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Trending in Nicole Elocin’s World
Latest Single
Thanda Mina
Released Feb 13, 2026
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Quick Facts
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South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Nicole Elocin (born Nicole Chigariro) is a preeminent South African vocalist and songwriter who has significantly influenced the Amapiano genre by infusing it with a soulful, R&B-inspired vocal style. Born in the Eastern Cape, she spent five years in Grahamstown before moving to Johannesburg in 2011. Her musical journey began early, joining church and school choirs at age 11, where she first honed her distinctively smooth vocal delivery.
Her professional breakthrough arrived in 2020 at the age of 20 with the release of the collaborative project Money Heist alongside producer Tyler ICU. The project became an instant classic, largely due to her viral rendition of the Italian anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao," which featured heavyweights DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. This success established her as a pivotal figure in the Amapiano movement, often referred to as "New Money Gang's champion of vulnerability" for her ability to bring emotional depth to dance music.
Following her debut, she solidified her presence with the 2022 collaborative album Trinity, a joint effort with Nia Pearl and Bontle Smith and her first solo EP, Emoyeni. Her discography also includes significant collaborations with diverse artists such as Blxckie on "Become One" and Mas Musiq on "Lovely".
In 2025 and 2026, she continued to evolve her sound, recently releasing the highly anticipated solo project A Symphony, which features singles like "Ixesha" and "Khanye". Now recognized as a veteran of the scene, she remains a sought-after collaborator, recently appearing on tracks like "Nawe" and "Nkosi'ngsize". Her consistent output and unique "Piano R&B" approach have made her a defining voice of the 2020s South African music landscape.