Brazilian harpist and composer Marina Mello presents Deságua, her solo debut released by the Peruvian label Buh Records. Based in Zurich, Mello has developed a unique and expressive approach to the harp, combining her classical training with a deep exploration of the instrument’s sonic possibilities. Deságua is the result of this process: an intimate and expansive work that traverses sonic landscapes rich in contrast and texture. In the artist’s own words, this album is a synthesis of material developed through her musical practice.
The title refers to the Portuguese word that describes the moment a river flows into the sea. This concept guides the album’s sonic narrative, in which each piece functions as a tributary flowing into an immersive and unexpected listening experience. From bittersweet whale-like sounds to destructive, unsettling, and shattering noise provocations, she explores, senses, and transcends the musical boundaries of her instrument.
Recorded by Beat Keller at Lager Studio (Winterthur, Switzerland) and mastered by Alberto Cendra in Madrid, the album presents a wide range of sounds and styles, yet maintains a strong internal coherence through its technical and conceptual exploration of the harp. Mello performs on both lever and pedal harps, employing a range of non-traditional techniques: preparing the instrument with objects, using guitar effects pedals, detuning the strings, and using close mic recording to capture the subtlest sounds and the shifts that lie between them.
The result is a collection of pieces that move between the melodic and the dissonant. Deságua does not shy away from repetition, noise, or raw textures. Instead, it embraces them fully, situating the album at the crossroads of contemporary music, improvisation, and electronic experimentation.
Deságua is released by Buh Records in digital format and as a limited edition vinyl. The physical edition features graphic design by Chhandak Pradhan, photography by Philip Frowein, and a poetic text by Yana Eva Thönnes. The album was made possible with support from Cassinelli-Vogel-Stiftung, C. und A. Kupper-Stiftung, and Kulturförderung Stadt Zürich.
1. transbordar
2. ponto de vista
3. orbitando I
4. lunatic garden
5. orbitando II
6. caminhos
7. luz
8. chegada
9. roxo
10. dejavú
11. terra vermelha
12. garrafas
13. deságua
