We recently connected with Bernarda Castillo and have shared our conversation below.

Bernarda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

It’s a difficult question because, at the same time, it’s about defining what happiness really is, haha. However, even though it’s challenging economically, at the end of the day I’m grateful to dedicate myself to this. And, of course, without romanticizing it, it’s a pleasure to have, for example, some flexible mornings where I can choose to work in a library, at home, or elsewhere. Or just have a calm breakfast while watching a series.

I think it also requires a lot of self-discipline—you have to cultivate it—and, of course, a supportive social context and circle. Luckily, I live with my partner, who does the same work. We have our ups and downs, but fortunately, we have each other to lean on during the most difficult moments, and to celebrate the happiest ones, when we feel we’ve achieved something meaningful.

Finally, I think there’s a difference between making a living from music and making a living from my music. Currently, my work revolves around music, communications, and culture, but I don’t live off my own music. I believe that to do so, it takes a huge investment of time and effort. I greatly admire people who manage it—these are years of work. As a listener or fan, you only see the surface and the results, but building a relatively successful career requires a lot of time and a whole team working toward a common goal.

Nowadays, I choose to live off art in all its forms, like a hummingbird, moving from project to project, with the dream that one day all of this will bear fruit and allow me more time to create.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed music and art in general. I used to draw and read a lot, thanks to my parents’ encouragement, but I’ve always listened to music attentively—both listening to albums in my living room and attending live concerts in parks or other venues. Once, while studying piano in my adolescence, my music theory teacher encouraged us to create a song using everything we had learned: this changed my life. It was my first experience of bringing musical creation to reality—that is, something that started in my head became real, and then it sounded, and other people could hear it! It felt like magic.

After this, I decided to study Musical Composition and enrolled at the University of Chile, where I studied for seven long years. Alongside my studies, I worked creating music for children with a company called Teatro Ajeno, and later I founded the children’s music group Wachún, which will soon celebrate 10 years of activity, performing in various places across the country and Latin America, and releasing three albums.

On this crazy journey of life, I’ve participated in many projects I feel grateful for and proud of, creating choral music,I used to be a vocalist and composer in the duo CRUDA, commercial voiceovers, as well as La Coda Podcast alongside Andrés Mondaca, a podcast about the creative processes of emerging Chilean musicians. In its second season, we shifted focus to talk about AI and music. Thanks to that, we discovered the AI Song Contest, which we decided to enter, and to our surprise, we won the 2024 edition, traveling to Zurich, Switzerland, to receive the award.

Currently, I work in outreach and communications at CRIN Chile, a professional association of children’s musicians in Chile, while also working on one of the most important projects of my life: Bérnika.

Bérnika is my solo project, where I compose and perform my music live by myself using my “little machines,” delivering an intimate and provocative performance. I like to mix everything I love: vocal effects, electronics, pop, and some touches of urban music. I’m currently working on my first EP, for which I’ve already released my first single called “A dónde iré?” in a collaboration with singer and songwriter Al-Luz.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

First of all, better social conditions are essential for creativity. Currently, fully dedicating oneself to art in Chile is almost a fantasy, because creating requires both adequate time—which is often consumed by other work, caregiving, or productive tasks—and a physical space suited for your art: quiet, equipped with the necessary materials or human resources. These two elements (time and space) are scarce today and require significant effort and privilege to obtain. Only a cultural and social shift can change this: a renewed valuing of culture and its expressions as a vital part of society, especially considering the many Chilean artists with great international potential and a culture rich in diverse artistic expressions.

On the other hand, everyone who consumes music, theater, or art in general can make a meaningful difference through small actions. For example: choosing to attend live national music shows, buying merchandise from favorite artists, purchasing tickets in advance instead of at the last minute, recommending artists to friends and family, and actively choosing to listen to local music. People would be surprised at the variety and high quality of musical genres available today, many of which remain relatively unknown.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think this is something I’m still learning: managing anxiety and the desire to achieve things quickly. It’s perhaps related to the social pressure around success, age, and constantly staying present and relevant on social media.

There are moments when I feel like I’m not being productive, or that I’m wasting time and missing opportunities to become famous or successful—but this only leads to frustration and feeling bad.

Gradually, I’m learning that I am unique, that my life story and context are unique, and that’s what is truly valuable and genuine. I try not to compare myself to others, who may seem to be “doing better,” but I don’t know everything behind their journey. I’m still searching for my path, entering the music industry slowly and in the way that feels most true to myself. I’m striving for a healthy balance.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernikamusica
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernymusica/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernarda-castillo-2b886194/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bernikamusica
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/6hgT5K7591Ijwm4jhIJzsX?si=gKHIREUkSj233iGM2Nr0KA

Image Credits

Bárbar García López, Ralph Rosenbauer, Gabriela Toro, Simón Orozco.