Photo: Marissa Patrice Leitman

Russian ambient artist Perila takes us “Fallin Into Space” on her tactile new single, announces debut album

Perila is the musical moniker of Aleksandra Zakharenko, an ambient artist who was raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, but is now based in Berlin. She has released countless mixes and tapes over recent years, but is today announcing her debut album proper, How Much Time it is Between You and Me?, which will come out on June 25 through Smalltown Supersound. She’s also shared a track from the album called “Fallin Into Space”, saying:

‘Fallin Into Space’ is a track about grounding yourself in new places, accepting the surroundings, and opening up to what comes. It’s about slowing down and being conscious about what and how your body is in that space. Many new things come to attention when you slow down and observe.

The song begins with a sliver of atmospheric synth, easily evoking the “Space” of the title, but it soon takes a turn into a more terrestrial territory. Perila dusts in the sounds of a creaking chair and other homely, organic timbres, placing us squarely in a quiet room. We can practically hear the air moving around the room, especially as Perila starts to sing in the most minute and wispy wordless tone, as if she’s finding a resonance with the space and acclimatising to its atmosphere. A lesson in patience and focus, “Fallin Into Space” is a great example of how music doesn’t have to grab your attention to be wholly captivating.

Listen to “Fallin Into Space” below or on your preferred platform.

Perila’s debut album How Much Time it is Between You and Me? arrives on June 25 through Smalltown Supersound (pre-order/save). You can find her on Bandcamp and Instagram.