Diego Villa
While the music of Peru hasn’t garnered much North American attention, the country’s music scene is quite diverse. The country enjoys a healthy underground punk and metal scene as well as traditional Peruvian/Andean music infused with pop, soul, and R&B. So put down your panpipe and get ready to hike the Andes as we take a look at OurStage artists from Peru on this week’s “Model U.N.”
The international appeal of punk music is evident in Siosi. This Peruvian hardcore band based in Lima has been abusing ear drums since 2001. With Operation Ivy attitude and NOFX energy, the band has the potential to win the hearts of punk kids world wide.
Dial Down Man is the the brainchild of Diego Villa, a Peruvian ex-pat now based in Washington, DC. Diego moved to the states to persue a music career. After having trouble finding other musicians to play with, he went back to Peru for a year to become a multi-instrumentalist and recorded almost all the parts on his debut album by himself. Inspired by American and British rock acts of yesterday and today—such as Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Doors— the sound of Dial Down Man fits right in on OurStage’s indie pop channel.
Maru
Maru, short for Marisol and Ruth, is a female-fronted group backed by an incredible band mixing traditional Andean sounds with modern rhythms. While Marisol is no longer with the group, founder Ruth Huamani continues to lead Maru into several notable spotlights such as Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival in Walt Disney World. Between the pan flutes, dancey rhythms and the tight vocal harmonies, this band may as well be the next ABBA.
