Chandra – Transportation EP’s

Chandra Oppenheim was just twelve years old when her debut EP Transportation, was released in 1980. Encouraged by her father, artist Dennis Oppenheim, she was writing music by the age of nine. In the late 1970s, members of the New York band Model Citizens (later becoming The Dance), including drummer Fred Maher who would later play in Material and Scritti Politti, were looking to start another group and had the idea for project to be fronted by a child. The approached Chandra’s father, who was the arts teacher of one of the members of the band, he agreed, and rehearsals began. By age 12, Chandra was all over the New York underground arts scene regularly playing in clubs like The Mudd Club and Danceteria. While the concept might seem like a gimmick, the songs themselves are far from it and Chandra actually displayed a true talent for songwriting at a young age. “Chandra would blow us away with her lyrics,” Alexander remembered in an interview with The Guardian. “We were always like, ‘Don’t change a thing.’” Pre-pubescent shouted and spoken vocals meet synth zaps, jangly guitars, and pulsating drum machines for a No Wave sound quite unlike any other.