10 Artists Leading The New Guard of Chilean Indie

As the sun rises on the ‘20s, music heads around the world have plunged deep into our feelings reminiscing on the highs, lows and defining sounds of the past decade. Chilean indie is no doubt one of the most influential Latin American waves in recent memory, blasting a small, fledgeling creative ecosystem onto the global stage with cinematic synthpop operas, conscientious rap diatribes and more avant experimentation than a Björk album cycle. However, much has changed since our ears and minds were first blown by the likes of Javiera Mena, Gepe and the several other visionary art kids that made Chile a beacon of evocative fusions and eerily relatable storytelling. Following in the steps of giants, the end of the 2010s was largely shaped by a new generation of artists grappling with shifting cultural and political tides, – armed with new promotional tools, fresh perspectives and the revolutionary spirit that has burned in Chilean music since the 1960s.

So where do the indie OGs end and the new guard begin? The safest bet would be the dance floor.

While the early years of the Chilean wave were defined by disco-soaked synthpop, younger voices began echoing the global rise of urbano, most notably with the perreo-revolutionizing emergence of Tomasa del Real. The high priestess of neoperreo hit the scene halfway through the decade, going viral from her bedroom in the Northern city of Iquique with anthems like “Tu Señora” and “Bonnie N Clyde” – which injected refreshing DIY grit into a sanitized pop-reggaeton landscape led by the likes of J Balvin and Ozuna. The diverse and all-inclusive ethos of neoperreo and its subsequent parties empowered a new generation of Internet-savvy hustlers to broadcast their increasingly polished productions across SoundCloud, YouTube and rapidly democratizing dance floors around the world. In a few short years, the movement built such impressive momentum that it’s no longer unusual to hear Chilean neoperreo stars like Del Real, Talisto and Kamixlo sparking sweaty twerk melees alongside mainstream hits by Daddy Yankee and Karol G.

Santiago de Chile now consumes more reggaeton per capita than any other city on the globe, but it’s hardly the only genre making a splash. The worlds of Latin trap and R&B have also gotten the Chilean bump, most notably through Gianluca and Princesa Alba. Channeling the mental health anxieties and washed out aesthetics that have seemingly taken over music, fashion and film, the meteoric pair are possibly the purest representatives of Chile’s evolving pop star model. From Gianluca’s antidepressant-fueled G Love mixtape, to the coquettish charm of hit Princesa Alba singles “Summer Love” and “Convéncete” – their music sonically, visually and ideologically aligns with the work of international tastemakers like Frank Ocean and Solange.

The aforementioned artists also resonate with radical gender and sexual equality movements currently unfolding across the Chilean zeitgeist. Certainly, Alex Anwandter and Javiera Mena paved the way for local queer pop subversiveness, but acts like Namuel and the AMIK Collective – comprised of unyielding electro provocateurs Kamon Kamon Kamon, Reinder, Barbacius and more – have pushed boundaries even further by infusing their work with unapologetically explicit sexual themes and embracing gender fluidity. In fact, blurring the lines of gender has become so common that earlier this year, fast-fashion powerhouse H&M tapped Gianluca, Francisco Victoria, Playa Gótica, Fanny Leona and former Miss Garrison singer-drummer, Fran Straube, to star in a massive ad campaign for their major non-binary clothing line.

Of course, while the new kids continue making noise, many of the scene’s influential talents have evolved to maintain their relevance. Fran Straube might be the finest example of these artistic renewals, navigating her post-Miss Garrison career with the boundless sonic curiosity of her solo project, Rubio. Alongside producer Pablo Stipicic, Straube conceived a stunning, mystical universe on her solo debut Pez, unknowingly delivering an invaluable pearl of industry wisdom in the process. Pez was released between 2017 and 2018 as a 5-EP series that was later compiled into a full album – a distribution format that gave fans a window into Straube’s ongoing creative journey and made her music a more palatable time investment for the fickle attention spans of the streaming age. Nowadays, emerging artists regularly find success through algorithmic playlists on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, but many established musicians are still getting wise to these new marketing strategies. After the release of Pez, Milton James unveiled his own post-Dënver debut, Pretemporada, rolling out the record in three parts throughout the course of 2019 – with similar tactics employed internationally by acts like Wet Baes and Los Wálters.

Today, Chile finds itself at a pivotal crossroads as nationwide protests demanding a massive socio-political overhaul are continuously met with stonewalling and tepid concessions from President Sebastian Piñera’s maligned conservative government. Music is once again a vital platform of resistance for the Chilean people, with everyone from Natisú to Camila Moreno frequently joining marches and organizing free concerts, and even prompting long-defunct acts like Los Jaivas and Los Bunkers to reunite under a message of dissidence and national unity.

With a shaky future at hand, we’ve compiled a list of rising talents already shaping the next era of Chilean music. From urbano, to rock and folk, Chile’s artistic landscape is as vibrant as ever, and this generation of artists is perfectly equipped to handle the coming challenges.

Check out a playlist curated by the author here: