Read: upsammy & Valentina Magaletti in conversation for The Quietus

Curated by Valentina Magaletti News snacks

Le Guess Who? 2025 guest-curator Valentina Magaletti is a trailblazing percussionist and composer. Her versatile technique can incorporate anything from vibes and marimba to contact microphones and found objects, resulting in a style that is forever evolving.

In November, she will perform on multiple occasions: with her project V/Z, with legendary Japanese vocalist PHEW and with Dutch DJ and electronic musician upsammy. The duo has been collaborating on multiple live performances and is planning to release an album together. In anticipation to their joint projects, upsammy & Valentina Magaletti linked up with Jennifer Lucy Allan from The Quietus to speak about architecture as an instrument, and striking a balance between turbulence and clarity.

Invited by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to create new audio work for a contemporary art exhibition, upsammy invited Magaletti to ‘shake up the space’. Read the story of their multiple collaborations via the full interview on The Quietus.

“There’s so much to be said about the exchange of energies [in collaboration] but also where the ego of a collaborator is placed,” says Magaletti. “What’s important is that it sounds good, whatever happens. Some people are more alpha or insecure, but what we’re doing is just an exchange of something fluid, it’s energy isn’t it? It’s not just about you or the other person. It’s about what’s coming out. I love people that are not seeking validation in their career, people that are vectors. We have this beautiful gift, so we try to channel it.”

upsammy & Valentina Magaletti perform at Le Guess Who? 2025 on Thursday 6 November. Also performing at the festival are a.o. V/Z, Al Wootton & Youmna Saba, DJ Haram & Aquiles Navarro, and many more.