Marcelo Puente was born in a copper mining town in Chile’s Atacama Desert and came of age during a time of political upheaval under the Allende government and the subsequent Pinochet military dictatorship. He migrated to Canada in 1974, where he continued his architectural studies while being involved in music and political activism. He formed bonds with Greek musicians, performing with the Compañeros band at the Greek coffee house Trojan Horse. He describes the sense of solidarity with Greeks during the dictatorship, performing a resistance-oriented repertoire.
[00:01:16] Early life in Chile
[00:07:50] Architecture and education after the coup
[00:08:56] Reflecting on politics and movements in Chile
[00:13:58] Music in Chile before and after the coup
[00:16:14] Introduced to new music and instruments
[00:19:08] University life and music during the coup
[00:21:23] Meeting Greek musicians in Toronto
[00:28:49] How experiencing dictatorship influenced relationships
[00:33:14] Chileans and Greeks influencing each other's music
[00:36:20] Multicultural audiences[00:40:50] Addressing Trojan Horse sexual politics
[00:43:09] How the Trojan Horse evolved after 1974
[00:47:13] Connecting with Greeks
[00:48:42] Did the Trojan Horse change under new owners?
[00:53:06] Legacy of the Trojan Horse and Companeros
[00:57:50] Sharing a song
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