The British neo-soul singer Elmiene has teased the release of his new EP ‘For The Deported’ set to be released December 6. The announcement follows an exclusive playback and Q&A on November 27 hosted at Young Space in London.
Hailing from Oxford, Abdala Elamin, known professionally as Elmiene, exhibits heartfelt and thoughtful lyricism with powerfully rich vocals that soothe the soul to provide a relatable experience to listeners. Elmiene broke ground with the release of his first single ‘Golden’ in 2021, which established a momentum to his acclaim, sending him to the forefront of modern neo-soul and R&B. Since then, Elmiene has released three EPs: ‘EL-MEAN’, ‘Marking My Time’ and ‘Anyway I Can’ where the ‘Light Work’ singer has sonically developed into a prominent neo-soul artist due to his portrayal of intensely poetic sentiments – relating to his personal experiences.
The announcement of Elmiene’s forthcoming ‘For The Deported’ EP coincided with BRITs unveiling their Rising Star nominees for the 2025 ceremony, which Elmiene made the shortlist for. A prestigious award won previously by The Last Dinner Party in 2024. The winner of the Rising Star Award will be announced December 5, the eve of Elmiene’s EP release.
The upcoming EP was revealed via Elmiene’s social media, where he released a stripped back performance of one of its tracks titled ‘The Deported’. In the video, Elmiene is seen in front of a red backdrop playing the keyboard whilst showcasing his vocal talent which although remains soulful, displays a softer side to portray a profound moment of desperation and sincerity – which is especially emphasised through the reiteration of “mother hold me”.
To accompany the post that teased the EP, Elmiene took to social media to describe the meaning of the EP, stating: “Sudan is the reason I’m here right now. Sudan is the reason I feel like I am as musical as I am or why I was so inclined to do poetry. Sudan is a country with a lot of history and tragedy and emotions and feelings and a really, really deep cultural history. I feel like there’s nothing like the words that we used to describe those complex things”.
With the ongoing escalation of conflict in Sudan, which has led to mass displacement and a dire socio-economic crises, Elmiene’s EP comes at an all-important time to raise awareness to the vital humanitarian aid needed in Sudan, during a time when global governments are failing to give adequate attention to the conflict and the thousands of people in need.
Sudan is the reason I’m here right now. Sudan is the reason I feel like I am as musical as I am or why I was so inclined to do poetry. Sudan is a country with a lot of history and tragedy and emotions and feelings and a really, really deep cultural history. pic.twitter.com/rRZd406p3g
— Elmiene (@_Elmiene_) November 27, 2024
The ‘Someday’ performer does not shy away from deeply thought-provoking sentiments throughout his discography. In a conversation with Rolling Stone UK last year, the singer revealed his desire of candid lyricism and sonic themes and how they emerged from his passion for classic soul. He stated, this era of music featured musicians “speak[ing] about the unspoken and the unseen, in a way that’s tangible and so eloquent”, meaning it is somewhat inevitable for Elmiene to portray such themes throughout his discography and within ‘For The Deported’.
Elmiene’s ‘For The Deported’ will be released on December 6 and will mark the singer’s fourth EP which will further cement his artistry in the forefront of R&B and neo-soul.
