The Digital Priestess of Neoperreo and Latin Electronic Rebellion
The Foundations of a Desert Queen
Valeria Cisternas was born on December 1, 1986, in Iquique, Chile. Located on the edge of the Atacama Desert, closer to the Peruvian border than the Chilean capital, Iquique’s isolated coastal environment played a crucial role in her formative years. Growing up in a place where the plateaus meet the coastline, Valeria developed a self-reliant, DIY spirit.
Before she ever stepped into a recording booth, Valeria was an accomplished tattoo artist. Beginning her professional tattooing career around 2011, she used the medium as a passport to travel across South America and Europe. It was during these travels—and the long hours spent in tattoo studios—that she began experimenting with a MacBook Air her mother had bought her.
Utilizing simple tools like a built-in webcam and GarageBand, she began recording tracks and filming lo-fi videos that she uploaded to the internet, unknowingly laying the groundwork for a global movement.
The Birth of Neoperreo: From Hashtag to Heritage
The term “Neoperreo” was coined almost by accident during an online radio broadcast. When asked to describe her sound—which was slower, rawer, and more “strange” than the pop-leaning reggaeton of the time—the word simply slipped out. “Perreo” refers to the grinding dance style associated with reggaeton; “Neo” signaled its futuristic, inclusive evolution.
Tomasa’s musical journey is a narrative of community building. Recognizing that she and her friends—the “freaks,” “metalheads,” and “queer kids”—didn’t fit the aesthetic profile of traditional reggaeton clubs, she began organizing her own parties. These events were safe spaces where misfits could dance without judgment. This ethos of radical inclusion quickly spread through digital networks, leading to the formation of the Neoperreo collective, which now hosts events from Mexico City to Berlin and Los Angeles.
Musical Artistry and Global Influence
The “Tomasa sound” is characterized by a “darker, more industrial” production style that draws as much from witch house and techno as it does from classic dembow. Her breakout tracks, such as “Tu Señora” (with Talisto) and “Barre Con el Pelo,” demonstrate her ability to subvert traditional narratives. While mainstream reggaeton often relied on polished love stories, Tomasa’s lyrics are blunt, honest, and fiercely representative of her generation’s sexual agency.
Her major influences are rooted in the street-oriented roots of the genre, citing pioneers like Ivy Queen for their feminist undertones. However, her visual identity—a neon-drenched, “cyber-punk” look often featuring her own tattoo work—is entirely her own. This visual identity has made her a favorite in the fashion world, leading to collaborations with brands like Adidas and appearances in Vogue.
Recent Activities: 2024–2026
As of 2026, Tomasa del Real remains the undisputed “matriarch” of the scene. Following a series of landmark performances at festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella, she has focused on expanding the Neoperreo label as a vehicle for emerging artists.
Her recent output continues to push the boundaries of “high-fidelity perreo.” In February 2026, she released the single “esa” (featuring ZVNEX), following a string of 2024 and 2025 hits like “LA CHISMOTEKA” and “Bulma.” She remains a fixture on the global club circuit, proving that “perreo is a social lubricant” for everyone, regardless of their background or identity.
Quick Reference: Discography & Milestones
Key Musical Milestones
| Year | Title / Milestone | Label | Significance |
| 2016 | Bien Y Mal | Independent | Debut album establishing the Neoperreo sound. |
| 2018 | Bellaca del Año | Nacional Records | Major label debut; global critical acclaim. |
| 2019 | TDR | Nacional Records | A mix of “romantic and extreme perreo.” |
| 2021 | La Putería | Independent | Exploration of “HXC Techno Gore” and digital agency. |
| 2025 | LA CHISMOTEKA | Independent | Modern collaborative club anthem. |
| 2026 | esa | Independent | Latest single exploring hyper-modern textures. |
Selected Honors and Impact
- “La Reina del Neoperreo”: Widely recognized as the pioneer who coined the term and architected the movement.
- Cultural Innovator: Credited with making reggaeton inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community and “alternative” audiences.
- Coachella & Lollapalooza: One of the first independent Chilean reggaeton artists to perform on these global stages.
The Legacy of the “Bellaca”
Tomasa del Real’s legacy is defined by liberation. By reclaiming the term “perreo” for everyone, she has broken down the barriers of a historically gatekept genre. In her own words, “People are using ‘neoperreo’ to refer to a genre, which I think is great… it helps my brand grow.”
