Elaine drops her highly anticipated debut album, ‘Stone Cold Heart’
|Published
Elaine just dropped her long-anticipated debut album, and we’re totally loving it! It’s been five years since this talented singer-songwriter burst onto the music scene with her chart-topping hit “You're the One.”
Fans of the R&B chanteuse can’t stop raving about her 14-song album! They’ve been itching to dive into the whole project ever since the lead single, “Waiting on You,” dropped on August 2nd.
Elaine has been working on this new album since 2020 without any breaks. It’s all about her wild and magical 20-somethings, packed with stories from her life. She’s taken her time to work through a lot, and now she appreciates the journey more than ever. It’s really made her value her music even more.
GQ caught up with the R&B superstar to chat about her creative process and how she’s carving her own path in the music industry as an independent artist.
GQ: How have your fans been reacting to your lead single "Waiting On You"?
Elaine: ‘Waiting On You’ gives very much core Elaine vibes, or at least the sound that they first met me through and so the reception was filled with so much warmth, love and nostalgia, which is always such a beautiful experience. It's also the only song on the album that sounds that way so it's very special.
GQ: What took you so long to drop your debut album, and what was the creative process like?
Elaine: Life! I didn't expect for this journey to end up taking so long. Time flies, I could've sworn I started working on this album what feels like yesterday. The truth is I've been actively and whole heartedly working on it since 2020, with no breaks. Countless music camps all over the country, moving to LA and bringing this soundscape that I had designed in my head to life was something that needed me so fully present and immersed.
I paid attention to every single detail, even the ones that seemed almost unnecessary. It was about being intentional in my story telling, in my sound and in the way that it's grown and developed. It's an album about my 20-somethings which were so incredibly chaotic but also so magical at the same time. The album holds the stories to my life, it took time for me to get through certain things and I appreciate the journey more than anything. It's made me value what I do so much more.
GQ: How has your sound evolved since your debut EP “Elements” in 2019?
Elaine: My sound is forever evolving. It's what keeps everything exciting and fresh for me. It's what feeds my passion - knowing that there's parts of me and my talent that I've yet to explore and master. I'm always intentional in pushing the bar.
I never wanna do the same thing over and over again, and I always push myself to experience new things in new places, which pours into my music organically so. With this project there just weren't no limits. I didn't limit myself in the things I chose to spoke about, and I didn't limit myself when it came to production either. I went all out and I really had a ball.
GQ: Your debut EP was a remarkable success and truly established your music career. Does it feel daunting to release a full body of work now?
Elaine: Thank you! Not at all. It's exciting and inspiring. I can't believe I did that and I can't wait to experience more of it. I'm always grateful to be living within answered prayers.
GQ: What's the story behind the album title "Stone Cold Heart"? What does it mean to you personally?
Elaine: It's the story about how I had to learn the difference between knowing when to stop being too much of anything that's not benefitting you. Too nice. Too understanding. The thin line between being a people person vs being a people pleaser.
I went through so many things where I felt as if I was at advantage simply because I had a good heart or wanted to be the better or bigger person. It's about reclaiming my power and just owning my truth. It's about letting my heart lead but not allowing it to paralyse me. Emotions can be paralysing if you don't have a grip over them.
GQ: What’s your favourite song from the album, and why?
Elaine: I love every single song. All 14 of them. But “Love Me Slowly” hits different! It's all in the energy for me and the way in which RnB and rock are so effortlessly fused into the record.
GQ: How did dropping five singles with Columbia Records and then going independent shape your journey? What are some key lessons you picked up along the way?
Elaine: Everything is always learning curve, and I'm super grateful for the time I spent with Columbia. It was a big part of my life and I learnedso much and made beautiful music that holds so many memories. More than anything I learned so much about the music business and what it truly means for a South African black woman in the space, its not easy but it's an amazing time to be alive and South African.
GQ: What advice do you wish you had received when you first entered the music industry?
Elaine: To Prioritise my voice! There's a lot of people with a lot of ideas, a lot of opinions and a lot of agendas and making sure that mine took the as much space instead of prioritising other peoples feelings and agendas is something I've learned to master and wish I knew sooner!
GQ: You’ve been candid about your experiences with depression and imposter syndrome. What’s your current vibe like, and how do you keep your mental health in check?
Elaine: My current vibe is living life to the fullest! I'm in a great space. I've done the hard work and I'm slowly letting myself bask in what it feels like to be restored and renewed. I'm grateful to have my family and people that I trust around me who always lift me up and keep me in check.
GQ: How does your Law degree benefit your music career?
Elaine: Almost day to day! Education really is important. Apart of the millions of paperwork, there's so much admin, organisation and strategising that goes behind an album, and having the background and support of my degree makes life a little bit more easier.
GQ: What has been your biggest career highlight this far?
Elaine: There's too many to be honest but releasing my EP and debut album is up there! Travelling the world because of music is also a forever highlight.