Ela Minus

Ela Minus’s debut is inspired by creating simple human interactions with technology. Danny Turner dissects her minimalist approach

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After studying jazz drums and music synthesis at Berklee College of Music, Ela Minus found her dream job when hired by instrument manufacturer Critter & Guitari to test, assemble and design their latest range of synths. Tired of the modern laptop-driven approach to recording and live performing, Ela embarked on a mission to bring back the simplicity and authenticity she felt was missing from electronic music.

Led by her trusty Akai MPC1000, the producer focused on building a toolbox of instruments that could be perfectly replicated on-stage, enabling her to formulate ideas for future recordings while performing live. Her debut album, fittingly titled Acts of Rebellion, embodies Ela’s headstrong ideology and intuitive approach to music-making that conveys genuine emotional resonance.

You were originally a drummer and multi-instrumentalist, so what sparked your interest in making electronic music?

“I got a scholarship to go to Berklee to learn jazz drums and music synthesis and while I was there began thinking I should do something else with my life other than just play drums. I was very much a fan of Radiohead and Kraftwerk and loved electronic music and going to clubs, so I decided I wanted to learn coding and understand how to programme software synths.”