Musicians Interview (Karen Giersch Vicenttini, Argentina)

Well, well, well, Hello again everyone! so we welcoming 2020 with my Interview of my really good friend Karen Giersch! We know each other since 2010, Me and the band (Indonesian Beatclub) almost play in Buenos Aires in 2010 but some technical problem makes us delayed to go there, and finally we are in Buenos Aires in 2018! 

Karen is unique, She can make a birds sound with Her voice, and She plays with fantastic band, Francisco Cuestas band, and She was our representative in Argentina, We really hope we could comeback soon to Argentina. So I will introduced Her via interview, so here it is.

Hola Karen, please describe yourself
My name is Karen Giersch Vicenttini, born February 17th, in Bragado city (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) I started very young at music (around 5 years old) first studying dance and then studying guitar, flute, piano, My purpose is always to teach music. I was also in municipal choir and I worked as a director in the Retiree Choir of my city from 1993 to 2000. I started teaching musical instruments at age 16 until today, in 2015 I had an invitation to a great festival organized by my idol of Argentina Folk Music Nestor Cuestas (de Los Hermanos Cuestas a famous duo folkorico with 15 disc album and 1 of Gold) to participate together with Him and His son Francisco Cuestas (both originally from the province of Entre Rios) fulfilling my childhood dream, imitating birds sound with my idol on stage, from that moment and after Francisco Cuestas summoned me to join His musical band with the folk song of Entre Rios (Argentina) other of my dreams are fulfilled. Performing on national and International TV, and in Major festivals, and among others is the largest festivals of all The Cosquin Festival (province of Cordoba) we're together with Franciscos Cuestas and the delegation sent by the province of Entre Rios we perform, We get exicited and I was in tears when I was there, standing in emblematic stage of Cosquin, The history of Argentina's folk music passed and pass there (and delegations around the world especially from Japan).

How do you get into music? How long have you been playing?
I was always in music but professionally since 18 years old (when I finished my guitar studies) I play guitar in groups from the conservatory, and then I dedicate myself to teach, from 2015 until today. I perform with Francisco's Folklorics band slopes (imitating onomatopoeia to birds and sing like chorus)

Who's your favorite musicians you admire or be your role model?
Many Musicians that I always admire in National Folklore of my country, among them is The CUESTAS Brothers (Nestor and Ruben Cuestas, Father and uncle of Francisco Cuestas), Raul Carnota, Leon Gieco, Victor Heredia, Antonio Tarrago Ros, Mercedes Sosa (Singer) Eduardo Falu (Guitarist) Atahualpa Yupanqui and many others.
International is Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Freddie Mercury, Joan Manuel Serrat.

What Instrument do you play and have?
I play Guitar, Flute, Bass drum, Keyboards the brands are "Gracia, Antigua Casa Nunez, Yamaha, Melos"
I have 4 guitars (2 Classic, 1 Acoustic, 1 Electric) 2 German flutes sopranos, One Yamaha Keyboard

What band you're in now?
I'm in the Folklore Music Band, Francisco Cuestas Band since 2016.

What do you think about today's music scene?
Every decade has it's rythm, it's poem, Harmonies, in case of South America, Last decade there was declining of everything expressed above (talking about International Latin music) but maybe it's a leap to something better, and to my students (childrens) knowing good music is part of my responsibility either in the folklore genre or in the international genre (pop, rock, alternative and classic)

Can you name 5 (or more) albums that really influenced you?

There are many albums that influenced me, some of them is

Song to Entre Rios (The Cuestas Brothers)

The Red album compilation and Blue by The Beatles

Rubber Soul The Beatles

Revolver, White album by The Beatles

The Game (Queen)

London Town (Wings)

and Every albums from LOS HERMANOS CUESTAS 

How many albums you recorded or appears?
Until today with The Francisco Cuestas Band, We have made a live CD in Uruguay alongside with artists from Uruguay and Brazil, a single called "Mi Novia la Chamarrita" and end of year 2019 the new material will be released in social networks (Spotify,Deezer, etc) a new CD a folk music from the Entre Rios Provincia where I do Choirs and imitate the sound of the birds.

What do you want to say to other musicians around the world?
To fellow musicians around the world, I would tell them that "to think about their message is alegacy that is shown in the minds, souls and hearts of children and young people, and all of that can be identify by their lyrics, rythm and melodies, so that everything is for the good of the human race and our planet, a melody could reach a heart and tendering the hardest heart.

What is your biggest achievement so far?
My greatest achievement so far was singing with my idols as a child fullfiling my dreams, and getting to record an album with my idol and representing my country and my beloved province of Entre Rios to the world.