British-Sudanese soul sensation Elmiene has unveiled his most vulnerable single and video to date, “Cry Against The Wind,” out now via Polydor / Def Jam Recordings. The emotional spine of the new record is rooted in a raw, unfiltered reflection of grief, guilt, and the complex ache of loving someone who has never quite been within reach. Produced by Andrew Aged, a key collaborator of Mk.gee and Buddy Ross, the slow, haunting ballad blooms into a pulse-driven swell, tracing the steps of Elmiene’s evolving relationship with his late father, Jameel.
The song emerges as both an apology and an admission wrapped in contradiction, resentment, and profound love. Elmiene comments: “This song is about crippling guilt. It’s about a mistake that I know is too late to truly be forgiven for. We all sometimes have to live with things we can’t fix but acknowledging and accepting that is heavy, like a strong wind you can never turn away from.” The cathartic visual emphasizes these emotions, featuring Elmiene disguised as his father using detailed prosthetics created by Malina Stearns, further underscoring the narrative of presence and absence.
This emotional turning point follows a huge year for the artist, who first debuted the song at his sold-out O2 Academy Brixton show in London. He recently released Heat The Streets Some Mo’, a remix EP of his acclaimed mixtape that featured remix features from legendary rapper Ghostface Killah and Grammy-Award Winning singer/songwriter Muni Long. Elmiene has become a global creative favorite, collaborating with sought-after names including ASAP Ferg and Stormzy, and performing at bucket-list venues like the BET Awards, Roots Picnic, and supporting Stevie Wonder at BST Hyde Park.