Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist and composer Kim Perlak.

Kim chairs the guitar department at Berklee College of Music, where she's spent over a decade expanding from classical performance into composition and improvisation. Her new album, Spaces, is a collaboration with percussionist Francisco Mela. The record captures four nature-inspired suites that obliterate the lines between written music and spontaneous creation.

The project shows how Kim moved from performing exclusively new classical works to embracing improvisation and collaborative music-making. Recorded live in a single afternoon at a studio overlooking New Hampshire's Squam Lake, Spaces reveals Kim’s deep connection to the natural world and her belief in creating musical environments where artists can truly listen to each other.

Kim is here to share the story behind this unique project and discuss how creating space—both musical and personal—has shaped her approach to teaching and performing.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Kim Perlak & Francisco Mela’s album Spaces)

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Dig Deeper

Visit Kim Perlak at kimperlak.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Purchase Kim Perlak & Francisco Mela's Spaces from Sacred Black Records or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice.
Meet Dr. Kim Perlak, Chair of Guitar at Berklee College of Music
Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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Kim Perlak: Guitar, Percussion, and the Space Between