For Brazilian bassist, producer, and artist Pops Magellan, finding the pocket requires being fully present. After learning to play onstage—often taking gigs without knowing the setlist—she developed an intuitive, groove-first approach that makes every performance feel singular.
"I don’t see music as, ‘I’m playing this chord, I’m going to play that,’" she says. "It’s just this experience I’m going to have in that moment."
Magellan also walks us through the gear behind her sound, including her short-scale Music Man StingRay and a streamlined pedalboard featuring an MXR Bass Synth, Bass Envelope Filter, Phase 90, Darkglass Microtubes Vintage, and octave effects. Together, they let her move between deep funk, subtle grit, and warped psychedelic textures without getting in the way of the groove.
Watch the video above to hear Magellan demonstrate her rig and explain why great bass tone starts with your hands—not your gear.