6:11

… somewhere in Palermo Soho

By Kyren Ual

Music has always been a core part of my life as a Filipino-American. My earliest memories consisted of singing Celine Dion and Adele into karaoke mics during every holiday and birthday celebration and thumping my small, grubby hands on my family’s piano that was somehow always out of tune. Soon enough, I ventured into violin, then the electric guitar, then started to attend any local gig, arena show, or festival that piqued my interest (and I could afford).

I have always searched for music everywhere I go, and it was no different in Buenos Aires. During our trip, a couple of us ventured into Palermo Soho to watch Kill Flora, a riot grrrl, dream pop and shoegaze group recommended by a story partner, who we coincidentally ran into at the venue. My Spanish is limited, but I could understand the feeling. I watched people dance freely, friends greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek and crowd surfing.

There was one song that stood out to me in particular: “Nuevos Discos – Si Esto No Hubiera Salido Tan Mal (En vivo)” which is an extended version of “Nuevos Discos”, a 2014 song by Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado. The venue turned electric and for those six minutes and 11 seconds, all the worries of the week melted away.

Later, over some delicious milanesa sandwiches, I was talking with a local music photographer. I was curious as to why I haven’t come across reggaeton in Buenos Aires as frequently as I thought I would, and he explained that after the COVID-19 pandemic, younger audiences began to lean more towards the underground movement which consists of indie, alternative, and punk music with anti-fascist and anti-racist themes, which is exactly what the music team has been covering on the ground. It was really fascinating to learn more about the underground music scene, as well as his experiences as a music photographer.

Now I’m back in Carrboro and I’ve been collecting the titles of songs I heard abroad and exploring new Argentinian artists. Here are my favorites: