Ecco2k

A founding member of influential Swedish collective Drain Gang, vocalist Ecco2k proved his talents across multimedia, working as one of the group’s core musicians as well as a prominent designer and videographer. His musical style, consolidated on debut album E (2019), was a melding of emotional lyricism, warped yet candid vocal deliveries, and technological, bright soundscapes.
Though born in London, vocalist Zak Arogundade Gaterud spent most of his early years in Stockholm, Sweden, cultivating an early interest in graphic design before launching his own clothing label at just 16. Steps into music began as early as age 11: alongside childhood friend Benjamin Reichwald (aka Bladee), he formed punk duo Krossad while juggling interests in design, video editing, and directorial work. The pair continued to collaborate heavily throughout their teenage years, and eventually formed pioneering Swedish collective Drain Gang (formerly Gravity Boys/GTB Shield Gang) along with Whitearmor and Thaiboy Digital.
Amidst a barrage of multimedia work including merchandising and video production, Ecco began to release music, debuting with a run of 2013 singles including “Bleach,” “Hold Me Down Like Gravity,” and “Mirage.” The vocalist’s early sound was rough yet original, combining distant, hollowed-out vocals with cloudy instrumentals and emotive lyricism. He appeared on seven tracks of Drain Gang’s debut compilation, D&G (2017) amid constant collaboration with Bladee and Thaiboy Digital, before the three issued joint mixtape Trash Island in 2019. As the 2010s progressed, Ecco’s style embraced technological, forward-thinking sounds taking influence from the rising hyper-pop and hyper-rap subgenres. The musician’s full artistic debut, E, arrived later that year. A consolidation of his futuristic new style, the 12-track LP proved Ecco’s most experimental work thus far, bending his candid yet distorted vocals into frosty, computer-generated landscapes. Af ew singles across the early 2020s made way for the PXE EP before he returned with the Bladee collaborative mixtape Crest in early 2022. ~ David Crone