Creo que el arte, la pintura en este caso, es una forma de entablar un diálogo no sólo con uno mismo sino también con la vida misma. Es un diálogo para mí ya que no podría afirmar que uno puede dar una respuesta cerrada haciendo arte, es más bien un diálogo eterno.
I believe that art and painting, in this case, is a way to initiate dialogue, not just within oneself but also with life itself. This is an ongoing dialogue, and I would say that one cannot really give a closed (or final) answer concerning art.
– Basilia Guadalupe
Para empezar con algunos puntos básicas, de dónde vienes? Dónde estás?
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
BG: Vengo de una provincia del nordeste Argentino que se llama Corrientes. Nací ahí pero a los pocos días de nacer nos fuimos a vivir con mi familia a España. Mis primeros cinco años fueron allí y luego volví a vivir a Corrientes. Hace cinco años vivo en Buenos Aires y Ahora estoy en el Sillón de mi casa en el barrio San Isidro.
BG: I’m from a province in the northwest of Argentina called Corrientes. I was born there and shortly after I moved with my family to Spain. I spent my first 5 years of life there and then moved back to Corrientes. I returned to Buenos Aires 5 years ago where I’m currently sitting on the sofa in my house in San Isidro.
Que quieren decir “reflexión,” y “respuesta,” para ti?
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
BG: Quiere decir dar una respuesta desde el lugar en el mundo donde uno se para y encara la vida. Una respuesta desde la visión del mundo que uno tiene.
BG: This means to give a response from the place one stops and faces the world. A response from one’s point of view of the world.
Cómo se mete tu arte en esta definición?
How does your art fit into that definition?
BG: Creo que el arte, la pintura en este caso, es una forma de entablar un diálogo no sólo con uno mismo sino también con la vida misma. Es un diálogo para mí ya que no podría afirmar que uno puede dar una respuesta cerrada haciendo arte, es más bien un diálogo eterno. Kandinsky decía “Cada cuadro encierra misteriosamente toda una vida, toda una vida de muchos sufrimientos, dudas, horas de entusiasmo y de luz”. Yo creo que el arte que verdaderamente vale la pena mirar es aquel nos muestra casi sin querer toda esa energía de vida, toda la maravillosa complejidad de ser humanos. Creo que si en algún lado se cuela en mi arte la definición de reflexión y respuesta que dí es simplemente en el hecho de entrar en ese espacio de conexión donde se genera una reflexión sobre el mundo que quizás parezca que dura unos segundos pero continúa eternamente cuadro tras cuadro mientras intento dilucidar una respuesta.
BG: I believe that art and painting, in this case, is a way to initiate dialogue, not just within oneself but also with life itself. This is an ongoing dialogue, and I would say that one cannot really give a closed (or final) answer concerning art. As Kandisky said, “In every painting a whole is mysteriously enclosed, a whole life of tortures, doubts, of hours of enthusiasm and inspiration.” I believe that art that is really worth experiencing effortlessly depicts all that energy of life, all the complexity of human beings. If people hang up my art somewhere then my Reflection and Response is simply the fact that I’ve entered into that space of connection; (a place) where reflection about the world that seems to only last a few seconds but in reality continues forever (through) painting after painting (through which) I try to elucidate a response.
Que más estás haciendo actualmente? Que proyectos estás pensando trabajar próximamente?
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
Alan Pugliese es un cantante punk rock que nació y vive en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Conectamos con él por su padre Angel, un amigo de Peter cuando él vivía en Argentina hace unos años. Recientemente contactamos con Angel otra vez, estuvimos emocionados cuando Alan se apuntó a la idea de hacer una entrevista con nosotros. Alan forma parte del grupo Pegamento que toca en vivo a menudo. El cantante habla del papel de Reflexión en el proceso de componercanciones y Respuesta en el acto de tocarenvivo. Nos alegra la colaboración de Alan como parte del colectivo the LIFESTYLE. Lee el dialogo y mira los videos abajo!
Alan Pugliese is a punk rock vocalist straight of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We connected with Alan through his pops Angel, who was a friend of Peter’s while he was living in Argentina a few years back. After reconnecting with Angel recently, we were juiced when Alan was down for an Artist Feature with the LIFESTYLE. Alan is part of the group Pegamento and they perform live regularly. In our dialogue, Alan discusses the role of Reflection in songwriting and Response during liveperformance. We’re juiced to have Alan as part of the LIFESTYLE collective — peep the dialogue and some videos of his work below!
Alan Pugliese (2nd from left) & Co.
Estamos en contra de las canciones tristes; lo que queremos es transmitir alegría. Cantamos lo que vemos y lo que sabemos, las cosas que nos pasan, aveces escribimos las canciones de forma irónica.
We’re against [making] sad songs; what we’d like to do is communicate happiness. We sing about what we see and what we know, the things that happen to us, [and] sometimes we write songs in an ironic way.
– Alan Pugliese
Para empezar con algunos puntos básicas, de dónde vienes? Dónde estás?
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
AP: Mi nombre es Alan Pugliese, soy de Bs.As Argentina, y actualmente vivo hay.
AP: My name is Alan Pugliese, I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is where I live now.
Que quiere decir “reflexión,” y “respuesta,” para ti?
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
AP: Reflexion es pensar sobre un tema o experiencia tratando de mejorar ese aspecto, o madurar si la situación lo requiere.
Respuesta es la acción que puede cambiar una situación conflictiva para mejor.
AP: Reflection means to think about a topic or experience in order to try to improve it, or mature [from the experience] if the situation calls for that.
Response refers to an action that can change a difficult situation for the better.
Cómo se mete tu arte en esta definición?
How does your work fit in with that definition?
AP: Aveces reflexiono sobre un tema antes de escribir una canción, la respuesta la veo cuando subo al escenario.
AP: Sometimes I reflect on a topic before writing a song, and my response comes out when I get on stage.
Que más estás haciendo actualmente? Que proyectos estás pensando trabajar próximamente?
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
AP: Aparte de cantar creo veladores artesanales y soy fumigador.
Estoy apunto de sacer mi nuevo cd con mi banda.
AP: Aside from singing, I make hand-crafted tables and I work as a fumigator.
I’m also getting ready to release a new CD with my band.
Quien o que te inspira?
Who or what inspires you?
AP: Me inspiran las buenas experiencias.
AP: I’m inspired by good experiences.
Hay algo más que quieres que sepa el Collectivo?
Is there anything else you would like the Collective to know?
Recently I saw that someone had posted a preview of a documentary project on hip-hop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on a friend’s Facebook wall. After researching the project a bit, we sent an email to one of the film’s three creators, Diane Ghogomu, who welcomed the idea of participating in the LIFESTYLE Artist Feature series. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Diane has been living in Buenos Aires for some time, where she has worked along with Segundo Bercetche and Sebastian Muñoz to produce Buenos Aires Rap.
Diane discusses the Reflective and Responsive nature of hip-hop in the film, which follows the lives of various artists involved in this art form in the Argentine capital. Diane and her co-directors will be screening their project at the Buenos Aires Film Festival this year, and are currently fundraising in order to put finishing touches on the project and begin distribution. Check out the interview, trailer, and stills from the film below!
Sebastian Muñoz | Diane Ghogomu | Segundo Bercetche
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
DG: I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Steeltown, represent! Right now I am living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
DG: Reflection and Response is the process of acting authentically to each situation that is presented to you. I always think of the Lion King. Simba had to follow his guide Rafiki to the water to see himself. Simba had to look in the water and reflect on his situation, speak with the ancestors, see his own image in the shore before he knew how he had to continue. His response was more powerful because it wasn’t reactionary, but to a powerful impulse backed by his spirits! That’s how he knocked evil’s block off!
How does your project Buenos Aires Rap fit in with that definition?
DG:Buenos Aires Rap embodies Reflection and Response in various ways. First off, this project follows an incredible amount of artists whose music is a response to how they reflect on their own identities, their own existences, their own ways of life.
Lukas (Buenos Aires Rap)
Those artists who truly respect and understand the history of hip-hop and rap see themselves reflected in that history and the present hip-hop culture. Many of the Bolivian immigrants who live here in Buenos Aires spoke about being able to relate with African Americans living in ghettos during Reaganism. One of my favorite quotes comes from a character named Anton who says, “Through hip-hop I’ve been able to comprehend a lot. I’ve thought a lot. I’ve learned a lot. Here people who have been here for less than 200 years are going to tell you that you are an immigrant when your ancestors have been here since Before Christ? That’s not right. Nationality is only a lack of identity!”
Milito (Buenos Aires Rap)
That is a beautiful thing to me. These characters are able to reflect, transform, and respond through hip-hop and rap.
Secondly, the job of the documentarian is to do just that: reflect and respond. Anyone who tells you that documentaries are objective are lying to you. Our job is to reflect on a social phenomenon, and respond by placing a camera where and how we see fit. In this project we tried to reflect an image of Buenos Aires that is oft-ignored. Even people who live in Buenos Aires will have a hard time naming all of the urban landscapes that pass by on their screen. We hope that the impact of our project will be a process of reflection and response. Buenos Aires is often painted as a white and European society, without leaving space for her true colors. We hope people can reflect on the truths of the black, the brown,the ghetto-dwellers, the hardworking, the crazy, and those that are just looking to have a little fun, and realize that all of these narratives make Buenos Aires what she is. The response should be an integration of these personalities into the imagery of Argentina. Buenos Aires, reflect! THIS IS YOU!! As one of the characters Rasek raps, “We know you won’t understand it if we rap it, so we’ll breathe it into you.”
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
It´s Friday, which means we welcome another voice to the continuing diologue over at the LIFESTYLE´s Feature series. Frédéric Bussière uses primarily visual mediums to practice Reflection and Response. With experience that spans many places around the globe, Fred’s perspective is aided by difference lived and learned. He is also our first Collective member who currently resides in France. Peep the dialogue and links below to get to know the Craft behind the person that is Frédéric Bussière!
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
FB: Hey, my name is Frédéric Bussière, I’m Franco-Portuguese. Concerning where am I, that’s a bit harder. Right now: Paris, but I just came back from Sydney and I lived in Bonn, Germany and Buenos Aires before.
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
FB: For me Reflection brings me directly to an image of myself, as an artist. It is the assessment of critiques from those whom I work with and from the public. It is then a mirror, generated by others. In a general manner, I take a selection of these judgements from my peers, the others videographers, motion graphics designers and animators. I work most often for these critics, and my friends, than my clients.
Response, for me is the physical phenomenon. It rains, you are wet. It’s the response in the most obvious sense, the law of cause and effect. In French I would say: Under the budding poet hides a mathematician. I have no idea how to translate that in an English expression however.
How does your work fit in with that definition?
FB: My work, what I film and edit, what I draw, are my Response. I could not, not do what I do. It’s almost therapeutic. It is very much a need; to create, to tell stories, use my hands to realize something ambitious. I do not respond to the public, I respond to myself.
Reflection is only the manner in which I do things, my style, and my artistic direction.
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
FB: At this time I am making a lot of commercials for fashion brands, and lingerie, as well as producing animated sequences also for advertising. These projects are short and varied, which allows me to really experiment in several different domains: video, stop motion, traditional animation, and 3D. But what I really start to miss is fiction. I really tried as much as I could to bring a story to my commercials, but it still remains advertising, and their goal is to sell a brand image, a product, and not to tell a complex story.
In Sydney, I started to film electronic parties. My old flatmates were DJs and really brought me into the nocturnal life (even if the Australians begin their nights at the beginning of the afternoon, lol). After that moment, it became clear that I wanted to produce music clips. I hope to be able to start my first music clips in early 2013. However, the competition is really tough, and it will be much harder to set my foot in the door, especially here in France. That’s why I look towards the US.
At this time, I am finishing a live-action short feature, and I will try a new concept of narration this winter in Sri Lanka: a short interactive feature. But I can’t say more…it’s a secret. ^_^
In the end, two years ago, I founded with four other friends, a film and production studio: tadaaam-studio.com that allows us to finance animated fictional projects that are in general, very complicated to make feasible without a structure that a studio can provide.
Who or what inspires you?
FB: (for the free beer ^_^). Classical painting, photography. All these works of art tell stories, and going into museums is like going to the movies. It’s a passive inspiration I would say, and that orients my work at the written level.
Similar to that, there is a fast-growing technology that allows me to regularly create something that would have cost thousands of dollars a few years earlier. So the ever transforming domain that I work in also serves as my inspiration. I love video effects, like those of Michel Gondri (a French director who made music videos of the White Stripes, Killie Minogue, Daft Punk, Bjork..) and I “borrow” quite a few ideas from experimenters who you can find on the internet, but I won’t say their names so that I can keep my inspirations secret (evil laugh).
At this time and for several years, I have been fascinated by the work of Merlin Bronques. He is a photographer from New York who photographs the craziness and the women in huge international parties. The entirety of his collection creates a sort of documentary on the world of hipsters, of the youth who party as much as their bodies can take, of free women, of money. He is always where he must be, when he must be.
There is also those areas that I feel are rich in ideas, but that I have not yet explored, or haven’t dared, like contemporary dance.
Is there anything else you would like the Collective to know?
FB: Contemporary art, when it’s about watching a pile of rocks on the ground, and when you must read four pages to understand what it’s about, that annoys the hell out of me. These artists should become either intellectual writers, or take drawing lessons.
Shout out to…?
FB: To all my friends who I have met during my travels around the world, and who I fear I will never see again.
El Grillo Jujeño is a leader. Born in Jujuy, Argentina and moving to Buenos Aires 10 years ago, he turned his experience of “desarraigo,” (uprootedness) associated with changing his location into a response that led to the creation of various social and artistic Collectives focused on the migrant experience throughout Argentina. He is also a folk artist himself, a lawyer, and a entertainment industry entrepreneur. A true craftsperson whose activities prove the power of Response.
Para empezar con algunos puntos básicas, de dónde vienes? Dónde estás?
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
GJ: Nací en el norte de Argentina, en la Provincia de JUJUY, la misma se caracteriza por tener a parte de su territorio considerado “Patrimonio cultural, paisajistico e historico de la Humanidad”, hablo de la Quebrada de Humahuaca. También allí, en ese caprichoso y magnífico paisaje se encuentra el famoso “Cerro de los 7 colores” entre otras bellezas naturales, por lo que desde ya los invito a visitar esa maravillosa región.
Recuerdo una frase que dice:
“JUJUY le han puesto de nombre
Debe ser cosa de Dios,
En el idioma del cielo
Así se llama al amor.”
Me encuentro a más de 1700km de mi ciudad natal, en la ciudad de Buenos Aires o mas conocida como “la city porteña”, lugar donde se hace mas palpable “el crisol de razas” que poblaron a este pais. Es la ciudad “mas europeizada” dicen algunos. Esta mega ciudad, tierra donde muchos la consideran lugar de oportunidades, donde al transitar sus calles uno comprende porque “el tango” nace aquí.
Les comento algo que a lo mejor les parezca extraño, pero que también es verdad: dentro de ese crisol de razas que hacen a la actual poblacion argentina, también se encuentra la “RAÍZ AMERICANA”.
Esta ciudad fue receptora no solo de la migración europea, sino tambien de la migración interna del pais, por lo que les aconsejo (si es que tienen intenciones de conocer Bs As), hacer un recorrido cultural a traves de las “PEÑAS FOLKLORICAS”, fiestas donde se interpreta, baila y canta MUSICA FOLKLORICA ARGENTINA y también latinoamericana. Descubrirán una Argentina autóctona, americana y regional. Todo eso debido a la enorme extensión del territorio que se extiende desde Ushuaia hasta La Quiaca.
Así es, Argentina es muy rica en historia. Y estamos hablando de historia identitaria y originaria de esta tierra sudamericana, por lo que los invito nuevamente a venir y conocerla.
GJ: I was born in northern Argentina, in Jujuy Province, characterized by having part of its territory considered a Wrold Hertiage of “Cultural, scenic and historic” value. I talk of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Also here, in this moody and magnificent scenery is the famous “Mountain of 7 Colors” including more natural beauty, and now I invite you to visit this wonderful region.
I remember a saying that goes:
“They gave it the name JUJUY
It should be a thing of God,
In the language of heaven
This is called love. ”
I am more than 1700km from my home town, in the city of Buenos Aires, better known as “The Port City”, a place where the idea of “the melting pot” that settled in this country becomes palpable. Some say the city is “more Europeanized,”. This mega city, the land many consider a place of opportunity, where to walk it’s streets, one understands why “Tango” was born here.
I will tell you something that maybe seems strange but that is also true: in this melting pot of races that make the current population of Argentina there is also the “AMERICAN ROOT”.
This city was the recipient not only of European migration, but also of internal migration of Argentines, so I advise you (if you intend to travel to Buenos Aires), make a cultural journey through the “folkloric” parties where people perform plays, dance and sing ARGENTINE FOLK MUSIC and Latin American folk as well. One will discover a different sides of Argentina: native, American, and regional. This complexity is because of the vast expanse of territory stretching from Ushuaia to La Quiaca.
Indeed, Argentina is rich in history. And we’re talking about historical identity and the origins of this South American land, so I again invite you to come and get to know it.
Que quiere decir Reflection and Response para ti?
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
GJ: Lo asimilo con hacerse una pregunta o cuestionamiento, o CRISIS!!!!!!!!
Analizar el problema y buscar probables soluciones. Desde hace años me cuestioné lo siguiente: Todos tenemos nuestros sueños y metas personales, pero también tenemos sueños que implican a la sociedad en su conjunto, y si no lo pensamos asi, deberiamos empezar a entenderlo, creo yo. Pensar en el otro.
Aristoteles habló del hombre como “ser social”. Personalmente, considero que todos debemos aportar nuestro granito de arena al medio que nos rodea.
En estos 10 años que viví en BS AS conocí incontables provincianos de todo el país que sufren el “desarraigo” pero mantienen sus costumbres, cultura y tradiciones en la medida de sus posibilidades. La difusión de esas actividades generalmente no llegan a los medios masivos de comunicación .
Esos provincianos son considerados para los porteños como intrusos y por otro lado, para los provincianos que residen en sus provincias, estos desarraigados son porteños.
GJ: I think of Reflection as the idea of presenting a question, challenge, or CRISIS!!!
Analyze the problem and find possible solutions.
For years I questioned the following:
We all have our dreams and goals, but we also have dreams that involve society as a whole, and if we do not think like this, it’s something we should begin to understand. To think of the other.
Aristotle spoke of man as a “social being”. Personally, I think we should all do our bit for our environment.
In these 10 years I have lived in Buenos Aires I met countless migrants throughout the country who suffer “rootlessness” but retain their customs, culture and traditions as much as possible. The spread of these activities generally does not reach the mass media.
These migrants are considered intruders by those born in the city. On the other hand these same transplanted migrants are considered “rootless,” for the provincials who reside in their home provinces.
Que más estás haciendo actualmente? Que proyectos estás pensando trabajar próximamente? Como se encuentran esos proyectos con tu idea de Reflection and Response?
GJ: What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next? How do these projects fit in with your ideas on Reflection and Response?
Es por esto que decidí solidarizarme y aportar mi granito de arena a este mundo difundiendo lo hacen los provincianos y sobre todo los jujeños en BS AS, personas solidarias, trabajadoras, reunidas en centros de residentes o como “solitarios heroes”, (QUIJOTES DE LA CULTURA) que difunden sus tadiciones, cultura, música, comidas… TIPICAS ARGENTINAS!!!!!!!
YO YA NO SOY UN QUIJOTE SOLITARIO gracias a TODOS los que se animan a soñar con un mundo mejor y todos los que nos acompañan en nuestros emprendimientos.
Creo que es importante que las nuevas generaciones conozcan su pasado y puedan valorar la importancia que tiene el sentido de la IDENTIDAD.
CAMINATA DE LAS QUENAS
Es por eso que pensamos en la magia de los niños de Jujuy y me convertí en uno de los 4 organizadores del proyecto “CAMINATA DE LAS QUENAS”, Proyecto cultural, educativo, identitario, musical que se realiza todos los años en los meses de Julio en BS AS y en agosto en JUJUY. (IMPORTANTE: Este año es el Bicentenario del Exodo Jujeño)
GJ: Thus I decided to express my solidarity and contribute my bit to this world spreading the work of migrants, especially those from Jujuy, living in Buenos Aires: caring people, workers, residents gathered in centers or “lone heroes” (QUIJOTES OF CULTURE) who spread and promote thier traditions, culture, music, food … TYPICAL ARGENTINA!!!
I AM NO LONGER A SINGLE QUIXOTE thanks to ALL who dare to dream of a better world and all who join us in our endeavors.
I think it is important that new generations know their past and that this knowledge can help them appreciate the importance of a sense of identity.
WALK OF QUENAS
This is why we believe in the magic of children in Jujuy and I became one of the four organizers of the “WALK OF QUENAS” This project focuses on culture, education, identity, and music and is performed every year in July in Buenos Airs and in August in Jujuy. (IMPORTANT: This year is the bicentennial of Jujuy Exodus)
This week the LIFESTYLE brings the Feature series back with a global conversation based around Reflection and Response. Leopoldo Pérez Obregón’s craft is unique, innovative, yet informed by the various cultures of his home region of Corrientes, Argentina. His band Acorriente represents this dedicated craft and has shared the stage with the biggest names in Argentine folk music at the National Chamamé Festival in Corrientes. Check the interview below for more about Leo’s current and upcoming projects with content after the conversation. He is a craftsperson in motion.
Para empezar con algunos puntos básicas, de dónde vienes? Dónde estás?
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
LPO: Yo nací en Corrientes, norte de Argentina, una de las provincias más pobres del país. Ahora vivo en Buenos Aires, aunque no estoy seguro de eso. No importa que pase el 90% de mi tiempo en esta ciudad, siento que sigo viviendo en Corrientes y acá sólo estudio o trabajo.
LPO: I was born in Corrientes in northern Argentina, one of the most impoverished states of the country. I currently reside in Buenos Aires, although I’m not sure where I live. Although I spend 90% of my time here in this city, I feel that I’m still living in Corrientes because I only study and work here.
Que quiere decir Reflection and Response para ti?
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
LPO: No creo en las ideas que sostienen que el arte es esa cosa mística, romanticona y siempre bella que surge de expresar los íntimos sentimientos. Esa búsqueda por la espontaneidad irreflexiva y holgazana es una de las cosas que no me gusta encontrar entre los artistas. Por eso es que la idea de Reflection and Response me dice mucho, porque creo que del autismo en el arte no puede salir nada bueno.
Muchos artistas viven enamorados de su propia obra, y suponen que siempre sus creaciones son “innovadoras” porque asumen que el campo cultural en el que operan es una tábula rasa que empieza a escribirse desde el momento en el que ellos compusieron su primer canción o terminaron su primer lienzo. Cualquier intento de creación que presuma un campo cultural vacío, y que su aparición es acontextual, está destinado a ser un fracaso, a la irrelevancia, aunque pueda conseguir al principio alguno que otro aplauso fácil.
De esta manera entiendo que es fundamental que la comunidad de artistas no sea una comunidad de ciegos y sordos que pretendan crear siempre ex nihilo. Necesitamos saber que se hizo antes, y qué están haciendo los demás, para que nuestras propias creaciones tengan relevancia y puedan dialogar con los aportes anteriores que otros seres humanos fueron haciendo y hacen alrededor del tiempo. Si cada uno está preocupado por producir mucho y reflexionar poco, entonces hay mucha respuesta, pero poca interacción entre todos nosotros, y eso tampoco sirve.
“El que se larga a los gritos no escucha su propio canto”, dice una canción de Atahualpa Yupanqui, uno de los más grandes folkloristas que tuvo la Argentina. Seguramente a él le hubiera gustado mucho la idea de Reflection and Response.
LPO: I don’t believe in ideas that decree that art is some mystical thing, romantic and always beautiful and comes from expressing intimate feelings. I’m not attracted to the drive for spontaneity and idleness in artists. Indeed, Reflection and Response is meaningful for me because I don’t believe much can come out of from artistic isolation. Too many artists live enamored of their own work and believe that their work is somehow “innovative,” because they think the cultural field in which they operate is a blank slate that began when they started to compose their first song or finish their first canvas. Any intent to create based on the idea of a completely new or vacant cultural field with no context is destined for failure and irrelevance, though it may achieve some cheap applause.
Based on these ideas I find it fundamental that the artistic community not be blind and deaf and pretend to create out of nothing. We must know what was done before, what others are doing and creating in order for our creations to be relevant and can dialogue with previous ideas that human beings have been working on for all time. If everyone is focused on creating great quantities of work with little reflection, there remain many answers with limited interaction between the artistic community-something that doesn’t matter.
“One who strays too far from cries does not hear his or her own song,” sings Atahualpa Yupanqui, one of the most important folk artists in Argentina. He would have surely agreed with the idea of Reflection and Response.
Que más estás haciendo actualmente? Que proyectos estás pensando trabajar próximamente? Como se encuentran esos proyectos con tu idea de Reflection and Response?
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next? How do these projects fit in with your ideas on Reflection and Response?
LPO:Acorriente es una banda que hasta ahora logró insertarse bien en el campo cultural local. Creo que eso responde no sólo al talento individual de cada uno de los músicos que componen la banda, sino a una lectura buena del contexto artístico actual y a una intencionalidad de intervención sobre el campo cultural muy premeditada, y creo que exitosa en cuanto a sus cualidades estéticas también.
La banda puede disfrutarse sin conocer cómo ni qué es la música de Corrientes -que vendría a ser el chamamé-, pero si conocés el contexto probablemente puedas disfrutar de otras cosas que hacen que la banda tenga algo muy particular para decir.
Te mentiría si no te dijera que está entre mis planes recibirme de abogado. De algún lado tengo que sacar dinero para hacer música! Tengo un proyecto para hacer un registro audiovisual de dos músicos que a pesar de su talento sólo quedaron como grandes músicos de pequeños pueblos. Quiero reivindicar la figura y el talento de esos personajes ocultos por la pobreza y la marginalidad. Como proyecto artístico este año si puedo terminar eso estaría más que contento, además de hacer alguno que otro show con Acorriente.
LPO:Acorriente is a band that has been able until now to get involved in the local cultural scene. I believe that this comes from not only the individual talent of each member of the group, but also an astute understanding of current artistic context and a deliberate intention to get involved in this scene, and also positive aesthetic qualities. Although one can enjoy the band without an understanding of music from Corrientes, known as chamamé with an understanding of our cultural context one can enjoy particularities in our music that shows the band has something to say.
I would be lying if I did not say that graduating with a law degree wasn’t in my future plans. Somehow I have to make money to be able to create music! I’ve been thinking of doing an audiovisual collection of two musicians who are talented yet are only considered great artists in small towns. I would like to vindicate the talent of these people who have been marginalized because of poverty. I would be more than happy if I’m able to finish this project and do another show with Acorriente.
Quien o que te inspira?
Who or what inspires you?
LPO: Las mujeres Peter! Me inspiran las mujeres! Igual que vos, empecé a hacer música para tener muchas chicas. No, mentira, fue una mezcla de cosas. En realidad creo que hay que trabajar mucho y tratar de buscar menos el momento mágico de la inspiración, yo no me inspiro, pienso mucho en mis composiciones. Cuando atravieso momentos emocionales fuertes no me salen mis mejores cosas porque me cuesta pensar.
LPO: Women, Peter! Women inspire me. Just like you, I began to play music in order to meet women. Joking- it was a mix of things. In reality I believe it requires a lot of work and the attempt to find that magical moment of inspiration. I don’t get inspired, instead I labor over my compositions. My best work doesn’t come out when I dare to work from strong emotions because it becomes difficult to think.
Hay algo más que quieres que sepa el Collectivo?
Is there anything else you would like the Collective to know?
LPO: Sí. Quiero que sepan que tengo un trauma con que las cosas me van a explotar en la cara. Cada vez que voy a mear, por ejemplo, cuando me voy a secar las manos con la maquinita esa que sopla viento me agarra un miedo! Ni hablar del dispenser de agua caliente para el mate o del motor del auto.
Ah, y soy peronista. Muy importante.
LPO: I would like people to know that I am traumatized by that which blows up in my face. Whenever I go pee, for example, when I put my hands under the dryer I get a fright! Not to mention hot water from the thermos for mate or car motors.
Ah, I also am a Peronist. Very important.
Saludos a…?
Shout out to…?
LPO: Un gran saludo a mi amigo personal Roger Waters que viene a tocar a la Argentina dentro de poco, y al compañero Peter Muller, para que nunca se olvide de los pibes del barrio.
LPO: A shout out to my good friend Roger Waters who is shortly coming to Argentina to perform, and to my homie Peter Muller, so that he never forgets the neighborhood kids.
Shake This Maze is a compilation of tracks I made from 2009-2012. The recording of the album was done by me in Seattle, Washington, Berkeley, California, Oregon, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Madrid, Spain. The songs feature talent from most of those places who each add their own flavor to the tracks on which they appear. The title is taken from the chorus of a track off the album, entitled “Shake This Maze.”
V and I are putting out this album 100% independently. V has provided original handcrafted artwork and branding. From the logo to distribution, recording to shipping, this album comes from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international network.
We’re finishing the last touches on the CD and will be proud to bring you the final version very soon!!! Thanks for the support!!
First of all I’d like to thank everybody whose been riding with us through the Argentina Thursdays and V’s Recollection series. The periods when we produced these pieces were super important to our growth as artists and fundamental in learning how these mediums really act as reflection and response to our everyday environments. It has been such a joy to share this period and discuss it with others.
To end I go back to the beginning. Buenos Aires, 2010. I began getting back into writing flows during this period, and my first one in awhile was about something that happened far from Argentina, on a street somewhere in Tunisia. My friend and LIFESTYLEcollective member Nassim told about when he started practicing religion again after he saw a boy have a seizure and then miraculously stop. I felt the story would be a cool narrative to put into song. I took a famous track from the Amelie soundtrack, Comptine d’Un Autre Été, sped it up a bit threw some drums and some basic melodic elements and wrote the track.
I rerecorded an acapella today (December 8th) in Madrid.
Full Track (Early 2010)
Acapella (December 2011)
Yea he got up on the bus/ Summer in Tunisia sweat and dust/ And the wheels started to roll/ Things would change little did he know/ 10 minutes later he him lying there/ Eyes wide open in a broken stare/ Epileptic seizure mothers so scared/ The people move back to give the boy air/ While the uncle tried to resuscitate/ The mother realizes he’s slipping away/ Eyes fill with tears as she turns to pray/ Starts to cry shrieks of pain/ And my friends watches this from the bus/ Feels the mother and her grief for her son/ Suddenly he sees it from her eyes / Lost in the moment inside his mind
Suddenly the dude starts to breathe/ The passengers move back to their seats/ The mothers’ tears turn to joy/ And our protagonist smiles for her little boy/ Suddenly the sun starts to rise/ Move from the dark to the morning light/ The people move back to regular business/ And our dude thinks about what he’s just witnessed/ Quite a transition from near death to a new day/ All wrapped in two hours on a Tuesday/ Bus moves on as his thoughts move fast/ Wondered about death since his father passed/ He said he didn’t change right after then/ But after this moment he gained perspective/ So in the next few years he did his 5 prayers a night/ Started to live a more righteous life||
I think it was dope that Nas could tell the exact picture, the moment when he decided to start practicing again. Reflection and Response at its fullest, in a desert out in Tunisia then back to France, Nas’s country of birth. It’s pretty dope that Nas’s initial moment of spiritual clarity became my initial moment of artistic expression through hip hop.
I’ve Got A Feeling off the Beatles’ Let It Be in one of the dopest songs ever. The groove that makes up it’s verse just oozes cool. Cue Buenos Aires early 2010 and some inspiration and you get the ingredients that make up “Feeling!!!” I sped up that verse, added some original drums, and chopped it up even more in the middle part. There’s also some subtle original guitar work at the end of the track. There’s another classic rock sample right around 1:25. Free exclusive a capella of an upcoming unreleased track for whoever tweets the LIFESTYLE the answer.
Buenos Aires, Las Cañitas/Belgrano district, 16th floor circa 2009. One of my first projects in Argentina was a remix of the legendary Ray Charles’ Drown In My Own Tears. Chopped it up, threw some of that Logic synth on there. Pain is universal.
Tears!!!!!
Same location 2010. Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You is stuck in my head. Took the line right before she starts singing the verse and did some things. The flute you hear at the end is the homie Jaime, who plays flute and charango in a folk music band in the city.
the LIFESTYLE 