kelly moran

New Yorker Kelly Moran has devoted much of her career to exploring the sonic possibilities of the piano. Combining improvisation, extended techniques, and timbral exploration, the pianist challenges the canons and impositions of the classical school of piano playing. Over the past decade, she has released a series of highly acclaimed albums, such as Bloodroot (2017), Ultraviolet (2018), Vesela (2023), and Moves in the Field (2024), which have appeared on best-of-the-year lists in genres such as classical, avant-garde, and metal. A highly sought-after composer, she has collaborated with FKA Twigs, Yves Tumor, The Avalanches, Kelsey Lu, Oneohtrix Point Never, Helado Negro, and Margaret Leng Tan. She was also a member of the experimental metal band Voice Coils, alongside Mitski, and performed with Haela Hunt-Hentrix’s Liturgy.

Released in October 2025, Don’t Trust Mirrors is the motto for the composer’s visit to Portugal. This album marks Moran’s return to the synthesizer and prepared piano—a technique created by John Cage that temporarily alters the sound of the instrument by placing objects inside it. Echo in the Field, the opening track and first single from the album, evokes something the composer had avoided in its predecessor. The sparkling synthesizers, punctuated by the piano, create a cathartic experience we haven’t heard since Ultraviolet. Across ten tracks, Don’t Trust Mirrors moves forward as a rediscovery of music. There is room to experiment with percussive capabilities in Chrysalis, for collaboration with Bibio on the title track, or even for the spatial melodies of Catheral that close the album. It is as if the synthesizers were patiently waiting for the right moment for the inevitable reunion with Kelly Moran.

support portuguese republic – culture, youth and sports / general direction of the arts. rtcp – network of portuguese theaters and cinemas.