Elaine - Biography, Age, Career Achievements, Songs and Awards

Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli, known simply as Elaine, is a South African R&B singer and songwriter from Pretoria. While studying law at the University of the Witwatersrand, Elaine self-released her debut EP, "Elements," in September 2019. The EP quickly became a hit, reaching No. 1 on both the national iTunes and Apple Music album charts, making Elaine the first independent female artist in South Africa to achieve this milestone.

A year after its release, "Elements" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). The EP also garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album at the South African Music Awards in 2020. Recognizing her talent, Columbia Records signed Elaine in December 2020.

Early Life

Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli, known simply as Elaine, was born on April 2, 1999, in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. She started singing at the age of six and participated in her school choir and various talent competitions during her childhood. In 2014, she received a gold medal at the 8th World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia. While attending high school, Elaine began writing her own music.

In approximately 2018, Elaine started studying law at the University of the Witwatersrand. By November 2019, she was a member of the university's Golden Key Honour Society, which recognizes academic excellence. As of 2024, Elaine would be 25 years old.

Career

Elaine uploaded her debut single, "Slip Away," onto SoundCloud in February 2019 before officially self-releasing it in April 2019. She followed up with her second single, "I Just Wanna Know," in August 2019. Elaine became the first South African artist to be part of Spotify's Radar artist program, alongside Taiylor Manson.

Elaine released her debut EP, "Elements," on September 29, 2019. The seven-track EP, produced by Clxrity and Elizee from the South African hip-hop duo Elizee and Malachi, was described by OkayAfrica as "a mellow blend of trap-soul and R&B with incisive explorations of adolescent love." The EP was a streaming success, amassing one million cumulative streams within two weeks of its release. Elaine was named Apple Music's New Artist Spotlight after "Elements" reached No. 1 on the album chart in South Africa. In February 2020, all seven songs from the EP simultaneously placed in the top 10 of the national Apple Music R&B/Soul songs chart.

The EP included the single "You're The One," which topped both iTunes and Apple Music single charts. This single marked Elaine's radio debut and secured her first number one spot on the Metro FM Top 40. It also spent several weeks at the top of both the 947 Top 40 and KFM Top 40 charts. Her debut music video for "You're The One" was released in early April 2020 and gained approximately 100,000 views within 24 hours of its release.

As of late April 2020, Elaine continues to dominate the South African music charts. In July 2020, her debut EP, "Elements," was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). The EP was also nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album at the 26th South African Music Awards. In August 2020, Elaine signed with Columbia Records, further boosting her music career.

In November 2020, Elaine was nominated for Best Female Southern Africa at the 2020 African Muzik Magazine Awards. On May 12, 2021, she released a new single titled "Right Now." This was followed by another highly anticipated single, "Shine," released on March 24, 2022, which she first teased on TikTok and Instagram. In September 2022, Elaine released her single "Deja Vu."

Elaine continued to release new music, including the song "Loving" with Blxckie on March 17, 2023, which was certified Gold by RiSA.

Elaine's musical style has been described as a blend of trap-soul, alternative R&B, contemporary R&B, and neo-soul. She has cited R&B singers like Lauryn Hill and Beyoncé as her biggest inspirations. Her musical style has been compared to artists such as Tsakani Mhinga, H.E.R., Jhené Aiko, and Summer Walker.

Discography

Extended Plays

2019 - Elements

Singles

2019 - Slip Away

2021 - Right Now

2022 - Fading Away

2022 - De Ja Vu

2022 - Shine

2023 - Loving You" (Elaine, Blxckie)

Awards and Nominations

R&B/Soul Album of the Year

Best Female Southern Africa

Best New International Act

Best Female Southern Africa

Best Southern African Artiste Of The Year