The multi-talented young singer, 21, who created his own music genre, dubbed "Q-pop," captivated audiences with unique and exotic performances that blend elements of K-pop with the indigenous languages widely spoken in the central Andes of South America.
"Q-pop is rooted in the heritage and culture of the indigenous Quechua people, one of the tribes in the Andes, but it's not just for locals but for people all over the world, just like K-pop," Tamayo told AJP in an interview just ahead of the concert.
The 90-minute concert, featuring their tribal languages, began with a rendition of BTS' song "Boy With Luv" and continued with a versatile repertoire of songs ranging from slow tempos to energetic beats, delighting both Korean and Peruvian audiences and keeping them enthralled throughout the concert.
He admitted that he is not fluent in English or Korea, but he said language barriers do not matter when it comes to music, which garnered the loudest applause of the night.
When asked how he got into K-pop, he explained that a circle of friends introduced him to the genre during a time when he was bullied in school. "I was all alone back then, but K-pop became a big community for me as I found people with whom I could share my passion, and everything changed," he recalled.
"Music changed my life, and I believe it can change yours, too," he stressed.
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