South America Uncovered: Part 6: Peru

South America Uncovered: Part 6: Peru

26 September, 2007 | 12.45PM

• Written by: Felipe Javier
• Filed under: Music News:

Perú is a land famous for its excellent gastronomy, ancient culture and very developed and informed music scene.

Although they were difficult to find, we spoke with three of the most interesting Perúvian artists.

Styles and more Styles

Rodrigo Lozano is one of the most respected artists from Perú, he has played with lots of great artists from all around the world including Sasha, Digweed, Carl Cox, and M.A.N.D.Y.

“I think that styles are kind of a strange thing,” explains Lozano [right], “because sometimes you do a fusion and styles are always changing.”

Although he would say that his own style is difficult to categorize, he does add that he is “more oriented to House, but with a dark side”.

“In Lima [Perú], there are great clubs and the people is very interested in electronic music.

“They all know the more exotic styles, and you can play different stuff and they are okay with it - it’s not like you must play mainstream songs here, because there is a lot of underground culture.

“The scene has developed very quickly because of the great artists that play here all the time.”

Lozano is often heard DJing warm ups sets for the most respected visiting international artists at the main clubs.

Lozano [right] also promotes various events, and is currently helping to make up the first Creamfields happen in Lima.

You can also hear Lozano’s production work with Felipe Salmon and Christian Berguer (interviewed below).

Mini

Orieta Chrem is also from Lima.

While Chrem started as a violinist at the age of 10, she started listening to drum & bass and attending electronic parties some years later in 1998.

It was in 2001 that she bought equipment to make music, and in 2004, she was nominated to the Red Bull Music Academy in Rome.

Chrem [right] says that in Perú “minimal is in vogue, and it’s the same in all of South America.”

We asked her about the evolution of minimal and its future.

“Minimal has an identity that can adapt to house, techno and trance.”

When asked about the electro phenomenon, and didn’t seem to see the benefit.

“I’ve never liked those styles - they’re too digestible.

“That is the pop side of electronic music, but it’s good that it exists because there are good things in everything.”

Chrem is studying architecture and is very involved with visuals.

She has an audio/visual collective where there are VJs, DJs and musicians who make all types of visual art.

“I think that as artists, we have to offer more everyday and the visuals are very important to this effect.”

Another project that Chrem is working on is an underground club called Metrolab that is being renovated by her collective.

Additionally, she is producing with Rui Pereira and she expects to work as a label someday.

Lima is in the House

One of the most interesting artists in Perú is Christian Berguer [right], he has been a DJ and producer for seven years for labels like Arabica, Espionage, Proton Music, Itzamna and Rocksteady Records.

His styles are mostly tech and progressive house.

“Perú started as progressive house, but the top DJs here are still up to date with the latest music and labels that dominate the market, most of which are focused on minimal and tech house.

Most of the artists are DJs only and there are just a few producers; I hope that we can change that so more people can make some noise outside of Perú.”

“We need more motivation for our artists to produce — and of course, to give their songs to the labels,” Berguer says about the lack of producers.

While there aren’t a lot of Perúvian labels in the market currently, it is something that is being worked on.

Berguer is constantly working on new projects.

He is producing a new release on Arabica, and also setting up a new label with Andres Dyer.

“The idea is to go to press with artist releases from Perú, and to do some remixes with well-known artists to give it more strength,” he says.

Berguer is also working, along with Lozano, on the first edition of Creamfields in November.

The land of the Sun

Perú is one of the hot spots for electronic music in South America — the quality of the artists like Maysa or Felipe Salmon lend proof to that.

Perú has a very unique view of music, yet it seems like a big island in South America, an island full of culture and music with a marked identity.

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• Check out Christian Berguer on Beatport