Martín Benavides

Described as an eclectic and eccentric musician, Martín Benavides is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He plays the theremin, bass, keyboards, accordion, vibraphone, marimba, lo-fi electronics, toy instruments, and more.

He has collaborated with an extensive roster of renowned artists across popular, classical, contemporary classical, experimental, and jazz music.

He has also worked in film and theater as a composer and arranger, alongside maintaining a vast solo discography that showcases his own music.

Artistic Career:

Born in Santiago, Chile, he completed his music studies at the Music Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

He has worked across a wide variety of musical styles and roles, with his most visible role being a performer alongside an extensive list of renowned artists such as Los Bunkers (MTV Unplugged), Inti-Illimani Histórico, Macha (Bloque Depresivo), Los Tres, Francisca Valenzuela, 31 Minutos, Fernando Milagros, Cuarteto Austral, Como Asesinar a Felipes, Hermanos Ilabaca, Dulce y Agraz, Masquemusica, Aerstame, and Matiah Chinaski, among many others.

He also maintains a constant collaboration with jazz and experimental music artists, performing live in various formats where he explores improvisation and pushes the boundaries of instruments and their sounds. This has consolidated his reputation as an unconventional instrumentalist, notably through his use of the theremin, his primary instrument. He also explores lo-fi electronics, electronic and acoustic toy instruments, effect pedals, loops, and anything else that can enhance the performance.

He released his first solo album (Dos) in 2015 and has since released at least five solo albums, along with several collaborative records alongside musicians such as Nicolás Vera, Marcos Meza, Matiah Chinaski, Ed Neidhardt, and Raúl Céspedes.

He is also a member of several bands, currently leading two main projects: Kaput (a surf rock trio with a wide range of influences) and Banda Volante (an eclectic orchestra centered around traditional jazz).

In the realm of applied music, he won a Pulsar Award in 2026 for producing the original soundtrack for the film Calurosa Navidad by 31 Minutos, and has worked on several film and television projects alongside composers like Camilo Salinas and Cristóbal Carvajal. He is the composer of all the original music for the documentary series Cocina Clandestina, which has over 10 episodes released on YouTube.

As a music producer, he has produced several notable recent Chilean albums, including Calurosa Navidad - BSO (31 Minutos), Canciones para Conversar con la Muerte (Pablo Ilabaca), Futuro Primitivo (Natalia Contesse), and Dios Perro (Sebastián Orellana).