Oxford singer gives shoutout to home city on Brit Awards red carpet
Elmiene, an British-Sudanese singer raised in Oxford, was one of three nominated for the Rising Star Brit Award, and attended the red carpet on Saturday night (March 1) at the O2 Arena in London.
The R&B vocalist spoke of what it was like trying to break into the music scene from his beginnings in the quiet county to reaching global recognition.
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“We’re a very small place,” he told a reporter. “To the point where radio coming out of Abingdon is our claim to fame – which is sick! Abingdon isn’t Oxford so that’s the level we’re at.”
Elmiene, whose full name is Abdala Elamin, received breakout success in 2021 and has since collaborated with artists such as Stormzy and Sampha.
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After three popular EPs, the artist only just lost out to the rising star award to Myles Smith.
He said: “I’ve had a lot of help. I went back and did a show at a pub because our venue options are very low in Oxford.
“But it was beautiful out in Jericho, and the range of people that were there was beautiful.”
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“It was just a fun vibe. It just felt good knowing that home is still there and if I come back, it’ll be us around the piano.”
Asked what must-visit spot he would recommend for people visiting Oxford, the singer skipped the tourist hotspots and made a recommendation as a self-described “kebab connoisseur”.
“McCoy’s Kebab,” he recommended. “It’s a kebab van right after Cornmarket Street, by Christ Church. Best kebab in the world.”
