In 1980, the singer had her musical debut with the children's music group Mazapán, with whom she recorded multiple albums and hosted a TV program in Canal 11 and later in
Televisión Nacional de Chile. Meanwhile, she also pursued her interest for her own generation's music:
Canto Nuevo. Along with
Eduardo Peralta, she inaugurated
Café del Cerro, a key location in the development of the musical movement. In 1982, Echenique traveled to the United States, where she formed a baroque music group at
Princeton University. In 1986, she returned to Chile, to join Eduardo Gatti in a series of concerts at the Teatro Providencia. The following year, Echenique collaborated on the Voces album, recorded to welcome
Pope John Paul II in his visit to Chile. Her song, a duet version of "La cigarra" with
Leon Gieco, was the first single on the album. In 1987, Echenique recorded her first album as a solo act,
Tiempo Fecundo, which included covers of "Todo cambia" and "Yolanda", which was well received. In 1989, she released her second solo album,
En Silencio, in which she performed original compositions. == Personal life ==