1. Introduction
Zach Arogundaade Gateurd, known by the pseudonym Ecco2k, holds a unique position in the modern music industry. He was born into a creative family; his father is a Nigerian architect, and his mother is a Swedish graphic designer. It was this artistic atmosphere in his family that shaped his multifaceted approach to art. As a key member of the Swedish creative collective «Drain Gang, ” Zach functioned from the project’s inception not only as a musician and vocalist but also as a creative director, graphic designer, stylist, and videomaker. His approach to creation is exceptionally multidisciplinary: the audio and visual presentation in his projects forms a unified creative „ecosystem.“
Album «E» is the artist’s first and currently only full-length solo project. Zako’s work is notable for its aesthetic of «clean» and minimalist sound. It is Album «E» that solidified Ecco2k’s status as a leading innovator in experimental indie electronica, transforming the idea of aesthetic minimalism into a complete musical piece.
In this work, I want to analyze how the aesthetics of audio and visual minimalism function in the album «E, ” and what drives that function.
The decision to choose this specific topic for my work stems from a personal interest in the multifaceted approach to creativity, as well as my impressions of the album’s interesting and novel sound.
2. Album Audio Solutions
The sound in the artist’s compositions can be described as «pure» and «weightless.» The album sounds maximally transparent. The producers and Зак achieve this effect through several simple and straightforward decisions: a low-frequency cut to eliminate the constant hum in the background of the music, the use of bright synthesizers that create a «glassy» sound effect, and the removal of almost all background noises to evoke a feeling that the listener is surrounded by fog or cool air.
Equally important when creating such a musical experience are Zaka’s specific vocal choices.
Ecco2k utilizes high vocals. Almost all vocal parts are performed in falsetto, which creates a feeling of openness and sincerity for the listener. From time to time, the singing shifts from high notes to a whisper or, conversely, a shout, to amplify the impression of vulnerability.
Special attention should also be given to autotune in the album’s audio design. Here, it functions not as a tool to correct pitch errors in vocals, but as a means to create an even more «ethereal» and «transparent» voice. The vocals on the album are also characterized by a long reverb effect—the sounds don’t cut off abruptly but rather fade away gradually, maintaining a sense of «weightlessness.»
3. The Concept Behind the Album’s Key Compositions
The lyrics in «E» directly contrast with its «celestial» sound.
Ecco2k addresses very important and complex themes, such as racism, societal rejection, self-rejection and personal flaws, and the impact of emotional trauma on individuals.
A prime example is the composition «Peroxide.» Here, Zak reflects on his origins. Being half Nigerian and living in Sweden, the artist encountered societal rejection and often felt like an «outsider.» This experience forms the core of the track, as referenced in the lines: «Don’t go 'round him, you might get robbed,» * and «They all stare at me, I don’t care at all.» ***Don’t go near him—you might get robbed. **They all stare at me—I don’t care at all.
Also interesting is the song title, which references peroxides—substances capable of bleaching—and Зак reflects: «No peroxide, I stay dark, ” thereby demonstrating a refusal to change one’s true self due to societal pressure.*No peroxide—I remain dark.
In the composition «Fragile,» Zak explores themes of embodiment and self-rejection. It also describes an obsessive desire to isolate oneself from the world. The title refers to human emotional and physical fragility.
The song «Calcium» serves as a unique confession from the author about harmful dependencies that are destroying him both physically and morally.
4. Visual and Musical Synthesis
The cover is another vivid example within the context of the album «E"'s minimalist aesthetic.
The symbol «℮» is typically used to denote nominal mass or volume on product packaging. This, in turn, creates an atmosphere of sterility and precision that, combined with track titles from the album (some songs are named after chemical substances), evokes pharmaceuticals.
It is also worth mentioning that the cover is devoid of any visual «frills.» Besides the emblem described above at the center of the composition, the designer (who is Zak himself) included only the tracklist and the album release date, which directly correlates with the minimalist style of the music itself, maintaining the effect of «purity» and «transparency.»
The music video for «Peroxide» is essentially a very simple and clear visual piece. The entire film was shot in the middle of the vast open sea, amidst the wind turbines. In the frame, there is only the endless pale sky, the water, and giant white wind turbines slowly turning in the background.
The music video’s composition contains absolutely no warm or bright «acidic» colors. Everything is rendered in cold, almost desaturated tones, which also echoes the song’s title and the substance’s ability to bleach.
