Pops Magellan (Poliana Magalhães)

Brazilian Bass Virtuoso, Composer, Producer & Solo Artist

Biography

Pops Magellan (Poliana Magalhães) is a Brazilian bassist, composer, and music producer based in Los Angeles, California. Picking up the electric bass at just eight years old in Brazil alongside her musical family, she developed a formidable rhythmic foundation that quickly propelled her into the professional circuit. In Brazil, she notably served as the resident house bassist on Rede Globo's late-night variety show Adnight (hosted by Marcelo Adnet), backing prominent national and international guest acts.

Relocating to the United States, Magellan established herself as an in-demand touring and session powerhouse, collaborating and sharing stages with artists such as Adam Lambert and performing across major television broadcasts and festival circuits. Launching her solo artist identity as Pops Magellan, she stepped into the spotlight as a bandleader, crafting high-energy, bass-driven instrumental projects and live-in-studio showcases that bridge Brazilian grooves, modern funk, rock, and jazz fusion.

Selected Discography & Releases

Solo Works & Singles

Studio A & Live at EastWest Sessions
Dynamic live tracking cuts capturing her full band arrangements, featuring fiery guitar interplay from Artur Menezes and tight groove sections.
Damage
A driving, riff-heavy instrumental anthem balancing hard rock aggression with punchy slap dynamics and walking low-end lines.
Drive Complaining
An upbeat, syncopated fusion track highlighting tight unison riffs, rhythmic breaks, and dynamic fretboard mobility.
Deep Thoughts
A melodic, chordal showcase demonstrating her nuanced touch, harmonic voice-leading, and expressive dynamic control.
Funk Karma
An infectious funk-rock groove rooted in percussive slap-and-pop accents and syncopated Brazilian rhythmic cadence.

Bass Style & Musical Character

Magellan's bass approach treats the four-string and multi-string electric bass as both an immovable rhythmic spine and a lyrical lead voice:

Percussive Slap & Double-Thumb Dynamics: Crisp, articulate thumb attack paired with snappy pops, machine-gun dead notes, and syncopated ghost notes that drive the tempo without overpowering the melody.
Brazilian Rhythm Inflections: Seamlessly integrating traditional Brazilian grooves (samba, baião, maracatu syncopations) into modern American funk-rock and fusion arrangements.
Melodic Chordal Voicings: Utilizing open string drones, upper-register double stops, and tenths to outline harmonic progressions and compose instrumental hooks from the bass up.
Punchy, Articulate Tone: Favors defined midrange growl and tight low-end punch—often relying on vintage and modern Ampeg amplification, Seymour Duncan pickups, and high-spec custom basses that retain string clarity during complex slap runs.

Pops Magellan & Band – Live at Studio A

Four original instrumental tracks blending groove-heavy bass, blues-infused guitar, and funk

Bassist and bandleader Pops Magellan (Poliana Magalhães) and her powerhouse ensemble deliver an electrifying live-in-studio performance at Studio A, running through a four-track set of dynamic original compositions featuring guest guitar virtuoso Artur Menezes.