South American music and culture magazine

The great split that carves through Chilean society is laid bare and brought to the surface in the documentary La Muerte de Pinochet (The Death of Pinochet), a film that depicts the different reactions to the news of the general’s death at 91 years old on 10th December 2006. From the crowds of pinochetistas who carried out a raucous vigilance outside the hospital where the old man lay dying to the spontaneous carnival that erupted on the Alameda, Santiago’s main thoroughfare, to celebrate the apparent closure of the most traumatic period in Chile’s history, the film portrays the various emotions unleashed at the time and as such serves as a social portrait of the polarising effect that Pinochet continues to have to this day. Continue Reading

During the early 60′s, the Nueva Canción movement (‘New Song’) was born on Chilean soil. With singer-songwriters paving the way with their socio-politically-fuelled folk tunes, it was a revolutionary spirit that was deeply embedded in the Latin American New Left, the Unidad Popular coalition and its leader Salvador Allende. Continue Reading

Chile is certainly not one of the cheapest countries to live in South America, but it is definitely more affordable than many parts of Brazil. Over the last decade Chile’s economy has grown faster than South American on average, and with economic growth comes raised living standards and inevitably a rise in the cost of living. Continue Reading

Kali Mutsa caused something of a storm with her song “Tunupa” earlier this year. As an introduction to an artist you couldn’t ask for a song with more intrigue, that would leave the listener with really no idea what could possibly follow it. What we did know of course about Kali Mutsa though was that this was a character invented by Chilean actress Celine Reymond that would be releasing an EP in October this year. That time has now come and we have an exclusive download of one of the tracks before the official release on Tuesday October 18th. Continue Reading

Sebastian Piñera became Chile’s president last year as the nation faced a crisis in the aftermath of an 8.8-magntitude earthquake. Less than two years later, as the rescue of the 33 miners that brought Piñera worldwide fame and fleeting national popularity has faded from memory, Chile faces a new set of crises that threaten to derail his presidency. Continue Reading

Gaby Hernandez is a singer from Los Angeles with Chilean descent. On September 20th her second album Sweet Starry Night was released worldwide. We were instantly knocked back by it’s lush, warm arrangements, and so when we saw that she listed Violeta Parra and Gal Costa as influences we knew that we had to ask Gaby a few questions about both her music and her obvious passion for South American music. We are also very lucky to be the first site to feature her new video “Sweet Starry Night”, which you can watch at the bottom of the page. Continue Reading

Perrosky are a down and dirty blues band from Chile. Comprised of two brothers Alejandro and Álvaro Gómez, their last (and fourth) album Tostado was recorded with legendary nu-blues man Jon Spencer at the helm in his studio in New York. They have recently played in Brazil as well as Primavera Sounds in Barcelona and are definitely one to watch. We sat down with lead singer and guitarist Alejandro for a chat about music. Continue Reading

The city of Valparaiso is suffering a problem of identity. What to do when your trademark becomes unprofitable? Referred to as “The Jewel of the Pacific” much of Chile’s second city sits aside steep hills, offering stunning views stretching across valleys, down hills and out over the harbour into the Pacific. Continue Reading

Santiago’s Pueblo Nuevo is one of our favourite record labels, continually putting out interesting and diverse releases from artists based in Chile, and sometimes from further afield, all of which are made available for free download on their website. As something of a “thank you” for all the great music we’ve heard as a result of Pueblo Nuevo, we decided to put a compilation together of some of our favourite songs from the label. So, here is Pueblo Nuevo: The New Sounds of Santiago. Continue Reading

In many ways Santiago is a patchwork city. Each commune, or barrio, with its own architecture and atmosphere. The modern chic Providencia and Los Condes, air conditioned shops, boulevards and sky scrapers, filled with those benefiting from the new Chile. Bellavista, low buildings, murals, and bohemia. Or the centre full of 1950s and 60s high-rise, unruly cooling units protruding from window after window. Continue Reading

Torres del Paine National Park is found in the Última Esperanza province of Southern Chile , approximately 250km north of Punta Arenas. This 242,000 ha area is dissected by a complex physiography characterized by the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields and the Cordillera del Paine – an impressive mountain range that is claimed to rise over 3,000m. Continue Reading

Santiago has some of the most vibrant street art in Latin America. The city, as well as Valparaiso on the coast, have made Chile synonymous with top quality grafitti and street art. This article is a short visual trip through a few of Santiago’s street artists, as well as those visiting the city. Continue Reading