmiene’s R&B credentials when he impressed viewers by singing Uncle Sam’s “I Don’t Ever Want To See You Again.” Last month, he performed at Spotify’s “RNB X Live” in NYC as well as had his special “Live From” intimate performances in Brooklyn, Toronto, Houston, Charlotte and Atlanta. He has been named an Artist To Watch on a handful of platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, MTV, NME Magazine, The Guardian, BBC and more - and is gearing up to be a top familiar face on the music scene throughout 2026 and beyond.
Rising British-Sudanese songwriter and vocalist Elmiene announces the release of his debut album sounds for someone out March 27th via Def Jam Recordings. The project is a deeply intimate meditation on love, loss, and legacy—born from Elmiene’s relationship with his late father and shaped by both his own memories and the stories carried by his mother. The 12-track album listens as much as it speaks, capturing grief, tenderness, and the ache of what remains. Pre-order sounds for someone January 15th at 8:30am PT here
sounds for someone takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster through a 2-decade journey of familial ups and downs that has shaped how Elmiene sees the world and also himself. Kicking off with the emotional rester that is “Moment” - Elmiene invites you right into the room, as he croons about a thankless, formless champion of the downtrodden, with a subtle swing-like lilt that cradles you while setting the stage for an exploration of various highs and lows. The new album hosts features from GRAMMY Award winning singer / songwriter Raphael Saadiq and rising vocalist Baby Rose with production support across the project from Sampha and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman as well as GRAMMY Award winning producers No I.D, Raphael Saadiq, and more.
“Making this album was painful, I felt lonely sometimes, I felt loved sometimes. I felt guilty sometimes and I felt forgiven sometimes but most of all it was an important duty to myself that I needed to fulfil.”
Elmiene couples the album announcement with the debut of his brand new single “Reclusive” which unveils Elmiene’s inner thoughts by exploring his contemplation of going outside and being social versus embracing his natural instinct to remain in his comfort zone of solitude. Watch here.
Produced by Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman,“Reclusive” is built on gentle piano keys and an unexpectedly upbeat groove that moves the lyrics in a way where it feels like a diary page left open. The lyrics move through various scenes of staying inside, playing video games and talking himself out of leaving the house, all while questioning whether solitude is protecting him or holding him back. The accompanying music video depicts Elmiene standing in a crowded elevator amplifying the discomfort he finds in socializing through a series of handshakes and attempted yet reluctant conversations.
“I’m grateful for a pretty debilitating sickness I had in December 2024, it’s the reason this song exists. When writing ‘Reclusive,’ the goal was to make it painfully autobiographical, zooming in on the most mundane moment of my life and seeing if it could carry a song. Turns out it could. Biz Markie was a huge inspiration, he mastered making everyday life feel funny, honest, and memorable, all tied together with a genius hook. I’m trying my best to do the same here.”
