Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Nacho Sarmiento
Nacho Sarmiento is a Chilean musician and songwriter based in Barcelona, whose music is deeply rooted in personal emotions and life experiences, transforming intimate moments into songs with meaning and emotional depth.
In 2025, Nacho Sarmiento began expanding his project across Europe through international radio exposure and live performances in cities such as Berlin.
After releasing four singles shaped by intense stories and a rock-pop sound, he closed 2025 with “La Nostalgia,” an acoustic song that explores the feeling of living far from one’s homeland and the memories that come with it. The song opens a more introspective, intimate, and stripped-down chapter in his musical path.
Looking ahead to 2026, Nacho Sarmiento will continue releasing new music, with the next song arriving in March, as part of his live performances in Barcelona and other European cities.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember it very clearly. It was in Chile, my home country. Around the age of six, I sang at an event together with my mother. I come from a family with several musicians, including my parents, so I was always surrounded by guitars and music. My grandmother also played a big role — she used to make me listen to classical music from a very young age. She loved Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and composers like them.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
When I was a pre-teen, around 1999–2000, I started listening to hip hop and formed my first group in that genre. That’s when I became interested in writing lyrics and composing music to rap over. Through that process, I learned to use Fruity Loops at a very young age. I still have a CD with hip hop tracks I composed back then.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
For many years, I was involved in other musical projects as a bassist, which is my main instrument. Meanwhile, I kept my own songs stored away — some of them for over 20 years — existing only in my head. In 2024, I finally decided to make them real and record them professionally as a fully self-managed project. I wanted to work with experienced Chilean musicians to achieve a strong sound and high-quality arrangements. This decision coincided with a major life change: leaving Chile and emigrating with my family to Barcelona. In many ways, this project represents a new chapter in my life.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
My sound changes depending on the theme of each song. Some tracks are more melancholic, others more uplifting. If I had to name international influences, Radiohead and Blonde Redhead would be key references. Overall, my music sits somewhere between rock and pop, except for my latest single “La Nostalgia,” which is a purely acoustic song.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Working with professional producers and arrangers has completely changed my approach. It helped me avoid repeating the same compositional patterns and discover new arrangements in a more natural way. Their perspectives and feedback have expanded my creative palette, and that has been the most valuable learning experience so far.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I usually compose songs with one of my guitars, and recently I’ve been using the piano at home quite a lot. In terms of software, I mainly use Cubase to record demos and capture new ideas.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Recently, I’ve been listening a lot to Facu Tobogán from Argentina. I really love his song “Guerras de junio.”
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
They’ve influenced it deeply. All of my lyrics are based on personal experiences, emotions I’ve felt at different moments in my life, or stories from people close to me. My entire project is built on that personal connection.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope listeners connect with the lyrics and feel the same emotions I felt when writing them. I aim to communicate my messages clearly and let the music be the vehicle for that. For example, in each music video, I try to visually tell the story that the song’s lyrics are expressing.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music has taught me that it can open doors anywhere in the world. Playing an instrument allows you to connect with people beyond language or culture. Writing your own songs adds another layer to that connection — it’s a very personal way of expressing who you are. Songwriting feels like a gift, and I’m grateful to be able to share it.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would love to perform in theaters, even small ones. There’s something very special about theaters when it comes to music. Last year, I had the chance to play in a small theater in Berlin, and it was a wonderful experience. If I had to choose a place in Barcelona, it would be Sala Apolo.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
It would have been a dream to collaborate with Radiohead or The Cure during the most melancholic periods of their careers. I feel I could have contributed lyrically to that emotional stage of their music.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nachosarmiento/
- Website: https://nachosarmiento.com/
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My dream is to do a self-managed tour across different European cities. It’s a medium-term goal I’m actively working toward. Living in Barcelona makes it easier to travel to nearby countries and cities, even by car. And of course, I plan to keep releasing new music this year and in the years to come.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope listeners discover an artist who tells real-life stories and whose songs they can relate to. Reaching more listeners and having them discover my music is what truly makes me happy.
