South African R&B Star Elaine Speaks On Her Musical, Family, and Cultural Inspirations.
South African R&B Star Elaine Speaks On The Success of Her Debut EP Elements, Cultural Inspirations, Her Battle With Self-Confidence, Rediscovering Herself Within Music, And How She Plans to Give Back To Her South African Roots.
Elaine
This is a bittersweet moment. We’re wrapping up our third annual Women’s History Month Interview Series, but it’s truly been an honor to capture some of the most amazing and talented women throughout the last four and a half weeks. We thank you all for allowing TLNYC to be a part of your story.
October 8th, 2020 at 2:31 PM. That’s the exact time and date I received a text message and was officially introduced to one of the best up-and-coming R&B voices I’ve heard; of course in my humble opinion. My dear friend wanted me to check out a new artist she is currently working with over at Columbia Records, which became this particular artist’s new home as of last year. I was unfamiliar with her but after checking her Apple Music page and seeing she had only released one project, I was a bit skeptical about what I was getting myself into. I hit play by accident on the last song of her now platinum EP, Elements, and that song is called “Risky.” From the very first line of the record, I was sold. Elaine, born Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli in Pretoria, South Africa, calmly opens up the song with “He said enter at your own risk, I am not responsible for the misery I will bring you. “ This is the perfect level of toxicity but throughout the song, it sounds as if she’s talking from a man’s perspective. I then went to watch the video which had been released back in August of 2020 and it confirmed my sentiments - she indeed was speaking from the male point of view. I began to listen to the entire EP and all seven efforts capture Elaine in a different element, no pun intended.
After listening to the EP twice, no skips, I reached back out to my friend and said to her “I have to interview this Queen before the end of the year. This project dropped in 2019 so I am certain she’s on the verge of dropping something new before the end of 2020 or at the top of 2021. Either way, let’s set it up!” She agreed to do so but put it on hold until they were able to iron out a few things on their new artist’s behalf. Two months later, in December 2020, the talented songstress from Pretoria, South Africa was awarded a platinum plaque for an EP she made while attending law school in Johannesburg and going through her ongoing battle with self-confidence. “I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence,” Elaine says. “Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg, that’s when I really started taking the music seriously.”
September 19th, 2019 is when the young, business-minded musician released her debut EP to the world. As of today, March 31st, 2021, Elaine holds the title for the most-streamed South African Woman R&B artist across all digital streaming platforms, she has a platinum plaque, and one of her singles from the debut EP titled “You’re the One” is currently sitting at 7x platinum. “You really can make it out. You don’t have to feel boxed in or feel like you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Elaine said as she described what it felt like to be an R&B outcast in her hometown. “It really is about your faith and your work ethic.”
For the final interview of our series, I had the pleasure of speaking with the breakout star. We spoke on how her culture and surroundings inspired her musically, battling with her confidence throughout high school and college, finding herself and her voice within music, creating a masterful body of work, celebrating all of her wins, and her plans to give back to her community. Read the full interview below.
1 - First and foremost, how are you doing? How are you holding up mentally?
I’m doing really well actually. Thank you for asking. It’s been a year now. This past year at home has really taught me a lot about myself and it’s brought me closer to myself. It’s taught me about where I want to go and the type of artist I want to become. I’ve been using this to become a better version of myself and work on my craft. I’ve also become more confident in myself during this time so it’s really been a year of working on myself and my music. I’ve had to change my creative process. Not being able to work face to face with people and interact with producers has also taught me about my own independence.
2 - In doing my research and learning a bit more about you, I know you were born and raised in Pretoria, one of three capitals in South Africa. Talk to me a bit about that and being brought up there.
Absolutely! So Pretoria isn’t too far from Johannesburg. I’m actually in Johannesburg right now; it’s about a 30-minute drive. Pretoria is very quiet, wholesome, and filled with passionate people. It’s a very small community and I think being from such a small community helped me focus on being so family-oriented because that’s how it is in Pretoria. There isn’t much to do so it does get quite boring but that’s where the people come in, the energy, the music, and more. Pretoria has so many amazing musicians. It’s such a warm place and honestly, it’s really all I know. Growing up in Pretoria really set the tone for me as far as music, just from the culture in the city. I was raised in a family of five. My dad played music all the time. He actually loves R&B. I knew all the Whitney Houston and BeBe and CeCe Winans songs. It was wild. That’s all he ever played for me. But, if I were to put it into perspective for you I would say Pretoria is sort of like Atlanta - a lot of Black people, so much artistry, so much culture, and music. I really can’t say enough about it.
3 - Where did you get your motivation to be a musician?
Well, I’ve been singing since I was 6 years old. I was in the choir at that time. I was in the choir basically my whole life and that life really set the foundation for my music, but when I got to high school I became a bit more independent. I wanted to take my love for music a step further and that’s when I decided to leave the choir. I was 16 years old at that time. I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence. Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg. That’s when I really started taking the music seriously.
4 - During this moment of self-discovery, at what point did you realize this was something you wanted to pursue as your career?
It was the moment I got to the University. I was trying to make all the music I can with my allowance. I would literally not eat and use the money I would get from my parents to book studio sessions and buy beats instead. I was busy sourcing people that could help me work on my project at the time and I could definitely say Pretoria fueled my love for music, which I said in the beginning. Although it’s a quiet place, when I make music there’s so much color, life, and entertainment. That’s all I wanted to do.
5 - Fast-forward to 2019, you released your debut project Elements independently. Talk about how it felt to put together this seven-song EP and breakdown your mindset around this time of working on this as a 19-year-old.
I had just turned 20 years old at the time of the release. I had been working on that project for over a year before I released it. I got to the University in 2018. I was far from home and I felt so independent. I started to feel like it was time for me to get my life in order. I was like “I really want to do this music thing but I have no idea how to get started.” Another challenging part was the fact that I was on the wrong side of the world. R&B isn’t a prominent genre of music out here. Everyone out here is more on the dance, techno, upbeat, traditional indigenous music. From that standpoint, I began to feel like an outsider. It took me a while to find producers that I can collaborate with. I already had a vision so at this point it was all about being able to communicate it. Finding the producers who believed in that took the longest. But, when I finally did, everything else just started to happen naturally.
We recorded the project in my one producer’s garage and my other producer’s dorm room at the University he attended, which was ten minutes away. It was truly an experience. I would run in between classes to my one producer’s dorm, I would record a verse, and then he would have class so I would wait for him to come back to start recording again. I would leave his room at 1 AM in the morning and try to get as much sleep as I can for my 7 AM lecture. It was wild. I wasn’t doing this for anyone but myself. I wanted to put this project together to prove to the old me that I really wanted it. That project was truly dedicated to me. It was my love for music in its purest form because I had no expectations for it. Six-year-old me would be really proud.
6 - As you mentioned, you were in law school at the University of Witwatersrand during the creation of this EP. College is very demanding but I’m sure being in law school was overly demanding. How did you manage to stay focused on your studies while also putting this debut project together?
I had to really work at becoming mentally strong. Remember in the beginning when I said I had to work on my confidence? Being mentally strong was a part of that discovery journey. I had to constantly make mental notes telling myself “I can do this.” I was very committed to the process. I committed to the process of creation and committed to the process of perfection. That’s what ultimately kept me together. I also had a very supportive structure around me. I had a really good circle of friends and their support. I’m also very spiritual. I pray all the time. God got me through so much. Lastly, I did it for the right reason with pure intentions. If you go into anything with the right intentions you’re always going to win.
7 - In December you celebrated Elements officially going platinum and “You’re The One” going 7x platinum. That EP reached platinum status with very few live performances and brand marketing. What was the feeling like for you to hear that news and how did it make you feel as a newly signed artist?
It really felt like a full-circle moment. I have yet to really fully process everything that has happened in my life. It really feels like it happened overnight. I’m so humbled by this. I’m really humbled by all of the great things that have happened so far and the amazing people that I’ve met. Also, to the people who have received my music so well. To me, that’s the greatest reward: having people receive your music with an open heart. Everything for me after that is extra blessings. All I can do is remain consistent and for me, it’s about showing my people that anything is possible. You really can make it out. You don’t have to feel boxed in or feel like you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. It really is about your faith and your work ethic. I’m truly excited as well. I think all of this has given me the confidence I needed to really start going deeper into my music and start experimenting more. I have the confidence to do so. It really did create that reassurance for me and as an artist, you need as much reassurance as you can get from time to time.
8 - In 2020 you were also crowned the most streamed South African woman artist on Spotify which is a testament to how relatable and powerful your music and EP were to your country. That moment must’ve been huge for you as well I would assume.
It’s really crazy because I first heard this news on Twitter. Twitter is really where I get all my news from, even news concerning me most of the time. I was like “What?! Is this true?!” So, I found out from Twitter, and then about a month later I found out I was the most streamed South African Female R&B artist across all platforms which is wilder. This is just a testimony to say that the industry really doesn’t have as many gatekeepers as we think if I’m keeping it 100. The only thing that truly matters is the people and the music. That’s what this experience has taught me and it’s humbled me because I have so much more respect as a whole. Music really travels and people really do adore it. When you respect your music and your people, I think it’s that’s the recipe to success, whatever that success may mean to you.
9 - We’re in 2021 now and there have been a few videos of you previewing new music. Is it safe to assume that we’re getting a new album or EP from you sometime soon? If so, how would you describe the sound of this new music your working on, and how does it compare to Elements?
Yes! This is a very big year for me because I am releasing a new album this year. I’m going to be releasing a new single beforehand and that’s going to dropping very soon actually. I need you guys to look out for an announcement. I’ve been working on my debut album and it’s almost ready. I think this debut album is definitely more honest and very intentional. Elements for me was very sweet, innocent, and safe. But, this album, I decided to play it less safe. I’ve gotten more vocal and I’ve found different ways to say how I feel. I can’t even describe it, you’re just going to have to hear it. You can hear the growth. I’ve grown as an artist and as a woman. I recorded the songs on Element when I was 18-19 years old. I’ve dealt with a lot more situations since then so the growth is there. I also now have the confidence to share what I was scared to share before. We as people are sometimes scared to share our experiences, especially traumatic ones. But as an artist, what better way to share that than through music?
10 - You’ll be celebrating your 22nd birthday next week, April 2nd. How will you be bringing it in?
Oh my god! I have no idea. My mom called me and asked me if I going to be home for my birthday and I said “What do you mean? The year just started.” I really had no idea my birthday was getting this close. I pulled out my calendar like “Damn!” I’ve just been so caught up in work and this album that I don’t really have plans. But, I’ve been celebrating like it’s my birthday since the year started. It’s been a really great year so far. Things are getting better with COVID, people are getting healthier, and people are getting access to the vaccine. I’m in a very positive mood. So, for my birthday I’ll probably just hang with a couple of friends and keep the family close.
11 - What is your true definition of success?
Wow, that’s a great question. I don’t want to get philosophical or anything but I think every day I’m learning what success is to me. The one thing that always comes to mind is staying true to yourself. I haven’t been in many situations where I felt like I sold myself short. That’s not who I am or the type of woman I want to be. Everything that you say and put out to the universe is a representation of who you are. I want to be honest, open, and intentional. So, remaining true to who you are and staying true to yourself is what success truly means to me.
Last but not least, creating a space for others to receive opportunities. This isn’t something I can do alone so the objective is to create safe spaces for other creatives to collaborate. I want to be a part of that change.
12 - We’re entering the second quarter of the year. What’s next for Elaine?
Over the last year, I’ve been investing so much time into the debut album that that’s the only thing I’m focused on at the moment creatively. Outside of that, I’m very big on business. I’m going to be investing in property this year back home in Pretoria. Financial freedom and stability are very important to me, especially coming from where I come from. There are so many people where I’m from living in poverty. I want to be the Black woman that helps that change. I hope to grow that this year. The goal is to save my money, spend it wisely, and make informed decisions.
I’m also going to be brainstorming different ways on how to help Black women in Africa. Not a lot of women are educated in South Africa so I want to find ways to collaborate with people and help the city. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my community.
You can follow Elaine on Twitter and Instagram @ElaineOfficial_
