Ela Minus

Colombian singer-songwriter and producer

Ela Minus

Ela Minus in Mexico, 2021

Background information
Birth name| Gabriela Jimeno Caldas
Also known as| Gabriela Jimeno
Born|  (1990-02-11) 11 February 1990 (age 35)
Bogotá, Colombia
Genres|

* Electronic
* dance pop

Occupations|

* Singer-songwriter
* record producer

Years active| 2015–present
Labels| Domino
Formerly of| Ratón Perez
Website| elaminus.com

Musical artist

Gabriela Jimeno Caldas (born 11 February 1990), professionally known as Ela Minus, is a Colombian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.[1]

## Biography

[edit]

### Early life and education

[edit]

Jimeno was born in the city of Bogotá. From the age of 11 to 18, she was a drummer for Ratón Perez, a local hardcore rock band that toured Colombia.[2][3] Her stint as a drummer allowed Caldas to gain considerable recognition in the national independent music scene.

Jimeno left Colombia at the age of 19 for the United States to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.[4] Moved by the city's nightclub scene, she shifted to electronic music, double majoring in jazz drumming and music synthesis. She continued playing for bands during her studies,[2] and after graduating, she worked on building and designing synthesizers at Critter & Guitari in New York.[5]

### Career

[edit]

Before she began her solo career under the name Ela Minus, Jimeno-Caldas was a prominent drummer for her own projects, playing for bands Balancer and Ratón Perez, and as a hired musician in studio and on tour. She accompanied bands like Austra and Dams of the West as a drummer on a number of tours.[6][7]

In 2015, Jimeno released her first song as a solo artist titled "Jamaica" under the moniker of Ela Minus, an alter ego in which Jimeno writes, records and produces everything herself.[8] The project differentiated itself immediately by the motto of only using analog synthesizers and producing outside of the computer, using computers solely to record audio.[9] Unlike other electronic music acts, Minus started by only playing live shows, refusing to DJ; she quickly gained recognition by playing clubs and festivals around the world exclusively as a live electronic act, with only analog gear with her on stage.

From 2015 onwards, Jimeno released a number of extended plays independently. In 2019, she signed with Domino Recording Company, becoming the first Latin American artist to be signed to the label.[10] On 23 October 2020, Jimeno released her debut studio album, Acts of Rebellion (Domino Recording Company). The LP was conceived entirely on analog machines (synthesizer, drum machine, sequencer, sampler) in Jimeno's home studio in Brooklyn.[11][12][13] The Guardian described the album as "a record that shares messages of self-love and resilience that, embedded in her DIY approach, cut through with real resonance."[14] It was largely praised by critics internationally,[15][16][17] was playlisted on the BBC, and topped Radiónica's charts several times.[18]

In 2021, Jimeno was a resident for BBC1. In July 2021, she performed live at the Chanel Haute Couture Winter 2021/22 show and dinner.[19] Her music has been featured on multiple Chanel campaigns. She has also collaborated with Prada.[20]

In September 2021, Jimeno performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival.[21]

In February 2022, Jimeno began her North American tour and toured with Caribou. In April 2022, she performed at Coachella.[22] Later in June, she played at Primavera Sound.[23] Also that year, Jimeno played at festivals including III Points,[24] Portola Festival,[25] FORMAT,[25] Festival Estereo Picnic,[26] Fauna Otoño,[27] and Sideways Festival.[28]

In May 2023, Jimeno performed at Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California.[29] Later in 2023, on April 15 and 22, she performed again on opening day in Coachella, Indio California along with other industry artists such as Bad Bunny and Harry Styles.

On 17 January 2025, she released her second studio album, Día.[30] It received universal acclaim from critics.[31]

### Personal life

[edit]

Jimeno is based in Brooklyn, New York.[14]

## Style

[edit]

Jimeno's compositions can be categorized mainly as electronic, with her main genres of influence including improvisational jazz and techno. She is musically inspired by Kraftwerk and early Daft Punk.[14] When vocals are included in her music, she sings in both English and Spanish. The majority of her work is done with analog synthesizers and drum machines.[32]

## Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

* Acts of Rebellion (Domino Recording Company, 2020)[12]
* Día (Domino Recording Company, 2025)[33]

EPs

* First Words (self-released, 2015)[34][35]
* Grow (self-released, 2016)[36][37]
* Adapt (self-released, 2017)[38][39]

Singles

* "OK.../So" (2018)[40]
* "they told us it was hard, but they were wrong" (Domino Recording Company, 2020)[41]
* "megapunk" (Domino Recording Company, 2020)[42][43]
* "el cielo no es de nadie" (Domino Recording Company, 2020)[44]
* "dominique" (Domino Recording Company, 2020)[45]
* "Kiss U" featuring DJ Python (Domino Recording Company, 2022)[46]
* "Combat" (Domino Recording Company, 2024)
* "Broken" (Domino Recording Company, 2024)
* "Upwards" (Domino Recording Company, 2024)
* "QQQQ" (Domino Recording Company, 2025)
* "Ghost Orchid" (Domino Recording Company, 2025)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ela Minus nos lleva a un viaje cinematográfico en medio de luces estroboscópicas". Rolling Stone en Español (in Spanish). 15 December 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
2. ^ a b "Ela Minus es la artista colombiana que le hace falta a tu playlist". Vogue (in Mexican Spanish). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
3. ^ de 2022, 17 de Enero. "Jessie Reyez y Ela Minus: las dos colombianas que, junto a Karol G, estarán en Coachella". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. ^ "Ela Minus: de identidad, punk y sintetizadores". GQ (in Mexican Spanish). 30 November 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
5. ^ Brewster, Will (4 November 2020). "Ela Minus dissects the making of her debut album Acts of Rebellion". Mixdown Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
6. ^ González, Jesús (28 September 2021). "Ela Minus: La productora colombiana que le puso el toque latino al techno-pop". Sopitas.com (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2023.
7. ^ "Ela Minus, techno de oscuro desde Colombia". Time Out Ciudad de México (in Mexican Spanish). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
8. ^ "La catarsis creativa de Ela Minus". Chicago Tribune. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
9. ^ V, María Esther Gutiérrez (24 August 2015). "PREMIERE: conoce "Jamaica", el debut musical de Ela Minus". Vice (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2023.
10. ^ "Ela Minus llega a Buenos Aires: "El rock me marcó la forma de ver la vida" - Billboard | Billboard" (in Spanish). 23 March 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
11. ^ "Ela Minus Perfected the Quarantine Album—Two Years Ago | Berklee". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
12. ^ a b "Ela Minus: acts of rebellion". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
13. ^ "Ela Minus Makes Techno-Pop for Everyday Rebellion". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
14. ^ a b c "Ela Minus: Acts of Rebellion review – techno-pop for dancing, thinking and resisting". the Guardian. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
15. ^ Jolley, Ben (20 October 2020). "Ela Minus - 'Acts of Rebellion' review: protest-techno with a DIY punk spirit". NME. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
16. ^ Ela Minus - acts of rebellion Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 24 July 2022
17. ^ "Ela Minus - acts of rebellion". Album of The Year. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
18. ^ ""Acts of rebellion" de Ela Minus: El disco del año". www.radionica.rocks. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
19. ^ Socha, Miles (7 July 2021). "Margaret Qualley Practiced Bouquet Tossing for Chanel". WWD. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
20. ^ Rice, Kyle Lamar (6 December 2022). "Prada Extends Lands in Miami for a Night of Latin-Infused Electronica". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
21. ^ Ela Minus - "megapunk" | Pitchfork Music Festival 2021, retrieved 24 July 2022
22. ^ Gallagher, Alex (15 April 2022). "Coachella 2022: Stage times, line-up, and how to watch". NME. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
23. ^ "Primavera Sound Barcelona: Cartel y horarios de los conciertos del sábado 11 de junio". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 11 June 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
24. ^ Chamber, Miami Beach (30 August 2021). "MIAMI'S III POINTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES TICKETS FOR OCT 22-23 EVENT ARE 99% SOLD-OUT, MORE ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON | Miami Beach Community News#". Retrieved 14 June 2023.
25. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (4 August 2022). "Ela Minus teams with DJ Python for new EP (listen to "Pájaros en Verano")". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
26. ^ Trujillo, Daniela (19 March 2022). "Ela Minus de camino al FEP: el sonido de la transformación". Manifiesta (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2023.
27. ^ "C. Tangana y Caribou lideran el Festival Fauna Otoño 2022". Indie Rocks! (in Spanish). 4 January 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
28. ^ Bretón, Emil Gil (7 April 2018). "Sideways 2022: More Bands Added and Final Line-up – Metalcry.com :: Tu Web de Rock y Metal" (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2023.
29. ^ Jones, Damien (23 January 2023). "Siouxsie Sioux and Iggy Pop lead Cruel World Festival 2023 line-up with other acts including the Human League". NME. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
30. ^ Green, Walden (2 October 2024). "Ela Minus Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song "Broken": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
31. ^ "DÍA by Ela Minus". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
32. ^ "Ela Minus". The New Yorker. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
33. ^ Casillas, Andrew (15 January 2025). "Ela Minus Learned to Call Her Own Bullshit -- and Made Her Most Personal Album Yet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
34. ^ "Ela Minus' "Volcán" Is A Ray Of Synthy Sunshine For Your Winter Troubles". The FADER. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
35. ^ "PREMIERE: Sal a dar un paseo por las nubes con el EP debut de Ela Minus". Vice.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
36. ^ "Dance With Your Eyes Closed With Ela Minus' 'Grow' EP". Remezcla. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
37. ^ "Ela Minus nos dibujó las canciones de su nuevo EP, 'Grow'". Vice.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
38. ^ "Ela Minus Builds Tiny Worlds of Shimmering Pop on 'Adapt' EP". Remezcla. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
39. ^ "'Adapt', lo nuevo de Ela Minus, es un halo de luz en medio de la oscuridad". Vice.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
40. ^ Jolley, Ben (20 April 2020). "Ela Minus: one-woman electronic orchestra making techno-pop to soundtrack a rebellion". NME. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
41. ^ "Ela Minus Makes Domino Debut With Video for New Song". Pitchfork. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
42. ^ "Ela Minus debuts new track "megapunk" | News | Domino". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
43. ^ Ela Minus - "megapunk" | Pitchfork Music Festival 2021, retrieved 21 November 2022
44. ^ practicas (26 August 2020). ""El cielo no es de nadie", lo nuevo de Ela Minus". Indie Rocks! (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 November 2022.
45. ^ "Listen to Ela Minus' New Song "dominique"". Pitchfork. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
46. ^ "Ela Minus & DJ Python Release New Song "Kiss U" | News | Domino". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 21 November 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Ela Minus discography at Discogs
* Ela Minus discography at MusicBrainz