Chicha

Chicha is both a musical genre, also known as Andean Tropical Cumbia (Cumbia Tropical Andina), and a contemporary art movement that developed in Peru. The music originated in the mid-1970s, drawing from Huayno, psychedelic rock, and the coastal Peruvian Cumbia Guarachera, and is characterized by the prominent use of electric guitars.

This musical form emerged alongside the migration of people from the Andean regions to coastal cities, particularly Lima, and gained widespread popularity in the 1980s. The Chicha art movement, which also became prominent in the 1980s, is closely linked to this music, primarily manifesting in flyers and street art. It incorporates indigenous Peruvian and Andean cultural elements alongside influences from Pop Art and psychedelic art.

Expanding beyond its initial connection to music promotion, Chicha art has become an influential artistic expression in Peru, sometimes likened to the Baroque style,^[1] and has been used to address socio-political themes such as Indigenous rights and gender inequality, similar to the role of art in the Hippie subculture.

History[]

The development of Chicha as both a musical genre and an art movement began in Peru in the mid to late 1960s. The subgenre of Cumbia emerged in Lima following significant waves of migration from the Andean provinces. This migration brought Andean cultural elements to the urban coast, and Chicha music became a way to express the experiences and challenges faced by these migrant workers. Musically, Chicha fused the tropical rhythms of Cumbia with traditional Andean Huayno sounds, and also incorporated influences from international genres such as surf rock, psychedelic rock, salsa, and even techno. The electric guitar became a prominent instrument in this new sound, which some considered Peru's version of rock and roll.

The term "Chicha" itself is linked to a traditional Andean maize beverage and gained further recognition after the success of the song "La Chichera." The 1970s saw Chicha music establish itself as the music of the working class, migrants, and the urban periphery, with many bands blending Huayno melodies and vocals with Cumbia rhythms. During the military government of Velasco (1968-1975), restrictions on Anglo/American pop and rock contributed to the rise in popularity of Peruvian psychedelic Cumbia, including Chicha.^[2]

In the 1980s, Chicha became an anthem for migrants, especially second-generation migrants who found in its sound and lyrics a way to express their identity. Figures like Chacalón, known as "El Faraón de la Chicha," influenced the genre with his performances and poignant lyrics, popularizing Chicha in Peru. By the early 1990s, Chicha reached its peak popularity, and the Peruvian Ministry of Culture later recognized it as a valid art form.

Concurrently with the rise of Chicha music, a distinct visual art style emerged, utilizing the bright, fluorescent colors traditionally found in indigenous Andean textiles. Initially used in concert posters and flyers, "Chicha art" served as a visual counterpart to the music, capturing its essence with vibrant colors and bold typography. Groups like Los Shapis are credited with influencing this visual style through their brightly colored stage attire inspired by the embroidery of their native Huancayo. Street artists began collaborating with bands to create posters that reflected their style, using neon colors and large lettering. This art form, beginning as concert promotion, evolved into murals and other forms of public art, and have become a popular cultural expression in Peru, often seen on walls of various establishments and even in fashion.

Visuals[]

The visual style of Chicha art, a kitsch aesthetic originating in Peru in the 1980s, is characterized by the use of fluorescent colors and contrasting tones, often against black backgrounds. This was intended to make the artwork stand out in the crowded and dimly lit urban environments of marginalized neighborhoods in cities like Lima. The color palette employed in Chicha art corresponds to those traditionally used in Andean cultures, such as the Huanca nation, and is seen in the decorations of traditional dance costumes.

The typography, or lettering, is typically sinuous, a style associated with the psychedelic movement of the 1960s. Other notable visual characteristics include horror vacui (fear of empty space) and the use of advertising phrases that blend poetic elements with Peruvian slang and colloquialisms. These posters are typically created by hand using a serigraphic mesh technique.

Initially considered a low art form and viewed with racism as part of a "huachafa" (pretentious or inelegant) culture by some non-Indigenous Peruvians, Chicha art has been reevaluated by new generations, the children of migrants forming a new middle class. This has led to a renewed appreciation for "cholo" (Peruvian of Indigenous or mixed ancestry) and Chicha culture, evident in the success of graphic artists like Monky, Elliot Tupac, and Yefferson Huamán, as well as art collectives.

Chicha art is also utilized as a form of social protest in murals and posters for various causes, including the defense of the Peruvian Amazon, opposition to femicides, and support for the LGBT+ community. The influence of Chicha art has even extended to areas with Peruvian immigrant populations, such as Chile.

Music[]

Characteristics[]

Chicha, also known as Andean Tropical Cumbia, is a Peruvian musical genre that originated in the mid-1970s. Its musical origins are rooted in the fusion of Peruvian Cumbia, Huayno, and psychedelic rock. A defining characteristic of Chicha music is the prominent use of electric guitars. Chicha is distinguished as a subgenre of Cumbia due to its hybridization with Peruvian rock. The genre commonly employs pentatonic scales in a 4/4 time signature and incorporates rhythmic patterns from other genres, including Guaracha, Mambo, Salsa, and rock music. The typical instrumentation of Chicha music includes electric guitar, electric bass, timbales, congas, drums, and organ.