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Amazon Music Names Elmiene as Next Breakthrough Artist Amazon Music welcomes British-Sudanese singer-songwriter Elmiene to Breakthrough, its global program championing emerging artists, with a personalized campaign supporting his key releases through enhanced playlist placement, robust marketing, and bespoke editorial content To celebrate, Amazon Music is releasing ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (Amazon Music Original),’ a new cover of Whitney Houston’s iconic ballad performed by Elmiene and The Sunday Service Choir Listen to ‘Exhale (Amazon Music Original)’ from Elmiene and The Sunday Service Choir, available now exclusively on Amazon Music here: |
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LOS ANGELES—October 14, 2026—Today, Amazon Music announces trailblazing British-Sudanese singer-songwriter Elmiene as its latest Breakthrough artist. To celebrate, Amazon Music is releasing “Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (Amazon Music Original),” a new cover of Whitney Houston’s iconic ballad performed by Elmiene and The Sunday Service Choir. Recorded in London and Los Angeles, the track builds on their electrifying live rendition at All Points East earlier this summer. Listen exclusively on Amazon Music here. As part of Breakthrough, Elmiene will receive substantial support from Amazon Music, including bespoke video and audio content, global marketing campaigns, increased visibility across playlists and programming on Amazon Music, and tailored opportunities to reach new audiences across the diverse businesses of Amazon. “I really enjoy the idea of music being used as a practical tool, ‘Exhale’ is the perfect example of this for me. It’s literally instructional, ‘There comes a point when, when we exhale.’ It’s so goooooood. I’m personally trying to go down this route with my own music, so choosing this song was steeling my intentions,” said Elmiene. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Sunday Service Choir and thankful for Amazon Music for allowing us the freedom to create something beautiful.” One of his generation’s most captivating live vocalists, Elmiene has earned BRIT and Ivor Novello Rising Star nominations, alongside nominations for Best R&B/Soul Act and Best Male Act at the 2026 MOBO Awards and Outstanding New Artist at the 57th NAACP Image Awards. His collaborators include Stormzy, A$AP Ferg, Sampha, Syd, and Leon Thomas, and he has drawn praise from The Guardian, Rolling Stone, NME, Dazed, and Complex. His NPR Tiny Desk Concert has surpassed 1 million views, and he sold out London’s O2 Academy Brixton. In March 2026, he released his critically acclaimed debut album, sounds for someone, via Polydor/Def Jam Recordings. Breakthrough is Amazon Music’s program to support emerging artists, aimed at amplifying the best new talent and championing them at the most crucial moment in their careers. Amazon Music works with each Breakthrough artist and their teams to develop long-term, customized, global plans that are unique to each artist, with no two Breakthrough campaigns looking the same. Recent Amazon Music Breakthrough artists include Chappell Roan, Sienna Spiro, Odeal, and Stella Lefty. The program supports emerging artists through prominent playlist placement, livestream performances, festival appearances, tailored marketing campaigns and events, social media promotion, merchandise, Amazon Music Originals, and editorial content. Through this long-term commitment, Amazon Music helps artists reach new audiences at pivotal moments in their careers. ABOUT ELMIENE British-Sudanese singer-songwriter Elmiene is redefining contemporary R&B with a singular voice and an emotionally resonant approach to songwriting that bridges soul, alternative R&B, and timeless influences. Born Abdala Elamin, the Oxford-raised artist draws from his Sudanese heritage and British upbringing to create music rooted in personal history, love, loss, and self-discovery. Following the release of his acclaimed projects EL-MEAN, Marking My Time, and Anyway I Can, Elmiene has emerged as one of the most compelling voices of his generation, earning recognition from COLORS, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and the BRIT Awards Rising Star shortlist, alongside an Ivor Novello Rising Star nomination. His growing body of work includes collaborations with Sampha, Stormzy, Syd, and Leon Thomas. On his debut album, sounds for someone, released March 27, 2026, via Def Jam Recordings, Elmiene explores family, identity, and the enduring impact of his late father across a deeply personal 12-track collection featuring Raphael Saadiq and Baby Rose, with production contributions from Sampha, No I.D., and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman. With his rich, unmistakable vocals and a perspective shaped by heritage and lived experience, Elmiene continues to carve out a distinctive place in modern soul and R&B. ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of ad-free top podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs, as well as millions of songs in HD, Ultra HD, and Spatial audio, and the world’s largest selection of audiobooks from Audible. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music, including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at amazon.com/music. |
