Elmiene (pronounced El mean) was officially introduced to me by The Terrell Show. I kept seeing him pop up on my YouTube Feed, but I didn’t take the suggestions. I think I was focused on the content I was watching and didn’t want to take the time to get into something new. My bad y’all. This delay from me caused you all to not know about this great artist.
I have now been binging his music and listening to whole albums on repeat. From his episode of The Terrell Show, you find out how Elmiene got started, a recording of him singing D’Angelo’s song Untitled.
Then, you follow up that show with his Tiny Desk performance and get introduced to his music.
Then you go to your music app and download his albums to listen in more detail. I started with Marking My Time, and I have went to Anyway I Can, while still doubling back and listening to Marking My Time. I have listened to his newest album, Heat The Streets, but the first two albums have me in a chokehold. I plan on going back and listening to Elmiene’s earlier songs, and then focusing on his newest album. My goal is to not include almost every single song he has 😆, but just to introduce you to my absolute favorites.
Marking My Time – Marking My Time (album)
My all-time favorite song of Elmiene’s is Marking My Time. This is the title track of his 2023 album of the same name. This song speaks to my soul. There is one line towards the end of the song, “Feelin my own skin crawl”, that when I read it, I realized I am not the only one. I didn’t think I was the only one, I just never met anyone that said they felt this way before. When I get really restless with life, I feel like my skin is crawling and I want to take it off. The only thing that makes me feel a little better is going for a drive. Marking My Time is the song of life and the living of it. At the end, you hope that you made your mark on the world. That you left, at least, your immediate surroundings better than you found them. My new favorite saying is, I did my best. My precious niece used to say this about people when she was like six. What did she know about people doing their best? Lol. When it’s all said and done, that is all we can do.
Light Work – Anyway I Can (album)
A lot of Elmiene’s songs are slower and heavier with a serious context. This song is upbeat and light, for lack of a better word 😆. “There is nothing heavy bout this love, girl it’s light for me.” What!?! Not only did God rob me from having the ability to sing, but also not being able to write music. Who came up with that line? Smh.
Dull Jewelry – Heat the Streets (album)
I don’t know what my favorite song from Heat the Streets is. I think the songs that resonated with me, I played out equally. I picked this song because I feel that most people would relate. I remember I was dating this guy who lived out of town. Something hurtful happened one time when I went to visit him, and I got in my car and left while he was at work. I was changed from that experience, and it showed. My mom said go back there and bring back my Ebony 😂. My shine was knocked off, I was dull jewelry. I did get my shine back, but it took a minute. Now, in this song, Elmiene was the problem, but the point is still valid, he’s dull from her leaving him.
Cry Against The Wind – sounds for someone (album available 3/27/26)
When I initially started writing this post, this song did not exist. I guess the delay was worth it, just so I could add this song to this post. I realize that I need to come up with better words and ways to describe how these songs make me feel. What part of my brain is tickled and why. The beat drop in this song, perfectly executed 🤌 (I guess this is the chef’s kiss emoji, lol). This song feels like two songs in one. What a blessing!
I recently paid someone to fix my blog and now that I am able to include Youtube videos, I have gotten over my attitude about posting. More music to come. I hope you find at least one of Elmiene’s songs you like, or you like all of them. Let me know your favorite. Stay well and whole. Much Love🧡💚