Interview with Agustín Chipi Guerra from Los Pibes Losa

Written by on February 25, 2019

Argentina has been a great and prolific place in Latin America for Rock music, dating all the way back to the 60s, so it’s not surprising that they have a wide variety of groups playing and offering great music for everyone to hear.

Los Pibes Losa is a local Rock band from Argentina that has been in the business for quite some time now and they have been able to offer an interesting mix of classic Rock with more national elements, thus becoming a very unique band to listen to.

I had an interview with their vocalist, Agustín Chipi Guerra, and we discussed multiple topics regarding the band and his own views about the music business.

Thank you very much for this opportunity, Agustín. It is a pleasure. For all those who are not familiar with you and their origins, what is Los Pibes Losa and how was the band formed?

The band was formed back in 2010; we came from different projects and my friendship with Lukitas Suarez made it happen once Julio Rojas and Dario Giraldo got involved.At that time it was to meet and play, and we did it in the Corralon de Floresta, a space recovered by the neighbors and within the framework of an independent carnival corso.

The project as Los Pibes Losa began after that experience where we saw that the music we were making was consistent for everyone involved, when Dario, Cordobes and Lukas had more availability by the end of 2011. In December 2011 we played in the program FMP3 of Fm The Tribe of Mingo and Suka, although under the name Dale Padelante, and then as, Los Pibes Losa, in August 2012 we debuted in the neighborhood in which we lived then in San Martin, in the Martin Fierro of Villa Cultural Center Freedom.

 

From a personal point of view, what were the musicians and albums that influenced you? Why did you decide to be a professional vocalist?

I do not consider myself a professional singer; I’m more of a person who is expressing himself, and to do what we do, we have to combine our professions with the music. Musicians, thousands, from the Stones, Patricio Rey and Redonditos de Ricota, Sumo, Red Hot Chili Pepers, Gorillaz, el Gran Silencio, Encías Sangrantes, Andando Descalzo, Los Gardelitos , Los Charros, Leo Matioli.

 

 

Can you name some of your favorite albums?

Un homenaje al cielo by Leo Matioli.

Chuntaros Radio Poder by El Gran Silencio.

Gardeliando by Los Gardelitos.

Solo para entendidos by Damas Gratis.

Ludoteka by Encias Sangrantes.

Casa Babylon by Mano Negra.

 

Naturally, being a vocalist is different from being a guitarist or drummer, for example. Your body is your instrument. How do you prepare to sing before the concerts and keep your vocal cords in good condition?

I’m really unprofessional, to be honest. I try not to scream; drink water; if you can warm the vocal cords, then perfect; avoid cold drinks above all beer and alcohol, and not smoking, but sometimes that’s inevitable. A few years ago I stopped working as a school teacher every day to have less voice wear.

 

It is easier for an instrumentalist to play different styles. Are you willing to try different aspects as a vocalist?

I am willing to make popular music that comes to us on our own initiative, our messages are strongly social and we try to make that happen. I understand that there are good singers whose style I admire. Feller de Manijas, or Sebastian Sanguinetti of Pera de Goma, Miguel Abuelo, etc. Now, it is not that I seek to improve the technique with more challenging material, but to convey what we feel.

 

Los Pibes Losa already have a certain trajectory in the business. Considering everything you’ve learned so far, what has surprised you the most about the music business? Something you did not expect to discover when you started?

Well, there are organized circuits. Rock is a little more independent in the sense of its conformation of projects. If you want more self-managed, the tropical music here has its own projects but what comes is generally the reverse: there are producers and a more closed circuit. Projects last less because they belong to the producers and when the business does not perform, the band does not carry on.

Amen of it, as we are a band that fuses both styles it is difficult to be in both circles, but there are very interesting self-management and cooperative experiences like La Delio Valdez, and many others that take a bit of everything.

We did not become musicians to think about the business side of things; it was rather something that we discovered later on and there was an obvious lack of training and general awareness that it would be good that all Argentines musicians have the possibility to access and learn from.

 

Argentina is known for historically having a rock scene quite prolific and with various styles and influences. What do you think this is due to?

Well, our idiosyncrasy it is part of the melting pot of ethnicities that settled us, as it was the case throughout Latin America. I think it is due to the great influence of the English-speaking media since the decades of the 60-70 which propelled a young sound against traditional ones, especially the ones that are part of our identity, Tango and Folklore.Today, fortunately, there is a greater musical awareness of our roots and everything is valued a little more.

But there was a strong adoption of Rock as a counterpoint to the culture of our parents, as a form of independence. Also Rock music of the 60-70 was all about liberation, ideals, new forms of drugs, and experimentation. Rebellion. In Argentina, it accompanied the form of expression of a persecuted and stigmatized youth with strong political changes and persecutions which strengthened that identity that rock is based on and defends. That fed the link with our popular classes even more.

 

What are the goals you have with Los Pibes Losa for this 2019 and in the coming years?

Continue to grow, record more records, play abroad, and be able to settle in the local circuit as a serious bet.

Musically speaking, are you satisfied with the current musical direction of the band? Would you like to experiment on the next albums?

Yes. We are independent and that’s how we like to handle it until now. I think the electronic beat with popular music is a great bet, to be able to combine that. We are on that path.

What are the most common challenges of making professional music in Argentina?

Many, as in all countries, that culture is not encouraged as part of a State policy. You have to organize, get rooms, and make investments that are not a guarantee that will do well, but is part of loving what you do. Here is that way. Bet, push and hit, play and play. Constancy.

If a beginning musician asked you for advice, what would you say?

Phew. It depends. I think the first thing is to be authentic and believe in what you do. Be humble and try to understand others. Offer to add and bond with people in a committed way.

Agustin, it has been a great experience. Thank you for doing this. A final message for our readers? Where can we follow them on social networks?

In Facebook , we are also in Spotify through Spotify and via Instagram

Good greetings to all and well, a big hug. Thanks for the opportunity.


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