- If the name G Elenil doesn’t ring any immediate bells consider this your preemptive and possibly final warning: there is an undeniable musical force headed in our collective direction and she is not coming quietly. Elenil is a Cypriot-Australian songwriter, producer, performer and part-time fashion designer who fuses r’n’b, dance and hip-hop into a glorious melting pot of musical jambalaya that is equal parts infectious and effortlessly smooth. It's music drenched in a mysteriously endearing aura that never fails to command my attention.
Despite a relatively slow start to her musical endeavours (her first music appearing as early as 2014), Elenil has had an unbelievable twelve months releasing four standalone singles, each one building on the momentum of the last; that paired with her ever increasing live presence and confidence have launched the young emcee to new levels of musical prowess, culminating in her latest and most focused release to date, a six-song EP, Kin, that despite her back catalogue, will act as her ‘debut’ to the world at large.
Despite not being a proper debut in the truest sense, it does make some sense putting the soft-reset on Elenil’s career to date. 2016’s INNERCITYFLIGHTS (which can still be found inconspicuously on world famous hip-hop mixtape site, Datpiff) clearly laid the foundations for everything that has resulted since, but regardless felt like a musical diamond in the rough, flashing some moments of brilliance but never quite sustained itself for the entire project.
Kin on the other hand doesn’t miss a beat: the six tracks on offer here are all strong and unique enough to act as standalone singles, yet flow together beautifully despite their distinct production. Organic instrumentation is looped and warped with a deft touch and old school mentality, melded almost beyond recognition with the nods to come of the cornerstones of modern hip-hop production. It’s a rich, eclectic and always interesting plethora of sounds helmed in most part by Brisbane tour-de-force beatsmith tomtom alongside G herself; this one-two punch an undeniable slice of perfect chemistry. This is never more apparent than on EP standout GoodTime, the track has an unquestionable melancholia running through its heart breaking, piano-centric beat that builds slowly into heavy percussion and sweeping electronics before crashing back into the somber calm. It might just be the most emotionally stirring three minutes of music I’ve heard this year and it's the perfect counterbalance to the general bounce and positive vibes that underline the majority of Kin.
If anyone might be having a breakthrough year on par with Elenil herself it’s the aforementioned tomtom. Seemingly the go-to guy to fulfil your most sensitive and darkest production desires, he most recently showcased his malleable array of talents working with the likes of APEman, JayCee, Miss Blanks and May Lyn, all of whom have been killing it lately; perhaps just a massive coincidence? tomtom is a young, moustached visionary and he’s here to make all of our lives just that little bit better.
With just a little help from her friends G Elenil is leading the charge of Brisbane’s next wave of not just Queensland’s, but Australia’s most exciting, talented, diverse and progressive hip-hop and r’n’b artists. She’s not only self-empowered but empowers those around her. She’s dynamic and dripping in charisma that shines through her music which is captivating and effervescent, honest and uplifting. If this is the sound of the not-too-distant future then I can lovingly fling myself into the ocean knowing with the utmost confidence that the world is in good hands and ultimately everything will be fine.
- Jay Edwards.