Gabriela Jimeno Caldas, globally recognized as Ela Minus, is a Colombian-born, Brooklyn-based electronic music producer, composer, and performer who has carved out a distinctive space in the global music scene. Known for her analog-only production style and fierce independence, she continues to enchant listeners with raw authenticity and a DIY ethos. Since 2019, Ela Minus has been signed to the prestigious British label Domino Records, home to genre-defining artists.
Early Life and Musical Roots
Born on February 11, 1990, in Bogotá, Colombia, Ela Minus began her music career at just 12 years old as the drummer for the hardcore band Ratón Perez. For over a decade, she earned critical respect in Colombia’s indie scene (Wikipedia). Driven by a hunger for musical growth, she later relocated to the U.S. to study jazz drumming and synthesizer design at Berklee College of Music—a rare double major that set the foundation for her future sound.
Embracing Analog in a Digital World
Ela Minus's music stands apart for its exclusive use of hardware synthesizers and drum machines. She consciously avoids digital production tools, using a computer only to record final takes (Domino Recording Company, Wikipedia). Her 2015 debut single “Jamaica” introduced a minimalist soundscape that would evolve through acclaimed EPs like First Words, Grow, and Adapt.
A Rebellion in Sound
Her debut full-length album, "Acts of Rebellion", released in October 2020, was a vibrant mix of techno pop, protest, and poetry. Produced entirely at home in Brooklyn using analog gear, the album explores themes of self-love, resistance, and community care (Pitchfork, Wikipedia). Publications like The Guardian and Pitchfork praised its timely resonance and DIY power.
“DÍA”: A Journey Inward
In January 2025, Ela Minus returned with her introspective second album, "DÍA", a sonic meditation on personal growth, grief, and resilience. Influenced by the challenges of the pandemic—including losing her studio—tracks like “Broken” reflect a deeper emotional landscape (El País, News Minimalist). She calls the project her way of “Abrir Monte”—a Colombian phrase meaning to clear a path through the unknown (LOUD WOMEN).
Live and Global
Ela Minus has lit up stages at Coachella, Primavera Sound, and Pitchfork Music Festival, and toured Europe with Caribou in 2025. She's also collaborated with high fashion giants Chanel and Prada, bridging the worlds of music and style with poetic ease (Wikipedia).
The Vision Forward
With each analog pulse, Ela Minus reaffirms her artistic mission—to create music that is intimate yet universal, resistant yet hopeful. As she continues to blur boundaries and inspire fans worldwide, she remains a voice for authenticity in a hyper-digital world.
Follow Ela Minus
🌐 Website | 📷 Instagram | 📘 Facebook | 🐦 Twitter | 🎧 Spotify | 🔊 SoundCloud
Written by New York Star Magazine | All rights reserved.
.jpg)
0 Comments