Elle Bandita

Foto : Anouk Timmerman

Years ago girls used to pick up a guitar because Jewel, Heather Nova or Hole became famous. Or they would take their very first steps in the electronica-industrial world because of Trent Reznor. Elle Bandita has already shown us that a one-man-show with the right attitude feels like a beat up by Cassius Clay, and now that Bandita has formed a band around her, it's truly overwhelming.

Elle first hit the stages in 2005, when she recorded her first solo EP... Meer »

Foto : Anouk Timmerman

Years ago girls used to pick up a guitar because Jewel, Heather Nova or Hole became famous. Or they would take their very first steps in the electronica-industrial world because of Trent Reznor. Elle Bandita has already shown us that a one-man-show with the right attitude feels like a beat up by Cassius Clay, and now that Bandita has formed a band around her, it's truly overwhelming.

Elle first hit the stages in 2005, when she recorded her first solo EP "Love Juice". She toured throughout The Netherlands and European mainland for about 3 years with nothing more than a 4 track tape recorder and a Flying V guitar. After a while she got tired of the lo-fi songs and shows, and decided that she wanted to do something different. So for a couple of years she played lead guitar in all-girl rock band "The Riplets" (R.I.P), but that wasn't enough for her. The way Elle combines musical influences such as Electro, Punk, Metal and Pop was clearly considered too dangerous for the average rock crowd, so she kept writing songs for her solo project on the side.
She soon went to record her own new songs, the result of which can be heard on debut album "Queen of Fools", released on PIAS records in February 2009. She quickly became more ambitious than ever and wanted to use acoustic drums and a real bass on stage, instead of just a synthesizer. It was undoubtedly time for a full band. Her band is comprised of members Elle -Vocals & Guitar, Prince Vince on Guitar, Menno Mono on Bass, Micha on drums and Jesse on Keys, Samples & Guitar.

Allthough the act hails from Rotterdam, Netherlands, the name Elle Bandita is half French and half Spanish and has multiple meanings. It stands for She-The Band, and can also mean She-The Rebel. Elle Bandita's music draws from many different genres of music. She sites some of her music influences as the 90's grunge bands such as Nirvana and Sonic Youth, and also punk bands such as The Ramones and The Dead Kennedys. For the latest record, she even drew from some of the musical influences that she grew up listening to such as Iron Maidon, Rod Stewart, and even Elton John. Elle Bandita has the ability to take a bit of everything and still make it her own, regardless of any "musical borders". Expect crazy guitar solos, uncompromising beats, wild vocals and some renewing and determined electronic hardrock! « Minder