South American music and culture magazine

During the first decade of this century, Santiago’s underground rock scene flourished with new bands and solo acts that covered almost every nook of the rock spectrum. Heavy, experimental, punk, psychedelic, folk, blues and pop bands started to compete for venues and form alliances with each other. Some took this a step further and organised labels and became music promoters for their events. Some are gone, some are still producing, and some have moved to the surface. From my perspective as one of its most active members, I will tell the story of a particular group of bands that organized themselves in ‘Cooperativa Chancaca’. Continue Reading

On Monday May 9th we’ll be releasing a special compilation of new music from Sao Paulo. However, before that, and to get you into the mood, here’s a special Going Underground looking at some of the new artists making an impression in Sao Paulo. Continue Reading

The time has come to investigate the new music coming from Uruguay. Here we have a list of bands, some of which are new, some of which are old, but who are all making great music; music that is progressive, music that is trying to offer something different that’s not currently out there at the moment. Uruguay is a small country but this has never diminished their creativity, as evinced by some of the great indie, rock and folk acts we have been fortunate enough to have found, and who we can now repay the favour by saying a few words. Continue Reading

Situated between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador have formed their own sounds away from the cumbia of Colombia and the African and Criollo roots of Peru, with some influence from the traditional music of the Andes but mainly taking cues from the West. This is why here in our guide to some of the “underground” music of Ecuador we feature styles as varied as hip-hop, soul, electro, hip-hop, punk and rock, all of which have there very own Ecuadorian style. Continue Reading

There is something irresistible about the way that many Chilean groups tackle indie music. There’s the expressiveness of bands like the Flaming Lips or Polyphonic Spree, the character of Daniel Johnston or Arthur Russell and the warm hush of Beach House or Azure Ray, while at the same time having a personality all its own, which must be that Chilean effect, the influence of greats such as Violeta Parra and Los Blops, as well as the burden of history, the wars, dictatorship and plight of their indigenous people. Take into account also the shape of the country, which puts one end of Chile facing the Antarctic and the other with the heat of the Atacama desert. No wonder there is such an expansive sound to many of these indie groups, hailing from Santiago and Valparaiso, and who largely eschew the urban sounds of punk, garage or hip-hop and instead aim for indie-pop greatness and sparse electro and folk songs. It is no exaggeration to say that I am very much in love with all of these bands! Continue Reading

After becoming slightly addicted to Premio Mr E, the blog set-up by the indefatigable Mr E which regularly reviews all the latest releases and concerts in Argentina, we felt it was only right if we asked Mr E himself to recommend some of his favourite Argentinian indie rock bands. Thankfully he obliged.

Argentina has one of the most important rock scenes in South America. It was the first country in the continent where people started to play rock in the early sixties, inspired of course, by English and American music. As time passed by Argentinian rock fathered a big indie rock scene with plenty of excellent bands and great musicians. Continue Reading

Here is our exploration into the underground scene in Peru. Among many things we have found a booming scene of chicha music, as well as many in thrall to the classic “nuggets” garage-punk of the 50s and 60s. Most amazing of all though is the avant garde scene, which pays debt to such bands as The Telescopes, Spacemen 3 and Silver Apples. Continue Reading

In this, our first entry in the ‘Going Underground’ column we look at five Argentine artists that have not been getting as much exposure, either locally or globally, that we think they deserve.

Federico Falcón / Páramo

Some of the best music I heard on my last trip to Argentina was away from Buenos Aires, where perhaps the music was more in touch with its roots, with the history of folklore, and most definitely, where the music had a closer affinity with nature. This could not be more apparent than on Federico Falcón’s Páramo album, an album that is full of glorious, organic textures. There are echoes of singer-songwriters such as Damien Rice, as well as the pastoral haze and sinuous melodies of The Album Leaf.
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