For the past couple of years, we’ve been captivated by the work of Maŕa, an experimental artist based in Brooklyn, New York. From her poetic, all original New Brvtalism mix to some great releases on Always Human Tapes, Nocturnal Frequencies, Never a Land Without People, musically, she is always evolving her sound and introducing new elements to her repertoire. Recently, her track “Rebellion” appeared on the Rrose and Silent Servant curated Air Texture various artists compilation, a series that has gained a strong reputation for its content and presentation. Maŕa also operates New York-based collective Cultivated Sound, which has been throwing events, radio shows and more since 2015. If that wasn’t enough, there is still a whole other side to the artist. In addition to her production, DJ and promotion work she is also the founder and designer of Maŕa Peralta Studio, a striking independent jewelry and accessories line which focuses on ready-made and stainless steel materials. With the recent release of both Air Texture and the studio’s first collection, we thought it would be a great time to speak with the artist about her universe. For your listening pleasure, we also present “Rebellion” a beautiful, sweeping composition of electronics highlighted by Maŕa’s haunting vocals and conveys a powerful story about breaking through. (see below)

The Brvtalist: You started Cultivated Sound in 2014 and it's become a well-respected platform, event series and artist collective in New York. How would you say the project has changed or evolved since it began?

Maŕa: In 2015 we had our first party at Bossa with Lqqk Studio, Umfang, Masahiro Ueda and residents and my main focus from the start was to curate parties with interesting music that I and my friends connect too. I find that party still stimulating to me today.

Cultivated Sound has been throwing parties in Brooklyn since 2015, our roots in techno were the foundation as our focus on forward-thinking club experiences linking music, fashion, art, and video. We revealed new perspectives on established artists & those breaking through to promote a unique vision of what dance music and club culture can be. Cultivated Sound existed to inspire audiences and build towards the shared flourishing of the music scene at home and abroad.

Now, Cultivated Sound is a hybrid between a collective and label in Brooklyn, New York. We will continue to focus on showcasing artists locally and internationally since our mission is constantly evolving, we strive to integrate programs with collaborators and residents. To cultivate music as sound and introduce new music breaking genres.

Our aim is to facilitate cross-cultural, multi-vocal dialogue creating opportunities for future collaboration and provide a supportive, inspiring environment for new experiences within the vibrant musical environments of the New York underground music scene.

Last year we have re-evaluated and focused on dedicated our time to introduce to the world our mix and features which includes an interview with the artist and an in-depth dive to who the artist is and what they will do next, as well as recently released a three tape compilation and now we are working on our first album as we prepare to for our first residency in Budapest.

TB: You are also an active producer and DJ with releases on Always Human Tapes, Nocturnal Frequencies among others. What about your sound in particular? Have you changed anything about your production methods, sound or anything else since you began producing as Maŕa?

Maŕa: Great question, When I began producing in 2014 I was working a lot with Abelton figuring out the program and hinting with vocals. I think using only equipment or programs is very linear. So I began to fall into an imaginary place which allowed me to experiment with my vocals and poetry, I was in competition choir for about 8 years and I had a vocal coach for about 2-3 years in high school. The last three years have been very important to my growth as an artist as I have broken through my insecurities and pushed my vocals, continued to learn piano and improvise with my electric guitar. My tracks are very dynamic, I like to play a lot with drums, percussion, synths, piano chords, and vocals. Creating tracks live and then reworking them. I would say poetry is the core creative source of my production.

TB: Your latest release is a great track called "Rebellion" on the new Air Texture compilation. Tell us a little bit about the release in general, how you came to be a part of it and your track on the comp.

Maŕa: Air Texture Compilation VII is a compilation curated by Silent Servant and Rrose featuring artists like Laurel Halo, Maggi Payne, Lucrecia Dalt, Ron Morelli, Luke Slater, Phase Fatale, Octo Octa. This compilation is very special because it focuses on where the roots of techno started and now has reflected and changed the dance music culture today.

Well after I made the mix for The Brvtalist with all my original compositions, Silent Servant reached out to me and complimented my curation, then we stayed in touch. He believed in my progression and music. The day heading back from Sustain Release 2018, he invited me to be on this compilation. It's great to have friends supporting you but also challenging you at the same time, I learned a lot from making this track on this project. I feel honored to be on a compilation with so many pioneers and amazing artists.

TB: In addition to music you also launched a jewelry and accessories line called Maŕa Peralta Studio. What inspired the launch of the line? Do you have a background in fashion/jewelry in addition to music?

Maŕa: Since curating events and DJing I have always been interested in designing and reworking pieces from thrifting. Three years ago I started making clear vinyl satchels for a purely functional purpose. I was experimenting with metal, then started making chains and really enjoyed doing it. Metal is one of my mediums, I love the way it makes me feel, strong and powerful. I wear my pieces to raves and gigs then some friends would ask me to make them one, so I did. I want to transcend the same energy and concept to these pieces and share them with the world.

TB: Collection I, CI20 is now available. Talk about the idea/concept behind the collection and also the great campaign which features some striking images.

Maŕa: Maŕa Peralta is a jewelry label for the resistance, founded on the idea of ready-made, functionality, uniformity, and attachment. Made to be unique, sustainable, reconstructed and made in New York.

TB:What's coming up next for Maŕa?

Maŕa: Currently, I am working on some loose ends - we just shot my first music video on Sunday for the track Rebellion on the Air Texture comp. Rebellion represents the struggle of breaking through the industry and encourage women to be strong and follow their passion. Most importantly, continue to challenge the male-dominated status quo. The video is a documentation of exploring a space, experimenting and interacting with your body with sound, lighting, and projections. This is a collaboration with three other artists who are in the visual art and sound world.

I also have been dedicating my time working in the studio to finish up my first album before my trip to Budapest in June with my partner Chamberlain Zhang. We are preparing for a Budapest residency at 4D sound institute, this residency is really special to us since our proposal was chosen by Dasha Rush, Robert Lippok amongst others on the curatorial board of the art quarter.

For more information on the project see below:

Maŕa + Chamberlain is a collaboration between New York-based musicians Maŕa Peralta and Chinese experimental musician Chamberlain Zhang. The duo focuses on ambient, experimental and techno soundscapes combining instrumental, acoustic, and analog electronic machines that interplays with Chamberlain’s live improvisations and Maŕa’s spacey vocals and ambient sound. Their music reflects the spirit of techno’s roots while injecting influences from pre-techno electronic music and the avant-garde. The duo showcases the tactile qualities of sound and the integration of a wild dynamics of timber, texture, tensions, and interconnected transformations of material. Maŕa + Chamberlain is a highly collaborative project with artists from different mediums including visual elements like choreography, lighting design, video projections, and live film scores. In June 2020 they will be doing a residency together at the 4D Sound Institute in Budapest, Hungary, working on an immersive installation that attempts to realize the idea of conceptual-programming, creating a hybrid between an installation and performance that leads towards complexities, theatre, and regeneration of concepts. A multi-perceptive performance explores the subject of how humans will endure the mental and physical situations of traveling through a new time and space in order to discover the unknown.

Thank you to Maŕa for speaking with us. Pick up the new Air Texture compilation on Bandcamp and the new collection from Maŕa Peralta Studio at: https://www.maraperaltastudio.com/

-JRS