Elmiene’s 'Heat The Streets' Serves As An Ode to the Greats

(photo credit: Yeliz Zaifoglu)

Elmiene has always carried a timeless weight in his hum – an enriching amalgamation of all those historical references that nurtured his voice and sounds. So naturally, for his debut mixtape Heat The Streets, the 24-year-old British-Sudanese singer folds that history into something high-spirited, present, and deeply personal. Rather than being cast as a (incredibly impressive) R&B project, this body of work becomes a clear map of where the genre has been, and a statement of where Elmiene is determined to take it.

The 12-track project is steeped in reference, yet nothing about them feels copy-and-pasted. Instead, Elmiene draws on a lineage enlisting the likes of legends, Donny Hathaway, D’Angelo, and Carole King, with a reverence that comes from largely from study rather than nostalgia. His background anchors this album; lyrics, rhythm, cadences and adlibs unfurl with purposeful precision and full of tenderness. That attention to detail, paired with that beautiful voice that he’s become loved and adored for makes Heat The Streets more intimate than a mixtape may suggest.

The opener, “Useless (Without You)”, wastes no time in laying out Elmiene’s strengths sonically. Built around a chest-clinging hook, it’s an R&B song in the classic sense: lush, emotional, and radio-ready without sanding off the rough edges – perfect for those nights spent dancing through your bedroom or taking a drive through the city. Fifth track, 'Miss Hot July', push further into his influences; those woozy keys, swoop and swing melody, and falsetto phrasing nod directly to D’Angelo (of whom he played alongside at the Roots Picnic). For fans and music lovers who have watched for Elmiene’s career for a while, this may feel reminiscent of when he first flickered online with a cover of “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” a performance that caught the ears of industry pioneers Pharrell and Missy Elliott, and sent pockets of the internet spiralling (in a good way, of course – a great way, even).

Elsewhere, that intimate touch and experimentation bubbles to the surface. The interlude 'Days!' carries the unpolished, unfiltered warmth of a late-night studio jam that borders on gospelic, with riffs spilling out in their rawest capturing – it feels slightly invasive but entirely arresting. This one was cut short… 

The project descends into a slower, more stripped back pace with 'Give Me A Smile' and 'Capable', where Elmiene’s vocal are rightfully the centrepiece. Here, his poetry breathes in full: it’s subtle yet there’s a dull ache, displayed inaching turns of phrase that reveal themselves more with each listen. Eighth track, 'Dull Jewellery' feels entirely bittersweet. A two-step or side-step melody, it makes you want a skip in your step but when you truly sit with those lyrics, it does in fact feel like dull jewellery rusting against the skin – melancholy, longing and a soft frustration linger.

The mixtape closes with a cover of Carole King’s 'You’ve Got A Friend.' It’s an unexpected and, honestly, bold choice for a first full-length statement, but one Elmiene carries with grace – a grace that only he could possess. The piano echoes Donny Hathaway’s 1972 rendition, but, of course, the British singer-songwriter makes it his wholeheartedly his own by leaning into its quiet restraint rather than the theatrical. It feels less like a “moment” and more like a benediction, a sure reminder that love is still abundant if you know where to look, or dare to.

As a whole, Heat The Streets doesn’t just situate Elmiene in the R&B continuum, this mixtape (which in itself feels slightly diminishing, admittedly) presents the case for him as one of the genre’s most compelling new narrators. His ability to honour the legends while carving out a space of his own is equally refreshing and exciting. This path he has embarked on is one undoubtedly rooted in honesty, craft, and a refusal to rush his artistry.

Truthfully, there are flashes of experimentation that showcase his, perhaps hidden, versatility and hint at other directions he could take musically (a punk-esque dabbling, which he’s spoken of) but here, he proves he can cherish the weight of tradition while sounding like the future.

Heat The Streets is available now on all streaming platforms.