Colombian-born, Brooklyn-based electronic musician Ela Minus announced her signing to famous London label Domino back in April with a foggy club track titled “they told us it was hard, but they were wrong,” which has now received the remix treatment by Fort Romeau, DJ Python, and Buttechno on a limited edition 12.” Now, she dials up her rebellious nature and releases “megapunk,” a powerful techno anthem fit for 2020.
“megapunk” is a grittier sister to her previous single, with an aesthetic common thread running through both of them. The incessant beat and filtered Eurotrance-adjacent bassline get our blood pumping right from the start, especially when paired up with the song’s stroboscopic visualizer featuring her now signature black, white, and hot pink palette.
Ela Minus calls us to get off our screens and out to the streets to fight for our rights. In an ethereal, but firm voice, she sings, “We can’t seem to find any peace of mind/As much as we try, there’s no way out but fight,” making us feel unstoppable.
“When I wrote this song last year, I was worried it would lose context if not released immediately,” she says on a press release. “I could not have been more wrong. This is the perfect time to put this out. We have to keep going. Ánimo y fuerza.”
While this is an undeniable techno jam, its message reflects Ela Minus’ punk spirit, as she used to drum in hardcore band Ratón Pérez back in Bogota when she was only 12 years old and grew up in the middle of the local DIY scene. But anyone who is concerned about the current sociopolitical climate worldwide and who care about basic human rights can resonate with the lyrics.