NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – July 2, 2026
Prog Innovator FERNANDO MOLINARI Unveils New Video “Minerva” ft. Marco Minnemann, Andre Nieri & Herbert Medeiros
New EP “NUMEN” Out Now!
Featuring EP Guests – Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson), Andre Nieri (Virgil Donati Band), Mariko Muranaka (Hans Zimmer, Madonna), Joao Hanysz (Casagrande & Hanysz), Luigi Paraventi (Paleface Swiss), Chris Clark (Virgil Donati / Jon Anderson Band), Daniel Felix (Caravellus)
|
|
Brazilian prog‑fusion composer and bassist Fernando Molinari has released the stunning new performance video for “Minerva”, featuring an elite trio of world‑class musicians: drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson), guitarist Andre Nieri (Virgil Donati Band), and keyboardist Herbert Medeiros in support of his newly released EP “NUMEN.”
“Minerva” opens the EP with explosive energy, built on 5/4 time, five simultaneous layers, and a commanding melodic theme. The track blends prog, fusion, and heavy elements into a dense, immersive soundscape, brought vividly to life in the new video.
Minnemann’s virtuosic drumming, Nieri’s razor‑sharp guitar work, and Medeiros’ atmospheric keyboard textures elevate Molinari’s composition into a cinematic, high‑intensity performance that captures the EP’s core identity: deep, energetic, prog, fusion, and heavy.
Watch “Minerva” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKhgWk1XlE
|
|
Out now on all streaming platforms, “NUMEN, mixed and mastered by Grammy Award winner Paulo Anhaia, is an instrumental EP inspired by Roman mythology. The term numen refers to a “divine presence” or manifestation of something sacred, an idea that became central to Molinari during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
“Music is a NUMEN in my life. A place where I find peace, joy, and a cure for my darkest moments,” adds Molinari.
The EP delivers a dense, atmospheric listening experience filled with layers, riffs, melodies, and emotional depth. Fans of progressive music and fusion will find a rich, immersive journey across all five tracks.
“NUMEN” features an exceptional roster of musicians from across the global prog and fusion scenes, including Marco Minnemann – Drums (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson), Andre Nieri – Guitar (Virgil Donati Band), Mariko Muranaka – Piano (Hans Zimmer, Madonna), Joao Hanysz – Guitar (Casagrande & Hanysz), Luigi Paraventi – Guitar (Paleface Swiss), Chris Clark – Piano (Virgil Donati / Jon Anderson Band), and Daniel Felix – Keyboards (Caravellus).
Molinari’s writing approach is unconventional; he never begins with an instrument. Instead, he records vocal ideas on his phone and later transcribes them into full arrangements.
“I don’t want technique to box me in. I write for every instrument, and I want the tracks to stand as full band compositions, not just bass features,” adds Molinari.
This method results in compositions rich with simultaneous layers, harmonic depth, odd time signatures, recurring motifs, and intricate textures. From the opening track “Minerva”, a 5/4 prog‑fusion with five simultaneous layers and strong melodic themes, to “Netuno” and its heavy riffs, odd time signatures, and rich harmonies to “Mitra” a track with Flamenco‑influenced acoustic guitar, percussion, and piano to “Gemina” a fusion of prog metal, Middle Eastern textures, jazz fusion, cello, and piano to EP closer “Marte” a heavy, groovy trio performance with massive breakdowns. Fernando Molinari delivers his most ambitious and emotionally resonant work to date, an EP full of textures, strong melodies, killer riffs, and deep personality.
Recommended for fans of Al Di Meola, Egberto Gismonti, Avishai Cohen, The Aristocrats, Virgil Donati, Plini, and Mahavishnu Orchestra, “NUMEN” is available at the following links:
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/1Ck6C4OH6pIFpD15Xkl62F
EP Stream – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMtSchHQL6o
Bandcamp – https://fernandomolinari.bandcamp.com/album/numen
Previous Videos:
Netuno – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kinvsBvIcB0
Gemina – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EKlGCfPQm8
Mitra – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlxeG-CCNvo
|
|
Track Listing:
1. Minerva – 5:47
2. Netuno – 4:36
3. Mitra – 4:49
4. Gemina – 5:32
5. Marte – 4:12
Album Length: 24:58
More Info:
https://www.facebook.com/FernandoMolinariPage
https://www.instagram.com/molinarifernando
About:
Brazilian bassist and composer Fernando Molinari has carved out a unique space in the modern prog and fusion world, building a career defined by creativity, precision, and fearless musical exploration. What began as a necessity, becoming a solo artist because no musicians in his hometown were interested in forming a band, has evolved into a signature artistic identity rooted in depth, energy, and genre‑blending innovation.
Molinari describes his sound in five words: deep, energetic, prog, fusion, and heavy. His latest EP, NUMEN, released June 19, 2026, embodies all of these qualities, offering listeners a dense, atmospheric journey filled with layers, riffs, melodies, and emotional weight. Fans of progressive music and fusion will find plenty to connect with, as the record balances technicality with storytelling and mood.
Album Recording Credits:
Written, produced and arranged by: Fernando Molinari
Fernando Molinari – Bass.
Marco Minnemann – Drums (Minerva, Netuno and Gemina)
Andre Nieri – Guitars (Minerva and Netuno)
Mariko Muranaka – Cello (Gemina)
Joao Hanysz – Acoustic and Electric guitars (Mitra and Marte)
Luigi Paraventi – Drums (Marte)
Chris Clark – Piano solo (Gemina)
Arthur Rezende – Drums (Mitra)
Daniel Felix – Electric piano, Keyboards and Effects (Netuno and Gemina)
Herbert Medeiros – Keyboards (Minerva)
Cristian Del Giorgio – Keyboards (Mitra)
Pascoal Molinari, Rosemary Molinari & Juliana Chimenes – Rhythmic Claps (Mitra)
Mixed and Mastered by Paulo Anhaia
– 30 –
“Numen is a heavy-hitting progressive album that fuses metal, jazz, fusion, and flamenco. Molinari composed, arranged, and produced the five tracks and got a murderer’s row of musicians to bring it to life, including Marco Minnemann, Andre Nieri, Chris Clark, Daniel Felix, and more. He hammers out odd-time syncopations that will break your neck, then gets the fretless out to double a face-melting melody. Seriously, if you like heavy, adventurous music with outrageous bass playing, go listen to it right now.” – No Treble
“Fernando Molinari has a new album out that may be one of the year’s best prog and fusion records. Reaching Inside is packed with tantalizing riffs and grooves that the bassist has been honing over the past few years. His ideas came to fruition with a stellar cast of musicians including drummers Marco Minnemann and Arthure Rezende; guitarists Brunno Henrique, Davi Filho, and Kit Tang, and keyboardists Herbert Medeiros and Daniel Félix. If you’re like me, discovering new music is exciting, exhilarating, and rewarding! I can’t tell you how many times I hear “there’s no good music anymore”. You have got to be kidding, there are great bands/artists out there creating. Brazilian bassist Fernando Molinari’s latest ReachingInside is a wonderful piece of modern fusion, and had I known about this one prior to making my best of 2021 list, it would be on it.” – Sea of Tranquility – Pete Pardo
“I will choose “Reaching Inside” by Fernando Molinari. It’s amazing! Absolutely incredible! It’s short at 35 minutes long, Great melodies! This guy is a great songwriter! It’s evident from the first time you hear the album. As a bass player he is absolutely flawless! I love “Focus”, the album’s opening song. Beautiful guitars, I love the melodies “Mercurio” rocks! It has hints of progressive and is very intense! Great job by the whole band! I love the bass lines on this album, they’re really good. “Ocean Wind” is another great song, “Control” is amazing I mean, there are no errors. It’s a beautiful mix of times throughout the album, there’s a lot of variety! Killer album by a very talented guy!” – Sea of Tranquility – Pete Pardo (2021 – Reaching Inside)
“The bass player, FERNANDO MOLINARI, launched on December 2021 the CD, “Reaching Inside”, considered by critics as one of the best albums of Fusion/Progressive of the world.The new work records a journey of self-knowledge where Fernando, who is already a world reference for the bass, demonstrates all his dexterity as a composer creating riffs, grooves and themes that take turns the spotlight with a stellar team of musicians.” – MS METAL AGENCY
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
ashermediarelations.com 