Had there not been a My Space in the early 2000’s, with its far reaching and arcane search engine, it may have taken me much longer to discover what a vibrant and exciting Indie-Experimental scene was going on in Argentina. As it stood, by the time I got there (in 2006) Suarez, the band co-founded by Rosario Bléfari had called it quits five years earlier and Rosario was well on her way to a solo career. She had already made a household name for herself throughout Latin America and Spain since her first solo projects and went on to become a multi-talent, whose acting, writing (songs and books) and music established her as one of the cornerstones of modern Culture in Argentina.
So it was up to me to play catch-up and it became something of a rabbit-hole of musical riches with each album and ep I uncovered (luckily through collectors and other websites) a tremendous talent that the world really needed to know about and know about quickly.
It makes you realize what a extraordinary world of music is often times isolated by the barrier of language – maybe not so much in 2024 as it was in the early 2000’s. Rosario Bléfari is a name easily recognized in the Spanish-speaking world – her far reaching and other-wordly excursions on vinyl had made her a legend among peers – her frequent concerts and sessions on Radio and TV as well as her roles in Film and TV really established Rosario Bléfari as a true artist and visionary.
That it was all cut short from Leukemia (which some reports say was getting under control) coupled with a compromised immune system during COVID leading to a heart attack turn the story to tragic and filled with wonders of what might’ve been.
Fortunately, there is an impressive body of work which she left behind – fans that have not gone away – new fans that crop up and, like everyone else, listeners that are captivated and spellbound by this highly-charged voice.
Tonight it’s six tracks – a random sampling going from 1994 to 2017 featuring her, her former Suarez bandmates and some unforgettable music. The tracks are all on one player and here’s the rundown:
1. Calles
2. Brilla (with Suarez)
3. Nunca
4. Mediodia
5. Accidente
6. Cuademo
This is just the tip of the iceberg – with some 10 albums, as soloist, co-founder of Suarez and side-projects, there is a wealth of absorbing and engrossing music to dive into.
She was wonderful.
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