Dis-COVER-able: Big Men, Big Impact Vol 2: Elmiene

Prologue

For decades, magazines have been the heartbeat of the culture the go-to source for scouting fresh talent, honoring our legends, and pushing the needle forward. We all know that feeling of picking up a glossy new issue or downloading the latest digital copy to catch up on our favorite stars. But let’s be real what actually makes us stop and look is the cover. It’s that magic moment where the artist’s vision, the art director’s eye, and the magazine’s brand identity fuse together into one undeniable image. That’s the bait that lures us in to see what’s inside.

As a gay, Black man in the big boy/bear community, seeing a big man and especially a big man of color on a major cover is more than just "cool." It makes me feel seen. It’s that classic experience of having your entertainment crush right there in the palm of your hand, just like any other fan.

I created this blog series, Dis-COVER-able, to spotlight and celebrate the representation of big men on major magazine covers across the globe.

Intro

Welcome to Dis-COVER-able blog series!

Vocals, swag, and 'teddy bear vibes' is the best way to describe Elmiene. He came across my timeline on YouTube—more specifically on The Terrell Show about a couple of months ago. Normally, I press play on a video and let it run in the background while I clean, but as soon as he started singing, nothing but neo-soul flowed out of that bearded man’s mouth and I had to stop and watch.

Not many singers can make me throw my imaginary shoe at the screen while screaming, 'BITCH!!!' (in a 'you betta work' kind of way). Since then, I’ve been such a fan of Elmiene, and I knew I had to add him to the Dis-COVER-able series. Hopefully, more people can join the bearded neo-soul tribe and spread his music around.

Notion Magazine (Digital) [January 28, 2024] Breakthrough UK Artist To Watch

Words Notion Staff, Creative Director Daisy Deane @ DELA.STUDIO, Director Ayshe Zaifoglu, Photographer Rashidi NoahDOP Toby Leary, Stylist Carlotta Constant assisted by Mollie French & Annie Gale, Hair Stylist Shamara Roper assisted by Donica Campbell, Makeup Artist Maya Man assisted by Tom Easton & Babi Compos, Set Dresser Piper Samuel, Producer Elly Craig, Production Assistants Amy Yates & Olivia Wright

Music careers launched by internet moments don’t always hold promise, but in the case of soul vocalist sensation Elmiene, going viral for a cover of ‘Untitled’ by D’Angelo led to triumph after triumph. First came endorsements from music royalty Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams and Questlove, then recognition from Benji B and the late Virgil Abloh who featured ‘Golden’ – Elmiene’s first release – in the soundtrack of his final Louis Vuitton show.

Where does your name come from? 

Elmiene because we were washing dishes in Bournemouth and we had to make an account. It had to be kind of cool and it was never really an idea for an artist name, it was just going to be like a music account. And I really like to say ‘Do you know what I mean?’ And my second name is Elamin. And then… Elmiene, like chow mein. You know what, it’s mad, but we move. Do you know what I‘m saying? Do you know what I mean?

Where were you born? 

I was born in Frankfurt, Germany.

What’s your star sign? 

What is my star sign? If I’m born in June, the end of June, what does that mean? No, but the stars, they look cool.

(This is just an taste of the interview to get the full meal head to [ https://notion.online/amazon-music-breakthrough-uk-artists-to-watch-2024-digital-cover-elmiene/ ] Notion Magazine Owns the images and interview snippet above)

CLASH Magazine Issue 127 (Digital) [April 2024]

Words: Eve Boothroyd, Photography: William Spooner, Creative Direction: Rob Meyers

Few voices evoke the past like Elmiene. His is a voice that travels the RnB and soul continuum, laden with the heft and history that comes from studying the Greats. It’s poetic then, that I meet Elmiene on a cloudy Friday afternoon at Next Door Records in Shepherd’s Bush – a haven for music lovers and archivists. He’s towering above the racks of vinyls, flicking through with a sense of wondrous glee. He’s hard to miss and even more difficult to dislike. “This is really my area,” he nods to me as he reaches the funk and soul section, gravitating towards the works of his hero Stevie Wonder. “I’ve only recently started collecting records, I don’t have that many yet,” he tells me as he combs through and studies the sleeves. 

(This is just an taste of the article to get the full meal head to [https://www.clashmusic.com/features/divine-timing-elmiene-interviewed/] CLASH Magazine Owns the images and article snippet above)

GAFFER Magazine (Digital) [April 2025]

PHOTOGRAPHY: FILMAWI / STYLING: CARA HAYWARD / CREATIVE DIRECTION: CHARLOTTE MAYUMI PHIPPS / HAIR: Shamara Roper / WORDS: GAFFER

here’s a moment early on with Elmiene when you realise the surface won’t hold. He’s funny, sure. Playful even. The kind of person who could build a story out of a sandwich. But spend more than a minute in his world and you start to hear something else underneath. A mind that wanders deep and wide. A heart that’s heavy with feeling. A voice that doesn’t just sing, it remembers.

“If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably be a security guard,” he says, only half-joking. “Great Temps Court, Oxford. You just sit outside, eat your sandwich, get paid... well, not loads. But you’d be good.” He smiles at the thought, like someone who still lives in both worlds at once.

(This is just an taste of the article to get the full meal head to [ https://gaffer.world/blogs/magazine/elmiene-fry-your-brain-save-your-soul ] GAFFER Magazine Owns the images and article snippet above)

Yams Magazine (Digital) [October 2025] Is Here To Stay

Written By: Dante Nicholas, Photography by: Kendall Bessent, Editorial & Creative Director: Dante Nicholas,
Executive Producer: Dante Nicholas, Assistant Photographer: Greg Rooks, Lighting: Moonlight Grip Truck,
Video Director: Dale Roberson Director Asst: Courtland Barker

British singer-songwriter Elmiene has quickly become one of R&B’s most essential new voices. From his breakout 2023 EPs El-Mean & Marking My Time, to a standout performance at the 2025 BET Awards, Elmiene is carving out a lane rooted in soul but reaching for something bigger: timelessness.

(This is just an taste of the article to get the full meal head to [ https://www.yamstheplaylist.com/p/elmiene-is-making-music-that-lasts?utm_source=publication-search ] YAMS Magazine Owns the images and article snippet above)

NME Magazine (Digital) [January 2026]

Elmiene’s sound is featherlight and transcendent. Delicate keys and twangy guitar coax you into easy relaxation, then you hear his voice, one that recalls the spiritual clarity of Sam Cooke and the hypnotising temperament of D’Angelo, that slow-burn intimacy where the ache sits in the spaces between notes. It moves with such natural, divine authority while telling tales about the little moments in life, and you realise that he’s more than just someone who relies on R&B nostalgia.

(This is just an taste of the article to get the full meal head to [https://www.nme.com/the-cover/elmiene-19-01-2026-3923951 ] NME Magazine Owns the images and article snippet above)