With nearly a decade under her belt, Tamil-Australian multi-hyphenate Ecca Vandal is among the few who, depending on how you look at it, reinvent themself each time they drop or reveal another side not previously known like on her most recent single, “Bleed But Never Die.” First popping up in 2015 and dropping her self-titled debut in 2017, the South Africa-born Melbourne-raised artist lived up to her name by channeling a distinct punk energy that’s just one of many distinguishable traits in her style.
However, she took a hiatus after 2020’s “Rell, the Iron Maiden” to prioritize her mental health, with that single also following a four-year hiatus when her debut album was released. On “Bleed But Never Die,” she confronts the idea of having to endure challenge after challenge, explaining that the song is “about building inner resilience, which feels to me like a pretty important message given the intense state of the world at the moment.”
This post may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.
In true head-banging fashion, “Bleed But Never Die” quickly escalates from the already violent drums at the start, with Ecca’s voice coming straight from her gut. Undoubtedly punk through and through, the track’s structure evokes elements of new wave, where there are moments of high energy and moments when the lyrics are meant to speak for themselves.
“Swing a bat at a bitch again / And show me who’s the tough guy” are just some of the lines that get Ecca’s point across without any confusion, but they also serve as a reminder that her journey from 2015 to now has highs and lows. Luckily for listeners, she knows how to capture her rage and use it as fuel for tracks that have no problem raising a little hell.
It’s only fitting that a song like “Bleed But Never Die” gets an equally chaotic video. Co-directed by Ecca and Richie Buxton, who also co-wrote and co-produced the song, the music video stays true to Ecca’s status as an independent artist while boasting high-quality visuals. Complete with a frenetic pace, in-your-face animation, and an unpredictable series of events, the video perfectly captures what “Bleed But Never Die” preaches while proving that she always has a complete vision for her work.
For someone who started their music career in jazz, only to pivot time after time into uncharted genres that go against any possible expectations, Ecca makes it all look natural. And much like the title of the single, her music is the type that remains a fixture in the indie scene, perhaps the type that will age better than other contemporaries who similarly bend genres but not to the degree that Ecca does.
Words: David Sosa
“Bleed But Never Die” by Ecca Vandal is out now on streaming services. For more on new music and potential shows, follow her on Instagram and her website.
ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
BEST NEW MUSIC
This post may contain affiliate links. Ads and affiliate links are how independent blogs like Grimy Goods can operate. Thank you for supporting our work and being a part of our music community.
