Known for her work with Artur Menezes, Adam Lambert, Willow, Avril Lavigne, Travis Barker, Larry Braggs (Tower Of Power and The Temptations), Beverley Knight, Naia Izumi, Nik West, Lari Basilio, Nona Hendryx, Ozomatli, and more, bassist Poliana Magalhães, better known as “Pops Magellan,”  has just released her debut single “Misunderstood.” The song is the first effort from her upcoming EP Damage (more on that soon).

Featuring guitars by Artur Menezes, keys and co-production by Taylor Graves, drums by Justin Brown, and vocals by Astyn Turr, the track is centered around the mellow grooves of Magellan. We caught up with Pops to ask her a few questions on the track.

What was your approach to your bass playing on “Misunderstood?”

My goal was to redefine the bass role, driving the melody and adding dynamic layers that keep the listener engaged but not distracted. I wanted the bass to be more than just the backbone but the heart and emotive part of the track, ensuring it didn’t cross the line between a technical approach and maintaining the vibe.

You cop some awesome tones on this. How did you get your bass sound?

I’ve been really into phaser effects lately. I experimented a lot with mixing layers of chords and lines that don’t overlap the vocal line. When the hook comes in, the bass takes over like a melodic wave with a psychedelic touch, filled with resonance that feels like it’s popping out of the song. There is some sadness and beauty to it mixed with chaos. I was inspired by the soundtrack of Poor Things.

How did this first single come about?

The creative process for “Misunderstood” was very organic and a self-exploration of what I can do by myself and when it’s the right moment to call other people in. It began with a bass groove that I wrote during the pandemic and developed into a full arrangement during my isolation in the desert – Joshua Tree last year.

How did you choose your collaborators for this?

The ideas for collaborators happen naturally – I usually start hearing them playing on the track while I’m working on it and when the time comes, I reach out. A few months ago, I reconnected with Taylor Graves at an event and told him about my EP. He added a magic touch with the strings arrangement, electronic drums, keys solo at the end, and structure touch-ups. I met Astyn Turr at a church gig years ago and she has one of the most beautiful voices ever. I also knew Justin Brown would be perfect for the drum section at the end from our previous gigs together.”

Stream the track: Here

Follow Pops: HERE

For more on Pops: Click Here