Studio Insights: Ela Minus Have courage to mute!
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.
Beat/You were originally a drummer and multi-instrumentalist, so what sparked your interest in making electronic music?
Ela/ 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.
Beat/Did you get what you wanted from Berklee or was there too much music theory involved?
Ela/ I actually hated it and had a very weird experience. Out of everyone I met on the course I was the only one who graduated because they would get so frustrated and drop out. I was very young and had never studied before, but that was a challenge to me and I have this personality where I like to overcome a challenge, plus I knew if I dropped out I would have to get a job doing something outside of music. The music synthesis course was even more frustrating because it was completely designed for people that wanted to be DJs or produce for other people. I just wanted to learn synthesis.
Beat/You mentioned Kraftwerk who have a very clinical sound, yet found an emotional
