Elaine (singer)

"I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence."

"Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg, that’s when I really started taking the music seriously"

"It really is about your faith and your work ethic."

"Well, I’ve been singing since I was 6 years old. I was in the choir at that time. I was in the choir basically my whole life and that life really set the foundation for my music, but when I got to high school I became a bit more independent. I wanted to take my love for music a step further and that’s when I decided to leave the choir. I was 16 years old at that time. I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence. Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg. That’s when I really started taking the music seriously."

"It was the moment I got to the University. I was trying to make all the music I can with my allowance. I would literally not eat and use the money I would get from my parents to book studio sessions and buy beats instead. I was busy sourcing people that could help me work on my project at the time and I could definitely say Pretoria fueled my love for music, which I said in the beginning. Although it’s a quiet place, when I make music there’s so much color, life, and entertainment. That’s all I wanted to do."

"I think it was just to represent who I am. I wanted it to get to the point and to get my message across. The EP was the right introduction for me into the music industry. It's not too much but at the same time it's not too little, it's just enough and that's exactly why I wanted to get the right amount of songs out there for people to relate to."

"I'm a very, very lowkey and private person [in everyday life] so I use social media and that's actually how I met all of the people I worked with on this project."

"I feel social media was important in creating this ecosystem of people that I possibly wouldn't have had access to. We all work together in our community to create despite coming from different cultures and from different backgrounds. And what connects is our passion for music, our work ethic, our drive and our morals."