Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Afternoon

25/04/2025

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Afternoon The duo's debut album, Spaces, recorded live without edits or overdubs, is a testament to risk-taking, real-time connection, and crossing musical boundaries.

By

Tara Bellucci

April 25, 2025

Francisco Mela and Kim Perlak performing in January 2025

Image by Bryan Lasky

Collaboration is a constant on Berklees campus, and it doesnt stop with students. Spaces, an album by Kim Perlak, chair of the Guitar Department, and Francisco Mela, associate professor of percussion, is out April 25.

Spaces was recorded live face-to-face in one afternoon as single takes without edits, and is comprised of four three-movement suites, each one conjuring a vivid portrait of the natural environment. These blossom into intimate duo pieces with the addition of Mela's improvised percussion. The final piece, Squam Suite, is a wholly improvised work, revealing the chemistry discovered by Perlak and Mela in a short time.

The two faculty members first performed together in 2022 as part of a tribute to guitarist and educator Mick Goodrick. Shortly after, Mela approached Perlak about playing her music. I have so much respect and admiration for Mela, Perlak said. I didnt even think about it-I immediately said yes. He made me feel so comfortable and natural about it that I forgot to be nervous.

Francisco Mela and Kim Perlak

Courtesy of the artists

While they might seem an odd musical pairing-Perlak comes from a classical guitar background and Mela is known for improvisational jazz percussion-the result is magical. Francisco Mela and I are of different generations, different backgrounds, from different countries. We play two styles that are often seen as opposing. . . . There wasn't one person on the floor of either of our departments that wasn't completely surprised that we were forming a duo! Perlak said. This project would never have come about if we didn't care about one another.

She hopes that Spaces inspires others to take a risk and create something outside their comfort zone with someone who might be of a different genre or style. The power of personal connection, she said, is even more important in the digital age of solitude and separation.

Mela and I create space for each other and then we find space in the music, she said. Playing together has been a freeing experience. Each time we get together, its almost like weve started to communicate even before we start to play. The moment we see each other, we instantly enter a listening mode.

The Berklee connection doesnt stop at Mela and Perlak. Randy Roos '78, a Latin Grammy-winning engineer and faculty member, created a custom set up in his New Hampshire studio to allow for this through-composed, real-time collaboration, with the engineer situated in the room with the performers. This rare type of recording allows the artists and the engineer to communicate fully, and puts the listener in the center of the ensemble. Though its possible improvised, single-take albums may become more popular; Andr 3000s 2023 project New Blue Sun topped Billboards New Age chart in its first week.

Inspired by nature, Lake, Stream, and Riverwalk were originally solo guitar pieces composed by Perlak. Lake was written during a family vacation in a waterfront cottage in central Massachusetts, while Stream makes reference to an actual stream flowing trough the Berkshires as well as the stream of consciousness that wends from the water into the composer's imagination. Riverwalk was Perlak's first-ever composition, sparked by regular strolls along the Charles River. Squam Suite was spontaneously co-composed and inspired by the lake view outside Roos recording studio.

Space is a natural theme in Spaces-both in the music and improvisational style, but also in the way the recording makes space for each artist, the engineer, and the listener to come together. It brings the audience out of their daily lives and into the experience, Perlak said.

I also think it serves as a symbol to students to make space for one another in many different ways, she said. I can't think of a better reflection of Berklees values than that!

Listen to Spaces below:

Related Categories

News

Most Popular

Toto in the recording studio from Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary.

Photograph by Jim Hagopian/HBO

The Best Music Documentaries on Every Streaming Platform Explore groundbreaking music documentaries streaming across Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. From intimate artist portraits to legendary concert films, discover the stories behind your favorite artists and iconic moments.

Latest

Berklee Online CEO and Cofounder Debbie Cavalier (left) and the Dominican Republic's Minister of Culture Roberto ngel Salcedo (right) shook hands after signing an articulation transfer agreement at Berklee's Boston campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Image by Matthew Ryu

Berklee Online Signs Transfer Articulation with Conservatorio Nacional de M sica The new agreement allows CNM students in the Dominican Republic to transfer into an online bachelor's degree program through Berklee.

Park National will be the first band to tour Europe with the Berklee Popular Music Institute this May.

Asher Thomas

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the European live music market.

Grigori Balasanyan BM '25, composition.

Image courtesy of the artist

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his operas premiere and the documentary being made about it, as well as his plans to continue his education at Boston Conservatory.

Read All

S
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/kim-perlak-francisco-mela-alb...
See more stories from berklee

North America Stories

14/05/2025

Optimum Launches New Bundle Offering with Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic

NEW YORK In another example of how pay TV operators are looking to strengthen their bundled offerings by adding streaming services, Altice USA's Optimum has...

14/05/2025

Parks: U.S. Ad-Supported SVOD Subscriptions to Top 278M by 2029

DALLAS Ad-supported subscription-based streaming services will increase in popularity over the next four years, reaching 278 million viewers by 2029 according t...

14/05/2025

Indie Crusade Epic Explores the Apocalypse with URSA Mini Pro 12K

Indie Crusade Epic Explores the Apocalypse with URSA Mini Pro 12K Brie Clayton May 14, 2025 0 Comments Blackmagic RAW, DaVinci Resolve Studio and Fusi...

14/05/2025

Q&A: Inside The Philadelphia Orchestra's Video Workflow With EVO

Q&A: Inside The Philadelphia Orchestra's Video Workflow With EVO Melanie Ciotti May 14, 2025 0 Comments Above image: The Philadelphia Orchestra ce...

14/05/2025

How Wheatstone Is Coping With Tariff Uncertainties

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand Radio World....

14/05/2025

KBTC Public TV Launches ATSC 3.0 Virtual Channel KBTC-VC

TACOMA, Wash. Seattle public broadcaster KBTC Public Television has launched KBTC-VC, a new virtual ATSC 3.0 channel, broadcasting on virtual channel 28-11. Th...

14/05/2025

FCC Opens Review of EchoStar's 5G, Satellite Spectrum

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission is moving to investigate certain 5G and satellite spectrum held by EchoStar and its satellite-TV subsidiary, Di...

14/05/2025

Disney Unveils Name, Pricing for ESPN DTC App

In an announcement that is likely to widely reverberate through the pay TV industry through the rest of 2025 and beyond, The Walt Disney Co. has unveiled import...

14/05/2025

NAB Announces 2025 Board Election Results

WASHINGTON The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the results of the 2025 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections. The two-y...

14/05/2025

Arabsat Launches New Cloud-Based Playout Services Using Grass Valley's AMPP

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia & MONTREAL Arabsat, a global satellite operator and the primary provider of satellite services across the Arab world, has announced that it...

14/05/2025

Tegna Expands Indiana Fever Games to 11 More Markets

TYSONS, Va., and INDIANAPOLIS Tegna and the Indiana Fever said broadcast stations in 11 additional Midwest markets will join WTHR Indianapolis in airing 18 of t...

14/05/2025

Hiring Shorts Video Editor for YT and TikTok videos - Longterm, Remote

Hiring Shorts Video Editor for YT and TikTok videos - Longterm, Remote Brie Clayton May 13, 2025 0 Comments Hiring Shorts Video Editor for YT and TikT...

14/05/2025

Visa Makes Payments Personalized and Secure With AI

Think tap to pay - but smarter and safer. Visa is tapping into AI to enhance services for its global network of customers, focused on fraud prevention, personal...

14/05/2025

Press Play on Don Diablo's Music Video - Created With NVIDIA RTX-Powered Generative AI

Electronic music icon Don Diablo is known for pushing the boundaries of music, v...

14/05/2025

May 13, 2025

Genome of near-extinct northern white rhino offers hope for reviving the species Breakthrough from Scripps Research, San Diego Zoo, Max Planck Institute and oth...

13/05/2025

L3Harris Unfurlable Mesh Reflector Successfully Deploys on ESA's Biomass Satellite

L3Harris reflectors are known for their performance and reliability. They featur...

13/05/2025

L3Harris Teams with Trident Solutions Group and HDT Global to Develop New Enhanced Robotic Payloads

L3Harris is supporting the development of a dual-arm, high-dexterity manipulatio...

13/05/2025

Berklee Artists Take Center Stage at Top Music Festivals

Berklee Artists Take Center Stage at Top Music Festivals Thanks to the Berklee Popular Music Institute, students will perform at Lollapalooza, Governors Ball,...

13/05/2025

Registration Is Open for IBC2025

LONDON IBC2025 is now open for registration, with the global media, entertainment and technology community set to gather at the RAI Amsterdam September 12 to 1...

13/05/2025

NBCU Outlines Peacock's NBA Streaming Plans

NEW YORK NBCUniversal at its upfront presentation laid outplans for new product features coming to Peacock for its NBA coverage, promising an unprecedented lev...

13/05/2025

Optimum Launches New Buddle Offering with Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic

NEW YORK In another example of how pay TV operators are looking to strengthen their bundled offerings by adding streaming services, Altice USA's Optimum has...

13/05/2025

Bolin Technology Announces Partnership with DigiBox

Bolin Technology, producers of professional PTZ cameras and AV over IP solutions today announced a new distribution partnership with DigiBox in the UK and Irela...

13/05/2025

Top LATAM Pay TV operator Zapping Sports Ecuador invests...

Leading South American internet subscription TV service provider Zapping Sports Ecuador has invested in a PlayBox Neo Channel-in-a-Box HD server to power its su...

13/05/2025

World-First in Digital Education as Encompass Connects UK...

Pioneering DRM-based Solution Delivers Interactive Learning to Schools Without Internet Access Encompass Digital Media has announced the completion of the worl...

13/05/2025

Techex and TAG Video Systems Partner to Transform IP Broa...

Techex, the UK-based expert in live video solutions over IP and cloud, will showcase its latest advances in software-defined broadcast technology at the Media P...

13/05/2025

Alfalite to showcase advanced LED solutions for Virtual P...

Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, will participate in CABSAT 2025 (May 13 15, Dubai World Trade Centre) to present its latest innovations...

13/05/2025

BroadcastAsia 2025 - Leader to present groundbreaking LPX...

Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics, will showcase its LPX500 Quad-input Waveform Monitor, featuring 100G-IP and 12G-SDI toolsets, at BroadcastAsia...

13/05/2025

Larry Jordan Meets With Sam Bogoch of Axle.ai to Talk About the Power of AI Powered MAM

Larry Jordan Meets With Sam Bogoch of Axle.ai to Talk About the Power of AI Powe...

13/05/2025

Introducing Browser Access for WO Automation for Radio: Record Remote Voice Tracks Anytime, Anywhere

More than ever, radio stations today are challenged to provide the best experien...

13/05/2025

ESPN Officially Unveils Name, Pricing Details for New DTC Streaming Service

ESPN Officially Unveils Name, Pricing Details for New DTC Streaming Service Dubbed simply ESPN, the service will debut this fall at $29.99/month By Jason Dachm...

13/05/2025

The Late Mike Bilbow, Former University of Georgia Administrator, Named 2025 Recipient of SVG College Pioneer Award

The Late Mike Bilbow, Former University of Georgia Administrator, Named 2025 Rec...

13/05/2025

SVG College Sports Media Awards: 2025 Finalists Unveiled; The American's Maria Trivelpiece to Host Ceremony on May 28

SVG College Sports Media Awards: 2025 Finalists Unveiled; The American's Mar...

13/05/2025

Made in California: How Forever' Embraced the City of Los Angeles From Production to Premiere

Back to All News Made in California: How Forever' Embraced the City of Los...

13/05/2025

Breaking Ground on Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth, Our State-of-the-Art Production Facility in New Jersey

Back to All News Breaking Ground on Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth, Our State-of...

13/05/2025

NVIDIA Partners Showcase Cutting-Edge Robotic and Industrial AI Solutions at Automate 2025

As the manufacturing industry faces challenges - such as labor shortages, reshor...

13/05/2025

How Reasoning AI Agents Transform High-Stakes Decision Making

Editor's note: This post is part of the AI On blog series, which explores the latest techniques and real-world applications of agentic AI, chatbots and copi...

12/05/2025

Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2025 by Cinpolis Announces the Official Program for the Second Edition

The Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2025 program is composed of 15 feature films an...

12/05/2025

IAB and MRC Release Attention Measurement Guidelines for Public Comment

NEW YORK In an important step towards creating a unified framework for measurement and reporting of attention to media, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)...

12/05/2025

Fox's New DTC Streaming Service Gets a Name

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES Fox Corp. said it will call its direct-to-consumer streaming service Fox One....

12/05/2025

OWC Launches My OWC App to Further Streamline Setup, Support, and Ownership Experience

OWC Launches My OWC App to Further Streamline Setup, Support, and Ownership Expe...

12/05/2025

NUGEN Audio Unveils DialogCheck Speech Intelligibility Software

NUGEN Audio Unveils DialogCheck Speech Intelligibility Software Brie Clayton May 12, 2025 0 Comments Latest Plug-in Identifies Poor Dialog Clarity NU...

12/05/2025

Building a Home Recording Studio? Here's What You Need.

Building a Home Recording Studio? Here's What You Need. Experts break down the home studio setup and share tips to create a pro-level recording space on a...

12/05/2025

DHD to Showcase its Advanced Digital Audio Production Equ...

Following a successful mid-April NAB Show in Las Vegas, DHD will promote examples from its wide range of digital audio content creation products at the upcoming...

12/05/2025

DP David McFarland Illuminates Netflix Testament with Ast...

With a body of international award-winning and premier festival-showing films, American Cinematographer David McFarland ( 12 Mighty Orphans , Mafak , The Ball...

12/05/2025

Unlock Creative Flexibility with Shorts, Loops, and Stems in PremiumBeat Tracks

Unlock Creative Flexibility with Shorts, Loops, and Stems in PremiumBeat Tracks Brie Clayton May 12, 2025 0 Comments PremiumBeat's studio-quality ...

12/05/2025

Cobalt Scores a Trifecta of Awards at NAB 2025

Cobalt Scores a Trifecta of Awards at NAB 2025 May 12, 2025 Cobalt Scores a Trifecta of Awards at NAB 2025 Company adds another Best of Show and two Product o...

12/05/2025

NVIDIA Scores COMPUTEX Best Choice Awards

NVIDIA today received multiple accolades at COMPUTEX's Best Choice Awards, in recognition of innovation across the company. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU...

12/05/2025

TRIBECA X Announces 2025 Speaker Lineup And Official Award Selections

May 12th, 2025 Press Materials Available Here TRIBECA X Announces 2025 Speaker Lineup And Official Award Selections Bryan Cranston, Paris Hilton, Lena Waithe...

12/05/2025

Food, Sports, Adventure and Relationship Content Drive 61 Percent Share For Warner Bros. Discovery's US Networks on Sunday, May 4

Food, Sports, Adventure and Relationship Content Drive 61 Percent Share For Warn...

12/05/2025

Perfect Partners: Kicking off World Sevens Football's Goals for Its First Broadcast with Media Partner DAZN

Perfect partners: Kicking off World Sevens Football's goals for its first br...