In November 2018, a 15-year-old girl named Helena stood at the Münchner Stachus, singing songs by AnnenMayKantereit with an acoustic guitar. Having just graduated from Realschule, she found herself at a crossroads. Her plans for an apprenticeship at HieberLindberg Musicstore had fallen through, and she desperately needed a new direction—or at the very least, some money. In a Hollywood movie, this would be the moment when someone would stop in the snow and offer her a chance to record a demo. That demo would make its way to a music foundation, where a woman, inspired by Helena’s raw talent, would abandon her original plans and instead offer Helena a scholarship to the Jazz School. Helena would eagerly accept, finally getting the chance to study what she had always dreamed of: playing the drums.
Five years have passed since that pivotal moment. Helena has completed her studies at the Jazz School and is now a certified ensemble leader. She plays drums for emerging artists and has spent six months traveling through Europe as a street musician. Under the stage name “VANDALISBIN” (a combination of vandalism and lesbian), she writes songs that explore the complex intersections of queer sexuality, love, violence, and self-empowerment. Her music is a reflection of her tumultuous life, like a vivid shadow play illuminated by the dim lights of an obscure club.
VANDALISBIN’s newest single, “Bottle of Wisdom,” delves into the profound question of self-acceptance. It asks whether we would choose to be a different, more perfect version of ourselves or whether we can embrace our flaws, addictions, and emotional lows. The song is a unique fusion of grunge, soul, and melancholy—a combination that is rare but immediately recognizable in Vandalisbin’s music. It possesses the urgency and catchiness of soul, coupled with the raw, unpolished edge of grunge.
Listening to the first chorus of “Bottle of Wisdom” evokes a sense of nostalgia, as if the song has always been a part of your life, perhaps from a mixtape from the 90s, 00s, or 10s. Vandalisbin, now 21, skillfully juggles her influences, from Nirvana to Arlo Parks to TonSteineScherben, seamlessly blending them into her own unique sound. Her ability to translate her perspectives on complex issues into poetic lyrics is remarkable, as is her knack for conveying deep emotions. She guides listeners through the song’s emotional peaks and valleys with such finesse that you’ll find yourself wanting to hit replay as soon as it ends.
VANDALISBIN is not just a musician; she is a storyteller, a poet, and a conduit for powerful emotions. Her music invites listeners into her world, a world where the raw and the refined coexist, where every note tells a story, and where every beat pulses with the rhythm of her life’s journey.