GENRE VANDAL

“There’s no live drums on the record at all. It’s all programmed. Some drummers are like, ‘How many arms does that guy have?”

Ecca Vandal doesn’t really fit in, and she’s okay with that. Disappointing her Sri Lankan family by pursuing a career in music mostly absolved her of any need to people please. “Coming from a Sri Lankan background, the career markers of success are very different for that culture,” she explained. “Pursuing a creative career is not an option.” Besides, she was already on the fast track into the financial sector, having accepted a scholarship to study business at Monash University.

Doing music full-time had never crossed Ecca’s mind until her high school music teacher brought it up. Once it was tabled, she couldn’t shake the thought, so she applied to study at VCA on the sly. “I did the audition in secret, and got accepted,” recounted Ecca. “I broke the news to my parents, and they took it horribly. They’re still trying to accept it. I had to accept I’d be a disappointment for a long time. Let’s face it, there’s not a secure career in music.”

ALL THAT JAZZ

Ecca’s background is primarily in jazz, but