The Valparaiso Scene

Photos and words by Matias Ramirez (Hyperview) and The Chilean Guys

Valparaíso is a major city, seaport, and educational center and the second largest metropolitan area in Chile. The city has played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Straits of Magellan. Valparaíso mushroomed during its golden age as a magnet for European immigrants; known by international sailors as "Little San Francisco" and "The Jewel of the Pacific". In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Along with a rich history, Valparaíso has a very wild, crazy music scene. Bands of all genres and styles mix in strange venues. Like New York, this city does not sleep.

Valapariso

Provided by Matias Ramirez

Here are 3 bands from this beautiful, wild, bad-smelling city.

Recuerda Que Puedes Morir

by Matias Ramirez

Recuerda Que Puedes Morir

(Remember You Can Die) Recuerda Que Puedes Morir is a Chilean Punk – Post Hardcore band, formed in Viña del Mar, Chile, in 2016. The band has been considered a new air for the local do it yourself punk and hardcore scene and is credited as being part of Chile’s new, darker sound mixed with melancholy guitars and screaming vocals above a fast and heavy rhythm foundation. The band consists of Esteban Labra (lead vocals), Matias Cortes (guitar, backing vocals), Manuel Cataldo (rhythm guitar, backing FX sounds), Celsio Arceu (bass guitar) and Cristián Menay (drums and production). In early 2017, Recuerda Que Puedes Morir released their debut video single, “SINESTESIA”, via Youtube on the Hardcore World Wide channel. The band gained popularity with the release of their second single “Disonancia Cognitiva”. In 2018, the band released Demo EP recorded by Juan Jose Sanchez (of post-hardcore band Tenemos Explosivos) at Gitano Recz recording studio in 2017.

“Recuerda Que Puedes Morir” promotes self-managed, DIY ideals and lifestyle that keep collective work and fraternity as a point of reference for the musical and social development of the band.

Recuerda Que Puedes Morir

https://recuerdaquepuedesmorir.bandcamp.com/releases

Almenara

by Matias Ramirez

Almenara

Almenara is a punk band formed in Valparaíso, Chile, in 2010. The current line up consists of Mauro Villena (guitar), Matias Soto (drums), Alexis Rivera (Bass), Felipe Caceres (guitar) and Ignacio Gimenez (vocals). “We play a fast paced punk with rough and almost spoken vocals. We are currently recording 8 new songs that takes us to a more dark and introspective style, musically and lyrically. “In September we have our first international tour - we are playing two days in Lima, Peru with our friends Dizclaimers. “We interact directly with local scenes from Valparaíso, Santiago and Concepcion. Lots of bands are emerging from the underground punk circuit with different sounds. Local bands are playing, recording and touring more lately. Though we still need to create a more self-sustainable scene where our bands stop losing money to make their projects viable.” Discography: 2011 - 6 Way Split (4 songs) 2012 - Apología del Fuego (Demo álbum) 2012 - Ni Sumisx, Ni Obsecuente (Split with Los Hueones Ordinarios) 2014 - Desestructurando lo Aprendido (EP) 2016 - Almenara (LP)

Almenara

https://almenara.bandcamp.com/

Yo Ante Yo

by Matias Ramirez

Yo Ante Yo

(Me Before Me) Yo ante Yo was born at the beginning of 2015 in the city of Quillota, 60 kilometers from Valparaíso. The project began with Matias on guitar and Franco on drums, who in mid-2014 began the search for new minds to create a band with a fast, direct, raw sound without technical detour. At the end of that year, Javier joined on bass, with whom they managed to assemble a couple of songs in a short time, demonstrating the teamwork they constituted as a group. The self-management and motivation by these 3 beings would result in their 1st work called "Monodestrucción" during August of that year. They wrote 9 original tracks, which were recorded in the Center for Promotion and Health (Quillota), thanks to the help of Fritz Demuth (of ska, reggae, cumbia and rock group La Floripondio), who contributed with the management of equipment and the necessary training in editing programs to achieve the desired sound. “At the musical level, we like play fast and dirty songs. Our inspiration are Bad Brains for their enthusiasm in the lyrics since they have a lot of PMA [Positive Mental Attitude; Bad Brains’ message of mindfulness]. Disrupt and Infest for the speed in its instruments; The Raw with Apatia No have some lyrics that help Latin America towards liberation and the conscience of the third world man who has it dominated. All these bands carry the do it yourself [ethos] and there are millions more but those are good. “We believe in the change of mind of our people who are angry with the government and the people who stole from the poor and kill natives.”

https://yoanteyo.bandcamp.com/