Arco Iris

Rock andino (Andean rock) is a fusion genre that blends the instrumentation, rhythms, and scales of Andean folk traditions with the timbres and song forms of rock. Typical bands combine electric guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards with charango, quena and zampoña (panpipes), bombo legüero, and siku ensembles. The music often draws on rhythmic cells from huayno, tinku, saya, and other highland dances, while harmony and arrangements reflect progressive and psychedelic rock. Lyrics frequently address indigenous identity, nature, migration, and social justice, and may be sung in Spanish alongside Quechua or Aymara. The result is a sound that can be both celebratory and contemplative: soaring panpipe lines and charango arpeggios ride atop rock grooves and extended, prog-influenced forms, creating a distinctly Andean take on rock that foregrounds cultural heritage.