Key Takeaways
- AKRILLA, a Chilean neoperreo pioneer born in 2003, earned a OnesToWatch Class of 2026 spot with her debut album epistolares and its deluxe edition, which blend experimental production, reggaeton, and pop.
- Her neoperreo sound reshapes reggaeton with heavier 808s, autotune, hyperpop touches, and club energy while embracing queer, feminist values and pushing Latin music to new global audiences.
- AKRILLA’s breakout 20-song set at Lollapalooza Chile 2026, which included an unreleased track, set the stage for European festivals like WARM UP Murcia on May 1.
- Her authentic, counter-trend style and range across plugg, cumbia, and ranchera position her for major label breakthroughs, echoing the arena-level rise of select OnesToWatch alumni.
- Fans can discover more rising artists like AKRILLA early through OnesToWatch’s curated Class of 2026 list and exclusive artist coverage.
Meet AKRILLA: From Maipú’s Underground to OnesToWatch’s Class of 2026
Fernanda Sepúlveda, born October 17, 2003, in Maipú, Chile, is a Chilean rapper and singer-songwriter signed to Lotus Records, and her artistic evolution reflects everything OnesToWatch looks for in emerging talent. Signed to Lotus, she released her debut album Epistolares in August 2024, a project that blends alternative pop, reggaeton, and drum & bass while capturing the spirit of contemporary Latin music and stretching its sonic edges. This bold approach earned recognition from PLAYY. Magazine, which hailed her as “The Chilean Rising Star Redefining Latin Pop”, confirming what early supporters already heard in her work.
AKRILLA stands out because she refuses to chase trends. While countless artists focus on viral moments, Raimundo Flores Sierralta in Revista Anfibia called her one of the most important emerging artists, linking her eclectic internet-informed taste to left-wing political ideas in her lyrics. This grounded, political voice connects directly to her musical choices. Her catalog spans plugg, pop, reggaeton, cumbia, and ranchera, a range that showcases the kind of artistic flexibility that often precedes major career leaps for OnesToWatch alumni, a pattern explored in more detail later in this article.
Why AKRILLA’s Neoperreo Captivates: Gritty Club Energy with Global Hooks
AKRILLA’s sound captures the current evolution of neoperreo, a movement that emerged in the 2010s as an internet-native reboot of reggaeton’s perreo culture, driven by a DIY, club-focused scene that embraces queer, feminist, and body-positive values. Her production keeps neoperreo’s dembow backbone intact while adding heavier 808s, sharp digital percussion, and glossy autotuned vocals. These choices draw from global and experimental club currents, moombahton’s mid-tempo pulse, and hyperpop’s online sensibility, creating tracks that feel both underground and instantly replayable.
Within the broader Chilean neoperreo movement, AKRILLA’s approach stands out. The scene she represents features artists who rap-sing with heavy autotune over minimal, sub-driven beats, mixing romantic themes, barrio pride, and club culture while folding avant-club experiments into the reggaeton chileno sound. This fusion underpins what OnesToWatch’s custom analysis highlights: “Truly, there is no other artist doing what Akrilla is doing.” Her ability to keep neoperreo locked on the dance floor, then shift between glossy melodic hooks and raw street energy, positions her as a global ambassador for Chilean innovation in Latin music and sets the stage for her growing presence on international stages.
AKRILLA on Stage: From Surfestival to Lollapalooza and Beyond
AKRILLA’s 2026 tour run proves that her studio vision translates directly to the stage. Her live reputation grew quickly after her set at La Serena Surfestival on January 31, where she tightened her festival-ready setlist. That momentum carried into a commanding 20-song Lollapalooza Chile performance on March 15, which included an unreleased track and showcased her stamina, crowd control, and vocal consistency. Building on those Chilean dates, she now steps into the international circuit with WARM UP Estrella de Levante in Murcia, Spain on May 1 and additional festival appearances across Europe.
AKRILLA’s 2026 European Dates: How to See Her Live
AKRILLA’s 2026 European expansion gives fans a rare chance to experience neoperreo at close range before her venues scale up. Her upcoming WARM UP performance in Murcia on May 1 and other festival slots form her first major European festival circuit and build directly on the buzz from her Lollapalooza debut. Interest in tickets has climbed since the January release of “nos keremos tanto” featuring AKRILLA, which introduced her voice to new listeners across streaming platforms.
Fans planning to attend can expect European festival tickets to range from roughly $50 to $150, depending on the event and ticket tier. Presale announcements and on-sale dates usually appear first on AKRILLA’s social media channels, so following her accounts offers the most direct path to early access. Her three concerts across Denmark and Spain in 2025 already showed how limited-capacity rooms amplify her energy, and the 2026 run may be one of the last chances to see her in smaller festival settings before a likely shift toward larger arenas. For deeper context on how artists like AKRILLA move from club stages to global tours, explore OnesToWatch’s exclusive artist coverage and Class of 2026 features.
AKRILLA’s 2026 Horizon: New Music, Key Collaborations, and Next-Level Momentum
AKRILLA’s 2026 plans show how quickly her career is accelerating within the OnesToWatch ecosystem. Her debut of an unknown new song at Lollapalooza Chile signals that more original material is on the way and that she trusts festival crowds with her freshest ideas. At the same time, her collaboration on “nos keremos tanto” feat. AKRILLA by iza tkm, released January 15, 2026, on Virgin Music/iza tkm, extends her reach into new markets and playlists through a high-visibility feature.
These moves point toward a clear next phase in her career. New music teased on major stages, plus strategic collaborations on established labels, often precede major label offers and larger touring opportunities. OnesToWatch’s editorial team views AKRILLA as a strong candidate for arena-level progression within the next 18 months, based on patterns seen in past breakthrough stories and the speed of her current growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is AKRILLA and why is she significant?
AKRILLA (Fernanda Sepúlveda) is a 22-year-old Chilean rapper and singer-songwriter who represents the global evolution of neoperreo. OnesToWatch selected her for the Class of 2026 because she fuses experimental production, reggaeton foundations, and pop-ready hooks on her debut album epistolares and its deluxe edition epistolares+. Her significance comes from taking Chilean neoperreo beyond Latin America while keeping the street-level credibility and club intensity that define the movement.
What genre does AKRILLA represent and how does it differ from traditional reggaeton?
AKRILLA champions neoperreo, the experimental evolution of reggaeton discussed earlier in this article. Traditional reggaeton often centers on polished, radio-focused hits, while neoperreo leans into DIY aesthetics, queer and feminist values, and more adventurous production choices. AKRILLA’s version adds heavier 808s, autotuned vocals, and clear influences from hyperpop and global club music, creating lean but hard-hitting tracks that work both on dance floors and on streaming playlists.
What are AKRILLA’s major 2026 performances and releases?
AKRILLA’s 2026 schedule includes her breakthrough Lollapalooza Chile performance with a 20-song set and a new track debut, followed by European festival appearances such as WARM UP Murcia on May 1. On the release side, her collaboration on iza tkm’s “nos keremos tanto,” which dropped on January 15, 2026, expands her presence on international streaming platforms. Together, these milestones mark her shift from regional Chilean standout to a regular name on the global festival circuit.
Why did OnesToWatch include AKRILLA in the Class of 2026?
OnesToWatch included AKRILLA in the Class of 2026 because her work cuts against formulaic, algorithm-driven music and feels unmistakably personal. She blends experimental production with memorable melodies, ties her lyrics to political awareness, and pushes neoperreo into new sonic territory. This combination reflects the kind of grounded artistry that often scales from small stages to major venues, as seen in previous OnesToWatch success stories.
How can fans discover more emerging artists like AKRILLA?
Fans can discover more artists like AKRILLA through OnesToWatch’s human-led curation, which relies on editorial judgment instead of automated recommendations. The platform’s pipeline moves artists from playlist placements to feature stories and then to yearly spotlight lists, giving listeners early access to voices on the verge of wider recognition. Around 300 artists receive coverage each year, and only a select group earns Class of 2026 status, which signals a strong belief in their long-term potential.
Discover AKRILLA and the Future of Music with OnesToWatch
AKRILLA’s rise as a neoperreo trailblazer illustrates OnesToWatch’s commitment to highlighting authentic innovation before it reaches the mainstream. Her path from Maipú’s underground scene to international festival stages supports the same curation approach that previously surfaced breakthrough artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan during their early phases. Check out OnesToWatch’s Top Artists To Watch in 2026 to explore the full roster of rising talent poised for similar breakthroughs. Then visit OnesToWatch to find your next favorite artist and learn the stories behind their rise, gaining early insight into where music is headed next.