Ecca Vandal Reimagines Punk With Global Sounds

Ecca Vandal, a South Africa-born and Melbourne-raised artist, has released her second album, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW. This new record is a vibrant fusion of diverse musical styles, including jazz, '90s alt-rock, bhangra, and hip-hop, all filtered through a distinct feminist punk perspective. Vandal's artistic journey has been marked by navigating cultural expectations and incorporating influences from her upbringing and diverse musical discoveries.

The album's creative process involved an isolated and free-wheeling approach, a response to burnout and the impact of COVID-19. Collaborating with producer Richie "kidnot" Buxton, Vandal embraced a more disconnected style, which ultimately enriched her sound. Tracks like "EYES SHUT" confront power structures, while "SORRY! CRASH!" explores loneliness, and "BLEED BUT NEVER DIE" offers a candid perspective on the menstrual cycle.

Vandal's music pushes sonic boundaries, sometimes combining seemingly disparate genres like trap and hardcore, as heard on "CAME HERE FOR THE LOOT." However, these stylistic fusions often result in captivating and unexpected blends, such as the merging of bhangra beats with trip-hop on "THEN THERE'S ONE." The album champions creative freedom and self-expression, embodying punk's ethos of challenging expectations.