Whether it is Gepe and Javiera Mena embedding folk into pop, or Camila Moreno and Manuel Garcia doing the opposite, Chile’s folklore proves to be a dynamic source of inspiration for a new breed of visionaries. The Chilean idiosyncratic is reflected in Pascuala Ilabaca, a 25-year-old singer making way more than ‘theme music.’ Ilabaca’s sensibilities harmonize her individual search with her country’s history. In 2008, she released
Pascuala Canta a Violeta, an acclaimed tribute to Violeta Parra, clearly her biggest influence. “Lamenta La Canela” is heart-warming piece out of her new album
Diablo Rojo Diablo Verde (out now on Discos del Sur). It picks up the aesthetics of the genre; it’s attached to its locality (Valparaiso), it’s mournful and easy-to-read. The gorgeous video was shot in Valparaisos’ ‘suburbs’, the perfect frame for a lament song.
