Renata Flores is a Peruvian singer who grew up in Huaytará, an Andean town where she learned traditional music from her mother, a Quechua vocalist. She sings in Quechua, an indigenous language, and her songs often draw from Andean folk traditions. Her debut album 'Qori Kuntur' came out in 2012, followed by 'Suyay' in 2015 and 'Nina' in 2019.
Her best-known song is 'Chañan Cori Coca,' a ballad about the coca plant that has become something of an anthem in indigenous communities. Other tracks like 'Pachamama,' 'Qam Hina,' and 'Tijeras' show her range within this style. She performs with a backing band that includes musicians on guitar, charango, bass, and percussion.
Flores has faced some resistance in Peru's music industry for singing in Quechua and for being an indigenous woman, but she's kept at it. Her work has found listeners who appreciate how she connects traditional sounds with contemporary arrangements, without much fuss or grand statements about what it all means.
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