Ignasia & Andrés

Meet Ignasia and Andrés. Two years ago they decided to move to Amsterdam, leaving everything they had in their hometown in Chile behind. Their love story is one of shared dreams, creativity, and exploration. Ignasia, or “Nacha”, has been the star of the Bouncespace shop at Overtoom 141, but the 26-year-old actress of Italian descent, is ready for more. Andrés, an artist into photography, film and design, has been by her side for 4 years. Join us as we delve into their journey. Don’t hold up, because in their words: “this interview felt like a therapy session.”

Do you remember the first time you saw each other?

Ignasia: Well, kinda. We went to the same high school in a small town called Quillota, but as Andrés is four years older than me, I just saw him passing by. I remember I thought of him as the popular guy. His skater vibe gave him an aura that was hard to ignore, even for a then 13-year-old me. We were in totally different worlds, but I definitely noticed him. We even played at the same school event once—I sang, he played guitar. I doubt he saw me, though, haha.Andrés: Actually, I did notice her. Nacha always had this energy that made her stand out, even if we never talked back then.

You call Ignasia “Nacha”, why?

Andrés: Nacha's just what everyone calls her; it's a Chilean thing to have nicknames. I'm "Happy" to my friends because I'm always smiling. But whilst Nacha thought of me as a cool skater guy, I’m actually pretty shy. It took years before I dared to make a move on her. Our paths crossed again in Santiago, the capital of Chile, where we both moved after high school. I was getting into professional photography, and Nacha needed photos for her acting portfolio. Our first photo session together was when we started talking and became friends. Even though I was dating someone else at the time, we shared a good vibe.Ignasia: We definitely clicked, even if it was all professional at first. After our third photo session, Andrés invited me to an indie concert.Andrés: That was a good move, ‘cause I was taking pictures at this event and my friends were hosting the party so I could take her backstage. Nacha was clearly impressed, haha.Ignasia: Well, duh. He was working already, I mean, with bands and brands and stuff. It all felt so professional, and I was just a student.Andrés: After the concert we went to a bar, a very shitty one, we drank mojitos and danced to reggaeton.

“On our first date we didn’t kiss. I tried to, but he gave me a hug instead.”

What happened then?

Ignasia: Well, we didn’t kiss. I tried to, but he gave me a hug instead. Only until the second date we kissed.Andrés: I told you; I’m shy! But when we were dancing on our second date, I knew that I could go for the kiss. We share a love for reggaeton and indie music, I actually think our mutual passion for this music drew us together. But as we started dating, we noticed we had even more in common, like our similar dreams

What were those dreams?

Ignasia: Well, we’re both creative and passionate about making things. Our relationship was pretty strong and I even worked with Andrés for a while at his private studio. During the pandemic we broke up, I think the social restrictions made us feel locked up, so we weren’t our true selves. But after a while we started to see each other again. In the time apart I visited Amsterdam. That trip was transformative, I fell in love with the city's openness and warmth. I knew I had to move there one day. In the meantime, Andrés traveled through Europe. When we started to see each other again, we spoke a lot about our futures. We realized there was more to life than what we were living in Santiago. I told him that I wanted to move to Amsterdam, and he joined me right away. No hesitation whatsoever.

Do you think Chile pushed you out, or Amsterdam dragged you in?

Andrés: Hmm, that’s tough. Growing up, I always wanted to see and do more than what my small town offered. Getting the internet was a game-changer for me. It started with my love for skating, then I got a camera and began sharing my stuff online, on a skate blog. This opened up the whole world to me, right from my screen. At home I always felt a bit different, by the way that I dressed or my interests. I was so curious about what it would be like to live in another place.Ignasia: It’s not like we were unhappy in Chile, I think we both just knew there was so much more out there to experience, to learn. That craving for more—to see more, to be more—kind of glued us together. It wasn’t about running away from anything; it was about chasing all the possibilities that life could offer, together.

And when you got here, was it everything you hoped for?

Andrés: Well, Amsterdam was a big reality check for me. Back in Chile, I was working with top brands and running my own studio. But landing in Amsterdam? I pretty much had to start from scratch. I had sold everything except my camera. It was tough, not gonna lie. But what I really appreciate here is the social vibe, it's different. In Chile, it's all about family, but when it comes to work, everyone's out for themselves. Here, there's a sense of community that's just... it's refreshing.Ignasia: Amsterdam opened my eyes in so many ways, especially about equality. Back home, the gap between the rich and the poor is just massive, and it feels like the rich couldn’t care less about the poor. But here, there's this sense of everyone being in it together. The social system is way more welcoming than in Chile, I really appreciate that about the Netherlands.

How has Bouncespace played a role in your journey in Amsterdam?

Andrés: When we got to Amsterdam, it was a waiting game for me because I didn’t have a work permit yet, I was just living off my savings and not doing much. Nacha jumped into work, starting as a barista, but wasn't feeling it. After 6 months I got the job at Disruptive Records, which was located on the third floor at Bouncespace. I overheard people talking about how they were in need of a new barista. I couldn't help but brag about Nacha being an awesome barista. Next thing you know, she's part of the Bounce crew.Ignasia: Bouncespace is much more than just a place to work. It's where I can truly be myself and feel that my voice is heard. I've shared with the team my ambition to contribute beyond just the café role, and now I'm diving into roles as a social media and event manager, which I absolutely love. But I’m also still really passionate about acting, so: I'm launching an acting workshop right here at Bounce in the next few months.

You’re not giving up on acting?

Ignasia: After hitting a wall with traditional casting methods in the Netherlands, I decided to carve out my own path, combining my passion for acting and social media to create content, with Andrés supporting me as my videographer. Giving up isn't in my playbook. My ultimate aim is to meld my skills in social media and acting.

Living together and working together, how do you manage conflicts?

Ignasia: Andrés is such a calm presence, really. I tend to overthink things, and sometimes, Andrés doesn't offer much verbally, which sends my mind racing. But we're both committed to understanding each other better and are even in therapy to work on communication issues.Andrés: Sí.

Looking ahead, where do you want to be in 5 years?

Ignasia: In five years, I see us running our own creative studio, integrating acting and other creative projects.Andrés: My aim is to elevate my creative pursuits to new heights. Patience is key, but I'm eager to explore every avenue of creativity. Opening our studio here would be ideal, a place where we can both shine. But I actually see Nacha do bigger things, things she doesn’t even know she’s capable of right now. She truly is the star in our relationship.Ignasia: (laughs) Make sure you write that down!

Well, I think we will see more of you two since you also perform together, right?

Andrés: Yes, Nacha sings and I play the guitar. Just like how we started out in high school. It feels surreal. We had our first paid gig together. It's a full-circle moment, from playing in our small town, to now sharing our music here. I'd say it's "la media volá" – it's unbelievable.