Chile

Santiago 

KUINA

Chile is a disparate kind of place—spanning same length as Lisbon to Moscow—with capital Santiago slap bang in the middle. Hailing from the southern town of Lautaro, some 800km south of the capital. KUINA reflects one of the multitude Chilean identities found in the urban sprawl, hailing from the southern town of Lautaro, some 800km south of the capital. 

The 22-year-old alt-pop upstart moved as a teenager, looking to insert herself in the city's chaotic creative underbelly. "Santiago is incredible, it calls to a lot of different people," she says. "When it comes to creating, we all bring very different ideas, based on the contexts we were raised, things we grew up listening to, and the experiences we’ve had. And it’s really here in Santiago we get to share all of that."

Heading to some of the impromptu trap 'tocatas'—informal, live performances in bars and clubs—she quickly joined ranks with gen-z cohorts including Akriilla, and akatumammy, adding a freaky pop spin on an already established trap foundation.  

"We've always listened to a lot of reggaeton in Chile," she says. "but we're also really into Japanese culture here—I don't know why if it's because it's also seismic country, with lots of volcanos. It's like we’re drawn to the same things—like video games and anime. We are all much more visual, more computer-based, more screen-oriented."

KUINA puts all her influences into her music, an energetic collision of hyper-pop, reggaeton, trap and alt-pop. Below she talks us through her favourite underground spots in the city—from manga shops to underground trap raves. 

There are places where they do tocatas—live shows—or where they launch singles. Espacio56 is the first place I went in Santiago, and still used a lot, there's loads of shows there. 

It's so underground, it's clandestine. They go changing locations so you don’t know where it is. They give the address by DM. 

It's a party that rotates venues, but Chismoteka is the place to go party. You're treated well and it's safe. I always go with my friends. 

Mexican food on Avenida Matta, I always get the chicken chilaquiles.

I really like anime and I think it influences my style. Chile is really into Japanese culture, I don't know if its because we're both from seismic countries or why exactly we relate. There's a shopping arcade I love that sells manga and other Japanese things, as well as Korean food, I love that place. I always buy my Sailor Moon and Evangelion manga and and presents for friends.  

I don't really buy things here as I still don't have the money, but I go a lot to look at things. It's expensive but there are clothes by local Chilean designers, vinyls, I always develop my film there. I also like the bookshops there. 

Espacio 56

Related Guides