Elaine | |
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| Birth name | Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli |
| Born | (1999-04-02)2 April 1999 (age 25) Pretoria, South Africa |
| Origin | Limpopo, South Africa |
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| Years active | 2019–present |
Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli (born 2 April 1999), known mononymously asElaine, is a South AfricanR&B singer and songwriter fromPretoria. While studying law at theUniversity of the Witwatersrand, sheself-released her debut EPElements in September 2019.[1] The EP reached No. 1 on both the nationaliTunes andApple Music album charts, making her the first independent female artist to do so.[2][3]Elements was certified Platinum by theRecording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) a year after its initial release, and in2020 it was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album at theSouth African Music Awards. Elaine was subsequentlysigned toColumbia Records in December 2020.[1]
I remember the owner of the pre-school came to me and gave me a solo – this solo was ‘Silent Night’ and girl, that’s when my career took off. This was my time to shine, and I think from the moment I sang that solo, I knew that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli was born inPretoria on 2 April 1999. She started singing at age six and participated in the school choir and various talent competitions while growing up.[4] In 2014 she received a gold medal at the8th World Choir Games inRiga, Latvia.[5][6] While attending high school, Mukheli began writing her own music.[7] She began studying law atUniversity of the Witwatersrand in approximately 2018,[1] and stated in November 2019 that she was part of the university'sGolden Key Honour Society.[7]
Elaine uploaded her debut single, "Slip Away" ontoSoundCloud in February 2019, before officially self-releasing it in April 2019. Her follow-up single, "I Just Wanna Know" was released in August 2019. Elaine was the first South African artist to be part ofSpotify's Radar artist program alongsideTaiylor Manson .[8][9] She released her debut EP,Elements, on 29 September 2019.[10] The 7-track EP was produced by Clxrity alongside Elizee from South African hip-hop duo Elizee and Malachi and was described byOkayAfrica as "a mellow blend oftrap-soul andR&B with incisive explorations of adolescent love."[11] The EP was successful on streaming charts, helping Elaine clock one million accumulative streams within two weeks of its initial release.[12] She was deemed asApple Music'sNew Artist Spotlight afterElements reached No. 1 on the album chart in South Africa.[13] At one point in February 2020, all seven songs fromElements simultaneously placed in the top 10 of the national Apple Music R&B/Soul songs chart.[14]
The EP, spawned the single "You're The One", which also topped both iTunes and Apple Music single charts.[15] The single earned Elaine both her radio debut and first number one on theMetro FM Top 40,[16] as well as several weeks atop both the947 Top 40,[3] andKFM Top 40.[17] Her debut music video for "You're The One" was released in early April 2020 and gained approximately 100 thousand views within 24 hours of its initial release.[18][19] As of late April 2020, Elaine continues to "dominate" South African music charts.[20]Elements, along with every song on the project were certified Platinum by theRecording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) in July 2020.[21] The EP was also nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album at the26th South African Music Awards.[22] Elaine was signed toColumbia Records in August 2020.[23][24][25]
In November 2020, she was nominated for Best Female Southern Africa at 2020 African Muzik Magazine Awards.[26]
Elaine was announced as Most streamed South African women in South Africa by Spotify at position number 1 in December 2020.[27][28]
In May 2021, Elaine released her single "Right Now".[29] A year later, on March 24, 2022, the single "Shine" was released, which she first teased the song onTikTok andInstagram. In September 2022, Elaine had released the single, "Deja Vu".
In early October 2022, Elaine was announced asSpotify's EQUAL Africa artist for October.[30]
The single "Loving" with rapperBlxckie was released on March 17, 2023.[31] The song was certified Gold by theRecording Industry of South Africa (RISA).[32]
On August 2, 2024, Elaine released the single "Waiting on You", which served as the lead single for her debut albumStone Cold Heart.[33] The album was released on October 11,[34] and within the same month, leading up to the album's release, Elaine was also announced as an EQUAL Artist Ambassador by Spotify.[35]
Elaine's musical style regardinggenre has been described as trap-soul (a blend oftrap andsoul music),[1][4][11]alternative R&B,[36][20]contemporary R&B,[36][1] andneo-soul.[20] She has cited R&B singers such asLauryn Hill andBeyoncé as her biggest inspirations.[37] Elaine's musical style has been compared to that ofTsakani Mhinga andH.E.R.,[38] as well asJhené Aiko andSummer Walker.[39]
| Title | Details | Certifications |
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| Stone Cold Heart |
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| Title | Details | Certifications |
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| Elements |
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| Title | Year | Certification[21] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Slip Away" | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "I Just Wanna Know" |
| Elements EP | |
| "Say It" |
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| "When We’re Alone" |
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| "I/You" |
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| "Changes" |
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| "You're the One"[40] | 2020 |
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| "Risky" |
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| "Right Now"[41] | 2021 | — | Non-album single |
| "Fading Away" | 2022 | ||
| "DeJa Vu" | |||
| "Shine" | |||
| "Loving You"(withBlxckie) | 2023 | RiSA: Gold | |
| "Waiting on You" | 2024 | Stone Cold Heart |
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Music Awards | 2020 | Elements | R&B/Soul Album of the Year | Nominated | [22] |
| African Muzik Magazine Awards | 2020 | Herself | Best Female Southern Africa | Nominated | [26] |
| BET Awards | 2021 | Best New International Act | Nominated | [42][43][44] | |
| MTV Africa Music Awards | 2021 | Best Breakthrough Act |  Cancelled | [45] | |
| African Muzik Magazine Awards | 2021 | Best Female Southern Africa | Won | [46] | |
| Headies | 2022 | Best Southern African Artiste Of The Year | Nominated | [47] | |
| Metro FM Music Awards | 2025 | "Love Me Slowly" | Best R&B Song | Pending | [48] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| International | |
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