I was born 3.000 years ago
in a dense forest
at the end of the world.
Unconsciously I lived together with ancient empires
and after so long I’m starting to notice
the unsettling people’s footprints on my Earth.
That’s why I decided to get out of my comfort zone
and reveal myself before your eyes.
Fortunately
the space time continuum
is still relative.
Fitzroya is the musical alter ego of Juan Pablo Orrego Berríos, a Chilean composer, singer-songwriter, and sound artist based in Freiburg im Breisgau. His music blends elements of electro, rock, and folk, characterized by profound lyrics—mostly in Spanish—that explore personal experiences, perceptions, existential questions, love, friendship, and above all, the hope for a peaceful life, regardless of whether it is long or short. Fitzroya sings, plays electric guitar, and uses drum machines and a loop station to create his unique sound live.
In 2007, he earned a degree in music composition from the Universidad de Chile, primarily under the guidance of Pablo Aranda and Cirilo Vila. From 2007 to 2009, he was a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and studied composition with Caspar Johannes Walter at the Stuttgart University of Music. In 2016, he graduated as a Master of Arts in Composition and Music Theory from the University of Music Basel, where he continued his studies with Caspar Johannes Walter and Jakob Ullmann.
His works have been performed both in Chile and internationally. He has also participated in numerous artistic projects, including „Klangtaucher – Klingende Interventions im Rheindüker“ as part of the „ZeitRäume Basel“ biennale for music and architecture (Switzerland, 2015); „Desde fuera del Centro“ (From Outside the Center), a commission and premiere of „Cumpleaños, music for toys“ (Quebrada de Herrera, Chile, 2013); „Community in Progress – Allmonde (Episode 4)“ with Kevin Rittberger and Alain Badieu (Theater Basel, 2016), and „Música para cuerdas pulsadas“ (music for plucked strings), commissions for several guitar pieces (Chile, 2019).
Between 2002 and 2010, he was a member of the folk-rock band „Bombyx Mori,“ with whom he released two albums: „Bombyx Mori“ (2002) and „Jardines Sintéticos“ (2006). In 2009, he founded and co-edited the Chilean music publisher figura ediciones musicales. He currently resides in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
