South African R&B singer-songwriter Elaine delivers “Risky,” a standout track taken from her debut EP Elements and produced by Clxrity. The song runs 3:02, and Elaine Mukheli wrote it herself. Clxrity handled the beat, so the two names carry the record from start to finish.
Listeners have been waiting to hear how Elaine follows a project that already did serious numbers. “Risky” answers that with restraint instead of noise. She has said the song speaks to herself, not to a lover, which flips the usual reading of a title like that. It is a note to self about emotions landing at the wrong time.
The groundwork behind it is solid. Clxrity and Elaine attended the same high school, and she recorded the EP at Elyzée’s garage or in his dormitory. She was in law school at Wits then, so sessions fit around lectures.
The results speak plainly. “Risky” reached 3x Platinum in South Africa, while Elements earned a platinum certification. Fellow track “You’re the One” went seven times platinum, and Elements made her the most streamed South African woman artist on Apple Music and Spotify.
So does “Risky” meet the expectation? For anyone who came for the writing, yes. A video followed once she signed with Columbia Records, and it carries a dark tone. There is also a stripped-back Apple Music Home Session version with piano and strings, running 3:54, plus a Vk remix featuring her.
Is “Risky” already in your rotation, or are you still sitting with it? Drop your verdict in the comments below.
