Illapu in exile and its (pop) Andean paths

Abstract

This article studies part of Illapu's history in exile, inquiring into the stylistic transformation and production of discourses informed by the transnational experience. In particular, I interrogate the strategies Illapu takes to update the place of "the Andean" in their music. On the one hand, it stresses the exploration of pop and Afro-Latin sonorities is addressed, through the incorporation of the electric bass and new rhythms. On the other hand, the production of self-promotional discourses in international tours is examined, observing the relativization of the political component and a reinvigoration of the Andean in the eyes of diverse audiences, where the reinvention of the local becomes crucial.