Amidst the background of R&B artists that remain popular on the radio today, you’ll find A.CHAL standing out from the rest in some respects. Many people who are fans, though, are unaware that Alejandro Chal is actually from Peru.
His father grew up near the larger cities, while his mother hailed from the rural northern region of Peru.
Four years of his early life were spent in Peru before moving to Queens, New York; an area bustling with musical influences in hip-hop and R&B. These influences, mixed with traditional sounds from Peru created a musically-inclined Alejandro who has gone on to create his own unique sound.
A.CHAL’s Sound
His music transcends traditional boundaries as it finds a way to fuse hip-hop, R&B and Spanish influences together, which is part of his unique appeal.
His music has been identified as genre-bending, culturally awoken, and geographically displaced at times. According to other musical critics, his sound is identified further as “hazy, sedated, and almost psychedelic.” A.CHAL created his own terminology for his music in which he feels fits his profile more organically: “big sexy.”
The most gratifying comparison would be made between A.CHAL and The Weeknd, which Alejandro would go on to say that he was “thankful” for the comparison and that “he’s a legend.” In the world of R&B, being compared to someone with an incredible talent like The Weeknd is a truly ego-boosting experience.
A Defining Moment
Several projects have defined his career; but, in the midst of a re-imagining of his own musical prowess after releasing his debut EP “Ballroom Riots,” he deleted all of his previous work from his Soundcloud page.
After finding himself and taking the time to work with new songwriters and producers during his hiatus, A.CHAL came back stronger than ever when he released his debut album “Welcome to GAZ.”
In his most recent project, an 11-track mix tape title, “ON GAZ,” he begins to scratch the surface of the sound he is trying to emit that has been likened to “chill-wave.” With each successive project aligning with its own special sound, there’s no telling what the future has in store for A.CHAL.
What’s next for A.CHAL?
Nothing new has come from A.CHAL yet this year, but because of his tenacity and consistency, it’s only a matter of time before he starts releasing new singles. His last project was released in June of 2017, leaving only a 1-year gap between that album and the one before it.
Because of his prior consistency, fans remain hopeful that he isn’t planning on going off-the-grid again anytime soon. All we can do is watch, wait, and listen when the time is right.
Want to read more Peruvian artist profiles? Don’t miss:
IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE: A PERUVIAN-AMERICAN RAPPER ON A MISSION
MARTIN CHAMBI: THE MAN WHO REVOLUTIONIZED PERUVIAN PHOTOGRAPHY
CESAR VALLEJO AND THE IMMORTAL POETRY HE LEFT BEHIND
