Today we’d like to introduce you to Pops Magellan.
Hi Pops, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m an artist, touring, and session bass player based in Los Angeles. I started playing bass when I was 9 in my family band back in Brazil where I was born and raised. After years of playing in small venues and corporate bands, I became the resident bass player for the TV show “Adnight” on TV Globo in Brazil and performed with some of the greatest Brazilian artists, such as Anitta, Ivete Sangalo.
After moving to Lisbon, Portugal in 2015 where I lived for 5 years, I played with O Teatro Mágico and toured with other local artists. I always knew I should be in the US though. I headed to LA in 2019 to take my career to the next level.
And yes, did things change fast! I started landing gigs with artists like Adam Lambert and Willow. I performed on stages such as Wembley Stadium and The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Royal Albert Hall.
I’m now switching gears to release my debut album in July. After working as a side musician for so long, I feel it’s time to share my vision with the world.
My music ranges from funk, psychedelic, and grunge to R&B and jazz, and Brazilian rhythms. I’ve been producing, songwriting, and playing, and have extremely talented artists collaborating with me. I can’t wait to share more about it!
And it’s not just about the music; I’m also a visual artist, dabbling in collages, fashion, and photography, all of which feed into my creative process.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. It’s been a journey filled with hard work, uncertainty, and struggles. Moving to LA by myself, broken and with very basic English skills, was tough. And it was made even harder by the unexpected loss of my dad just a few days before. Plus, I had to navigate the complexities of obtaining my artist visa all on my own. But despite the challenges, I’m grateful for the lessons. I’ve learned things about the world and myself that I may not have otherwise.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I can groove to different styles, from funk and rock to Brazilian music, R&B, and even Persian music. People often describe my playing as “funky.” Right now, I’m focused on my first solo album, where I’ll share more of my own style and vision with the world.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe that there are no new opportunities if you don’t take risks. Uncertainty is the price you pay if you want to change something in your life. True living happens when we embrace chances and adapt to whatever is new, challenging us to shift our mindset. We’re all here to grow, and it requires effort, tough decisions, pain, gain, joy, and losses—all intertwined. Taking major risks is something I’m familiar with. Growing up in a small city in the countryside of Brazil, where women don’t typically venture beyond societal expectations, I had to think outside of the box and not care about their judgment. I left my hometown, I left my state, I left my country, immigrating twice. Being an artist in our current world demands a constant willingness to change and reevaluate ourselves in a world that moves too fast.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iampops.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polianabass/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polimagalhaesbass/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5X6JS2iOpl_KtxNOq9tvcw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/polianabass
Image Credits
Adel Rabinovich
Leo Gabriels
