Nano Stern
“Nano Stern is the best Chilean singer-songwriter of his generation, with his lyrics, melodies, message, humor and heart.”
Joan Baez
“At times with his violin but more often with his guitar, Stern astonished the audience so much, that by the end of the show, he received a double standing ovation.”
La Prensa, Panamá
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Nano Stern’s path as an artist follows richly crafted song lines laid by his family and his Chilean musical ancestry and unites those with a sound utterly fresh and relevant. The confluence of recent student and environmental political events in his home country Chile and Nano’s rise as an articulate writer and performer have, much to his chagrin, positioned him as the voice of a newly politicized Chilean generation.
Political, outspoken and passionate, Chilean singer-songwriter and activist Nano Stern has created his own musical language – an otherworldly sound that blends the youthful exuberance of folk music mixed with years of classical and jazz training against the powerful force of traditional Chilean revolutionary songs. What has emerged is a brilliantly layered confluence of Indigenous, African, European and North and South American musical influences that reverberate with a soulfulness and originality unlike any other South American artist performing today.
There is a rare power and beauty to a Nano Stern performance. His contagious personal energy and his fluency in English allows Nano to warmly include his international audiences in the stories of his Spanish songs.
Praised by folk legend Joan Baez as “the best young Chilean songwriter of his generation,” Stern is skilled across a range of instruments and languages and unites his talents to create a sound both utterly fresh and relevant. Nano’s closest companions on stage remain simply his guitar and staggering vocals.
“Stern’s appearance produced the kind of lightning you could have experienced in the ‘60s when everything seemed possible, and hope was in the air.” - The New York Times
Nano’s 7th studio recording Aún Creo en la belleza was released in 2022 along with the publication of his first collection of decimas poetry. Aún creo en la belleza features 13 songs and the collaboration of 3 important guest artists: Raly Barrionuevo from Argentina, Omar Camino from Peru and Magdalena Matthey from Chile.
In 2023, as the world commemorated 50 years since the coup d’état in Chile, Nano Stern revisited the songs of legendary folk singer Víctor Jara with tours throughout Europe, North and South America, released his newest recording Nano Stern Canta A Víctor Jara and a documentary (with Luis Emilio Briceño) "En Septiembre Canta el Gallo” [We'll be singing by September].
“the documentary that humanizes the Nueva Canción movement in Chile” - La Tercera, Santiago, Chile
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“their [Stern & Baez] performance generated the kind of lightning you might have experienced at a joyful '60s hootenanny when everything seemed possible and hope was in the air.“
Stephen Holden, New York Times“The cherubic and charismatic Chilean singer-songwriter, assisted by two long-time amigos, had a packed throng in thrall from the get-go with his passion, panache and well-directed political pronouncements. At one stage he changed an errant guitar lead in the blink of an eye.”
Tony Hillier, Rhythms Music Magazine, Womadelaide 2018“… The prodigiously talented Nano Stern represents a new generation of Chilean musicians who is making an enormous contribution to Chilean music … an explosive opening set ”
Raul da Gama, World Music Report, Toronto, Canada 2017“When you see him live, it’s very easy to understand the reason for his dazzling career.” —Jorge Drexler, Uruguay
“Nano Stern is the face and voice of a whole new chapter of the Nueva Cancion Chilena.” —La Nacion, Argentina
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With Symphony
Nano Stern composed and premiered his first symphonic composition with the Concepcion Orchestra in Chile in September 2023, in conjunction with the commemoration of the 50 years since the military coup.The composition,“Hará brotar el momento” was inspired by the legendary Victor Jara’s last poem written just before he was murdered.
Nano creates a work in which the ancient roots of Chilean folk music are reimagined in a contemporary context, fusing archaic melodies with modern harmonic treatments and syncopated Latin-American rhythms with immersive contrapuntal passages.
In addition, Nano offers symphonic arrangements of songs by Violeta Parra, Patricio Manns, Fernando Cabrera, Eduardo Gatti, Victor Jara, Mazapán and Nano Stern.
Other Collaborations
Nano Stern with Ensemble La Misola performing songs from the Spanish Renaissance, released Mas Vale Trocar in 2022Nano Stern & Simon Gonzalez record an orchestral homage to Congreso: Ya es Tiempo, released in 2020 [Simon is the son of founding member Sergio ‘Tilo’ Gonzalez]
Nano Stern with Mattias Perez, one of Sweden’s premier folk musicians, recorded Otonal in 2009
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A Journey Through the Music of the World
By Nano Stern
Discover the cultural routes that have shaped the different sound traditions of the planet with Nano Stern. This is a course of eight 60-minute lessons. It explores the musical diversity of human culture around the globe, focusing on historical, geographical, linguistic and other cultural aspects that allow for a general understanding of the different musical traditions that have developed, and the relations between them.A Journey Through the Music of the World
Nano Stern Talks Life on Tour and Musical Traditions
By Berklee OnlineIn May 2018 Nano Stern stopped by Berklee Online to lay some music, discuss life on tour, and talk about musical traditions from Latin America. It is a series of 4 videos:
1- Life on Tour
2- “Festejo de Color”
3- Conveying Culture in Songwriting
4- “Punta de Lanza”
“The spirit of the late Victor Jara and Violeta Parra hovers over the singer songwriter as he digs deep
into his inner worlds and landscapes. Aesthetic beauty abounds, musically and poetically.”
Rhythms Magazine, Albums: World Music Folk
El Pimiento, Victor Jara
