Based in London, Valentina Magaletti crafts immersive sonic worlds that challenge and transcend the ordinary. With roots in prog and bebop, Magaletti’s early exposure to diverse drumming styles instilled a lifelong passion for experimentation, a dynamic fusion of traditional and experimental methods that incorporates everything from marimba and vibes to contact microphones and found objects. Her style embraces versatility; Magaletti is just as comfortable conjuring delicate rhythms from a drum kit as she is driving roughshod over pulsating motorik beats. This fluid, exploratory approach has shaped a vast and eclectic discography, filled with collaborations across a wide musical spectrum—Jandek, Thurston Moore, Graham Lewis, Steve Shelley, Deb Googe, Mica Levi, Thighpaulsandra, and Nicolas Jaar are but a sampling of her sonic partnerships.
Focused on the intricate textures of sound, her oft-unusual tools—wire brushes, wooden reeds, and rubber beaters, a ceramic drum kit—evoke otherworldly tones, channelling influences from Dada, Surrealism, and Art Brut. Each new project becomes a fresh narrative, a story told through rhythm and pulse, bypassing the inadequacies of spoken language and reaching the listener through the pure resonance of sound. For Magaletti, drumming is a form of storytelling: one where each beat holds a world of meaning.
LUCHA LIBRE, by Valentina Magaletti
LUCHA LIBRE, by Valentina Magaletti
Valentina is supported by SHAPE+, which is co-funded by the European Union and Pro Helvetia. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
