Whatever Happened to Music Artist Elle Varner? The Voice Behind “Refill” Who Seemed Destined to Become R&B’s Next Superstar

#NOLAZINE - There was a point in the early 2010s when Elle Varner looked like she was about to become one of the biggest new names in R&B.

Her raspy, distinctive voice immediately separated her from other singers, while songs like “Only Wanna Give It to You,” “I Don’t Care” and especially “Refill” helped introduce a different sound to mainstream R&B.

Then, after the success of her debut album, Varner seemingly disappeared from the mainstream spotlight.

So, whatever happened to Elle Varner?

Music Was in Her Blood

Gabrielle “Elle” Varner grew up around music. Her parents, Mikelyn Roderick and Jimmy Varner, were musicians and songwriters, and both were members of the R&B group By All Means. Growing up around recording sessions gave Elle an early look at the music business.

She eventually attended New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music before landing a record deal with J Records.

In 2011, Varner released her debut single, “Only Wanna Give It to You,” featuring J. Cole. The record reached No. 20 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and gave listeners their first major introduction to her unique voice.

But her next major record would take everything to another level.

“Refill” Changes Everything

In 2012, Elle Varner released “Refill.”

The song sounded different from much of the R&B being played at the time. Varner used the idea of asking for another drink as a metaphor for wanting more of someone's attention, and the record was carried by her unmistakable vocals.

“Refill” eventually reached No. 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and earned Varner a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song.

Her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect, arrived in August 2012 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

The project also included fan favorites like “I Don't Care,” “Not Tonight” and “Leaf.”

Elle Varner had officially arrived.

She had the voice, songwriting ability, personality and a critically acclaimed debut project. It appeared that her second album would push her career even further.

Unfortunately, that album never came.

What Happened to Elle Varner's Second Album?

After Perfectly Imperfect, Varner began working on her sophomore album, 4 Letter Word.

Between 2013 and 2015, she released records including “Don't Wanna Dance,” “F**k It All” and “Birthday,” but the full album continued facing delays.

Eventually, 4 Letter Word was shelved by RCA Records.

For fans, it created a confusing situation.

Elle Varner hadn't suddenly lost her ability to make music. She was still recording and releasing songs, but the major follow-up to her successful debut never arrived.

Varner later described the music industry as a difficult business where artists have to find a balance between their creativity, passion and the business decisions happening around them.

The situation ultimately contributed to a long gap between major projects.

And in an industry where new artists are constantly being introduced, disappearing for several years can completely change the direction of a career.

Elle Varner Goes Independent

Instead of allowing the setback to end her career, Varner eventually took greater control.

She launched her own label, 212 Entertainment, and discussed wanting not only to release her own music but eventually develop other artists as well.

In 2018, she began her comeback with “Loving U Blind.”

Then came “Pour Me” featuring Wale before Varner released Ellevation in 2019.

The nine-song project showed a more mature version of the singer. Instead of simply attempting to recreate “Refill,” Varner experimented with R&B, jazz, hip-hop and soulful acoustic sounds.

More importantly, she was making music with considerably more control over her career.

She Never Stopped Creating

While Elle Varner hasn't maintained the same mainstream visibility she experienced during the Perfectly Imperfect era, she never completely disappeared.

She has continued writing, recording and collaborating with other artists. Her credits have included appearances connected to artists such as Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller, Joey Bada$$ and Rapsody.

In 2023, Varner revealed that she was working on another project called S.E.L.F., an acronym for Some Energy Lasts Forever. She described the project as representing ownership and becoming completely comfortable with who she is creatively.

And she's continued releasing music.

Varner released “Fallin Up” and “Black” in 2024, followed by “Wanderer Revised (Tribute to Jimmy Varner and Rodney James)” in September 2025.

So Elle Varner isn't retired.

She's simply operating in a much different space than she was when “Refill” dominated R&B radio.

Elle Varner Deserved a Bigger Run

Looking back, Elle Varner remains one of the biggest R&B “what if?” stories of the early 2010s.

Perfectly Imperfect showed that she had everything necessary to build a long mainstream career. She could sing, write, play instruments and create records that didn't sound exactly like everybody else.

But label changes, a shelved sophomore album and years between major releases interrupted the momentum she built.

Still, there's something special about an artist whose music can immediately take you back to a particular era.

Play the opening seconds of “Refill” around somebody who listened to R&B in 2012, and there's a good chance they'll immediately know what's coming.

More than a decade later, Elle Varner is still creating music and doing it with greater ownership of her career.

She may not be dominating mainstream radio the way many predicted when she first arrived, but Elle Varner never stopped being an artist.

And for the fans who remember the Perfectly Imperfect era, the question might not be “Whatever happened to Elle Varner?”

It might be:

Why didn't the music industry make Elle Varner an even bigger star?