The Cultural Fusion of Quechua Pop
You have probably heard of the term K-Pop but what about Q-Pop? The music genre of Korean pop music made popular by groups like BTS and BLACKPINK now has a new Latin American counterpart. The music of Lenin Tamayo is a Peruvian artist taking center stage in the genre of Quechua pop music otherwise known as Q-Pop.
His music has taken the internet by storm not only gathering notoriety with his 4.4 million likes on the social media app TikTok but acting as a rally point for change. The album entitled “Amaru” released digitally this week carrying with it a message of change amidst on-going political unrest in Peru.
The album title holds linguistic and cultural significance as it translates to “snake” an animal that holds much importance in Incan Mythology. The reptile represents the underworld but instead of being a symbol of death it is a symbol of new life.
Tamayo is now using Q-Pop as a uniting force to bring two very different worlds into one to make a positive change.
This type of cultural fusion however is more than just taking the native language of Quechua and mixing it with elements of K-Pop but rather is a way to connect deeper with his own community and those of the world. In a recent interview with the Associated Press he noted “Art is a vehicle to move consciences and generate change.”
Music is not only something that can be enjoyed but also something that we feel. It longs to bring people together and comfort them through song and dance. Whether it be in times of hardships or prosperity, music can be used to unite people. In times such as these artists like Tamayo can be the spark to bring in a new rhythm of life.
