Ecca Vandal

Ecca Vandal

Ecca Vandal is a Melbourne alt-rock singer and rapper from Louis Trichardt, with South African and Sri Lankan heritage. She grows up in Melbourne after her parents leave South Africa after apartheid in the late 1980s, seeking a stable environment for their daughters. Her work spans alternative rock, easycore, electronic, hip hop and punk rock, and her style draws on a wide range of influences across those genres.

Early musical background

She begins with jazz at an early age before moving into hip hop and the DIY approach of punk rock. Her musical references include Bjork and Miles Davis, as well as Mr Bungle, Fugazi, Deftones and Meshuggah. Her background and influences feed into a sound that combines rock, rap and electronic elements.

Breakthrough and collaborations

Her debut single, White Flag, is co-produced by Ecca Vandal with co-writer and producer Kidnot, who has worked with Trial Kennedy and Joelistics, and with mix engineer and co-producer Hadyn Buxton, whose credits include Blueline Medic and My Echo. The track is the first release from an EP that is scheduled for release in 2015. White Flag receives airplay on triple j and Channel [V].

Style and comparisons

Her sound on White Flag is associated with the energy of Gwen Stefani’s Beacon Street period, while also shifting into the swagger of M.I.A. and Santigold. The track also moves into 1990s post-grunge power and evokes Refused’s Dennis Lyxzén in its climax. Throughout her career, she continues to move between genres and often appears as a guest with leading Australian ensembles.