Eloi Muhoranimana, prevalently known as Eloi El didn’t only promise to take his music to the international scene, but also, portray distinctiveness and fascination through his vocals and a blend of instrumentals, and styles.
This is observed in his new Extended Play (EP), 'Stick Together' that was released today. According to the songbird, this is an emotional EP that comprises of three songs that he started working on in April.
The EP with songs such as ‘Ecstasy’, ‘Wherever You Go’ and ‘Stick Together’ combines chill house and pop-laden melodies, encompassed by soft vocals and romantic lyrics.
So far, this is his second EP, and all three songs were written, directed, and produced by Muhoranimana.
Track single, ‘Stick Together’ was released on October 14, followed by ‘Wherever You Go’ on November 4, while Ecstasy was dropped at midnight.
In a dialogue with the vocalist, he highlights that he has always wanted to deliver music that portrays different sides of his life, and the uniqueness of this specific EP, is that he has finally been able to create a body of work that symbolises a vision he has for long kept on his heart ever since he instigated a career in music.
"I used to feel limited about the kind of music I longed to create, but while making this EP, I felt free to create what I wanted. It has allowed me to connect with new people and eventually deliver music that will generate memories and new worlds for listeners.
The songwriter stresses that this EP means so much to him and has opened his veiled ideas, he looks forward to receiving feedback from listeners when they view a new side of him, after listening to the songs.
Muhoranimana explains that the EP has been a whole new experience and a bit challenging in composition. When producing the track ‘Stick Together’, he used a unique structure of arranging instruments and vocals which provided the track with a peculiar vibe.
He was reinvigorated by the positive feedback from the few people who first listened to the track. It seems the youngster isn’t relaxed yet, as he is busy crafting something new.
"I am now working with Palm Tree Records, Kygo’s joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, and planning to collaborate with diverse artists and EDM producers from all over the world,” he emphasises.
He also anticipates starting live shows. When asked to comment on how local music should be pushed beyond borders, Muhoranimana highlights that local artistes shouldn’t limit themselves when it comes to making different genres of music.
Muhoranimana believes that musicians have so much potential once they leave their comfort zone.
Who is Eloi Muhoranimana?
He is an electronic producer born and raised in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. He is part of a harmonious family led by his father, a well-known guitarist who honed through genres comprising rumba and Afro-Jazz.
Having a small family recording studio allowed El and his siblings to learn and play music, and at the age of 13, he was playing a guitar and singing in Kinyarwanda, and also performing live.
Though Eloi was determined to take hip-hop to the next level as he was intrigued by the genre, this all changed in 2018, when he heard Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, aka Kygo, a Norwegian megastar producer and Dj, who inspired him to convey his efforts from hip-hop and afrobeat productions to a style of dance music similar to the Norwegian powerhouse’s.
Eloi enhanced his skills via YouTube tutorials on the tropical house, deep house, and chill house production. Though the genres hadn’t been known in Rwanda yet, this prompted him to go worldwide.
He released his debut song, "Frozen,” via the Latvian label ‘Day Dose of House’ in 2020, and, after trying to get 25 of his tracks out via a collection of worldwide streams, he transformed into the most streamed Spotify artist in Rwanda.
The songster never looked back, and luckily, in 2021, Kygo’s Palm Tree Records got in touch, asking if he had unreleased music.
He sent some of his tracks and after a week, he was contracted to the label founded by his star.