Abe has been making music for a few decades. In his heady early days, he was informed by early Rock and Roll and Rockabilly, Blues, Classical, Spanish, South American, African folk music styles. There is a musical melange in his mind that drives him to create triumphant music, literature and art, which has been described as unconventional, inspired, avant-garde, luminary and memorable and above all, mestizo.
There is no doubt that his work carries a deep sensibility and sense of empathy for his immediate world. A firecracker on stage, Abe always looks beyond the fragility of life to conquer different sound and visual dimensions, tapping into a primal force. You will always find varied cultural, linguistic and artistic references if you dig deeper into his songs. Musically, he cannot help create stingingly infectious happy tunes.
Born in Argentina in 1972, he lived his early years in an oppressive military regime, fleeing poverty with his family and a one-way ticket to the then prosperous Madrid, where he encountered the fiercely ebullient blossoming social, art and music scene of early 80’s Spain. Following this rocky transition of migration, he studied guitar with influential Spanish musicians of the time as well as delving into percussion and songwriting. He studied the Classics of Rock, Art, Literature and Film. Working as a roadie with his brother in the busy Madrid music industry, Abe learned the ropes and rigours of working in bands.
Upon his family’s second migration to Australia, he turned the depressing lonely alienation of cultural displacement into a passion for writing. Abe got into the burgeoning original music scene of 90’s Perth, where he lived for over 20 years writing, performing, recording and releasing music with groups of diverse styles, such as Pop Rock, Experimental, Performance, Latin and African. He taught music in high schools and inspired many students to get into music and form their own bands. He wrote and performed poetry alongside his music career, which allowed his creative freedom to filter through into his songwriting, pushing boundaries of structure, style, language and sound.
At the same time, he was deep into music creation, he developed a career in the visual arts, equally innovative and daring, tapping into the sensibilities of the avant-garde with his transformative sculptural work. Using recycled and cheap materials, Abe spontaneously designs and puts together artworks that defy styles and conventions. These artworks are elegantly amusing and out-of-left-field common. Sometimes he creates musical instruments in the same way.
You can even find meaning in his gibberish messages, because in Abe’s world, any way is a valid form for communication.
Abe released a solo album, Sigh of the Times, in the 2020 Melbourne lockdown, inspired by his dad going into care from dementia and his passing, the environment and current world events. The recording features Abe on all the instruments, composition, video and production. Abe was nominated for the Victoria Music Award in 2021. In 2022, he was a finalist in the Australian Training Awards for his work in the teaching field, the highest accolade for teaching in the VET sector.
Transparent was released in September 2021.
Saved by The Taco Belle album, part of the Covid Trilogy, was released on the 30th April 2022 on various platforms, along with videos for songs like Classic Clown.
Charango Unchained was released in November 2022 and it features all original songs using the South American ten stringed instrument, the charango. All instruments and voices are played by Abe except Desigualdad, which features Chilean-Australian artist Little Chilli.
In 2023, Abe has released a number of recordings. Some are part of a collaboration project with women artists of different backgrounds living in so-called-Australia. Others are recordings with Melbourne-based sound artists Mito Elias and Ashley J. Higgs and some are random recordings and "odd socks". Here's a list.
Ai Reserso Est, 2023. A collaboration with Ashley J. Higgs
Migrant's Cumbia, 2023, featuring Little Chilli in "Desigualdad".
Odd Socks, 2023, featuring Pilar Aguilera on "Kopitaim".
Cronolorgia, 2023, single.
Abe, like in years before, is donating a song and a video for 3CR Radio 355AM Radiothon 2023, to be released in June.
There are a couple of tracks coming out this year, one a collaboration with New Zealand artist Rochelle O'Reilly and one with Turkish singer Ilkay Yilmaz. STAY TUNED!
