Gig Review: Ela Minus At Oslo Hackney
A masterclass in minimalism and power, Ela Minus turned Oslo into a pulsing, immersive world of sound and movement.
Ela Minus’s show at Oslo in Hackney was a night of spectacle, dance, and fearless self-expression. The Colombian electronic artist, known for her minimal yet impactful synth-driven sound, delivered an intimate yet electrifying performance that kept the crowd locked in from start to finish. At this point in her career, Minus has solidified herself as a cult sensation, and watching her live, it’s easy to see why.
Her setup was deceptively simple: just decks, synths, and a deep understanding of how to command a room. There was no need for elaborate gimmicks. Every sound, every beat, and every flick felt deliberate, as though she were shaping the atmosphere itself. The crowd was with her from the first note, caught up in the infectious, syncopated rhythms that have become her signature. Her music thrives on contrast, soft, breathy vocals laid over the kind of driving bass lines that shake you to your core. And that bass pedal? One of the strongest I’ve experienced in a long time, nearly knocking me off my feet with its sheer force.
Much of the setlist drew from her new album, Día, a fantastic evolution of her sound that still carries echoes of her earlier Acts of Rebellion. These tracks were built to be experienced live, with every detail feeling meticulously crafted for maximum impact. The lighting design elevated the performance even further, deep reds and neon strobes pulsing in sync with the beat, turning the venue into an immersive, almost cinematic space. At moments, the entire experience felt like a roaring engine of colour and sound, with Minus at the controls, sculpting frequencies and bending rhythms with surgical precision. It was effortless yet deeply intentional, as if she was deconstructing electronic music and reassembling it in her own vision.
A major highlight of the night was her performance of Broken, which had the sweeping, anthemic quality of Where the Streets Have No Name, if that track had been run through a filter of underground club euphoria. Another standout was QQQQ, which hit with an elevated, club-like intensity, tapping effortlessly into her Colombian roots. It was a peak moment in the set, a track that felt both deeply personal and universally exhilarating.
Maintaining that level of energy across a set is no easy task, but Minus made it look effortless. Onwards kept the momentum surging, capturing the restless energy of nightlife, those fleeting moments on a dancefloor where time seems to blur and emotions run high. There was something raw about it, something that cut through the layers of posturing and cool detachment that often define club culture.
By the time the night drew to a close, it was clear this wasn’t just a gig. Minus created movement, a space for those who find freedom in sound. Ella Minus didn’t just perform; she invited us into her world. And for one night in Hackney, we were all a part of it.