Lenin Tamayo, the creator of Q-pop: an international icon at 24 years old

The young man from San Marcos Lenin Tamayo, At 24 years old, he has created Q-pop, a genre that combines Korean pop with Andean elements and the Quechua language, his mother tongue. Although today his music fills concerts in Asia and has captured the attention of important international platforms such as the magazine TIMEwhich included him in its list of leaders of the new generation, Lenin’s path was marked by ridicule and discrimination. However, he has managed to transform those experiences into a powerful engine to validate his identity and promote Andean culture in the world.

Lenin was recognized by the famous magazine TIME as one of the voices that mark the current generation, along with renowned actors from British series such as Sex Education and Bridgerton. It is important to highlight this fact since its impact is not limited to music. His art addresses social issues and reflects a deep connection to his roots, earning the respect of audiences around the world.

Through Q-pop, Lenin seeks to transmit Andean rhythms but also promote the use of Quechua in the world of pop music, creating a unique and authentic style that keeps an ancestral culture alive.

Lenin’s first steps

Lenin Tamayo grew up in a home where his mother, Yolanda Pinares, a singer of Andean popular music, instilled in him pride in his culture. The young man had to face episodes of racism and bullying since he was a child due to his indigenous heritage and the use of Quechua.

“Since I was little, I was the object of ridicule, but it was music that helped me get through those difficult moments,” Tamayo said in an interview for Swissinfo. During her adolescence, she found refuge in a group of classmates who shared her taste for K-pop. This genre became a kind of lifesaver and inspired him to create his own style, Q-pop.

Korean music taught him to embrace his cultural identity in a modern and attractive way. “Q-pop allows me to validate my existence, I can say where I come from,” the singer commented to AFP.

Fusing Korean pop with Andean music, a style apparently distant from the stereotypical standards of the current global industry, represents for him a form of resistance and cultural vindication.

Through this fusion, Lenin Tamayo seeks to show the world a unique and fresh perspective on music, adapting traditional sounds and dances such as the diablada and the Inti Raymi to achieve a modern and attractive sound.

A voice that seeks to break barriers: the Q-pop tour of Asia

Fortunately, Lenin’s success has not gone unnoticed. Their recent tour through Asia is proof of how Q-pop has crossed borders and has managed to have a great impact on the public.

His tour began in South Korea and continues through countries such as India, Thailand and Vietnam. This represents a unique opportunity to bring your message of inclusion and cultural respect to audiences around the world. South Korea was a particularly special destination for him due to the influence of K-pop in his first steps into this unique musical style that is Q-pop.

“After visiting Korea, I understood that I had to embrace what makes me different,” he said in an interview with EFE from Bombay.

The young artist has sought to create a bond with his followers despite language barriers. In his songs, like Ymaynata?talks about universal themes such as love and identity. Lenin usually combines Quechua, Spanish and, occasionally, English.

For him, music is a means to achieve connection and education. It is a way of demonstrating that cultural barriers can be overcome with respect and openness.

Amaru: an independent and authentic album

Lenin is currently working on his first album, Amaruwhich he recorded independently in modest studios with the help of friends and family.

Without the support of a record company, the young man has been in charge of managing every detail of his artistic work, from musical production to choreography and costumes, which are inspired by Andean iconography and usually include traditional looms and devil masks. . “My creative freedom allows me to stay true to my roots while exploring Q-pop,” he explains.

The album Amaruwhose title alludes to the sacred snake of the Andean worldview, promises to be a manifesto of his identity and his vision of the world. Lenin hopes that this work will inspire other young indigenous people to be proud of their culture and take advantage of modern platforms to express themselves.