Don’t even trouble making an attempt to pigeonhole Ecca Vandal. The genre-bending unbiased artist unleashes an power on stage that would safe a spot on the periodic desk. It’s a inventive flurry of punches fusing hip-hop with punk, jazz, digital and a insurgent’s depth. Rock with guts and glory.
With the discharge earlier this 12 months of LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW (through Loma Vista Recordings), her second album, Ecca Vandal has clocked up the airmiles, notched a number of firsts, and introduced that fireplace to new followers across the globe.
In April, a efficiency at Coachella, her first-ever efficiency at a significant U.S. competition. Others have adopted, together with Lollapalooza. Then, in Could, a U.S. TV debut with a efficiency on Jimmy Kimmel Stay, the place Ecca Vandal and her band ripped via “Cruising to Self Soothe,” lifted from that sophomore assortment.
“It was trippy,” she says of her time on Kimmel. “Nonetheless can’t actually imagine it however grateful for the chance and good for ‘Cruising’ to have a second like that.” Vandal offers a shout out to her dwell drummer Dan (Maio) and bass participant/producer Richie (Buxton) “for at all times holding it down, being on this journey with me, and giving me the arrogance to sing and scream my coronary heart out.”
The present summer time run has “been a wonderful sort of chaos,” and has included help spots with Deftones, Limp Bizkit, and slots at Roskilde, Rock am Ring and Pinkpop. “The power is insane,” she tells Billboard. “Swear I’ve thoughts blowing moments on a regular basis, making an attempt new meals, discovering new garments. Simply want I might discover all over the place for longer.”
Primarily based in Melbourne, Australia, and born in South Africa of Sri Lankan heritage, Ecca Vandal dropped her self-titled debut in 2017. Along with her long-percolating followup LP, plaudits got here from Zane Lowe, and Spotify’s worldwide editorial workforce, which anointed her as one of many streaming big’s Artists To Watch 2026. Australia’s Triple J locked-in LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW as its function album of the week.
The journey continues with a run of festivals throughout the UK and Europe. Headline dates kick off Sept. 3 in Milan, Italy, then the present heads to the US and Canada for a month from late September. A nationwide tour of Australia follows in November.
How ought to audiences put together for the Ecca Vandal expertise? “Except for the flashing lights,” she quips, “I’d say come as you might be and be ready to lose your self for a short time. I’ll be bringing all my power so deliver yours too. I like when a present looks like a bit world that solely exists for us for that hour, with everybody simply collectively shedding it.”
UK/EU headlines:
Sept. 3 — Italy, Milan | Santeria Toscana 31Sept. 5 — Germany, Munich | StromSept. 7 — Germany, Cologne | LuxorSept. 8 — Belgium, Brussels | Ancienne BelgiqueSept. 10 — Netherlands, Amsterdam | Melkweg OzSept. 12 — France, Paris | La MaroquinerieSept. 14 — UK, Manchester | Manchester Academy 3Sept. 15 — UK, London | Village Underground
North America headlines:
Sept. 29 — Los Angeles, CA | Teragram BallroomOct. 3 — San Francisco, CA | Rickshaw StopOct. 6 — Seattle, WA | BarbozaOct. 7 — Portland, OR | HoloceneOct. 10 — Denver, CO | Globe HallOct. 15 — Toronto, ON | Longboat HallOct. 17 — New York, NY | Bowery BallroomOct. 21 — Boston, MA | Brighton Music HallOct. 22 — Washington, DC | The AtlantisOct. 24 — Atlanta, GA | The Masquerade (Purgatory)
