Our first featured ambassador is Liliana Núñez Andersen. Liliana lives in the UK, but originally hails from ‘chamamé country’ in north eastern Argentina. We asked Liliana what she loves about Chango Spasiuk and chamamé music:
“Chamamé is home to me. It's the first music I ever heard when I came out into the world, and it was the initiation of a life-long affair with music. Do you know what a “sapucay” is? It’s the most special thing about chamamé - an extended scream which is very difficult to explain. In the most traditional way, chamamé is not only danced or performed musically, but it comes with this special scream; a scream of joy or enjoyment. My grandfather would listen to chamamé all day, and my mum liked it too, so they wouldn't speak, but sit together, drink mate tea and listen to chamamé. The day I was born, my mum was taken to the hospital, and my dad was alone with her. After a few minutes holding me, he saw my grandfather coming into the room dressed in his finest poncho, gala clothes for a gaucho, and sporting his silver spurs and other gear - a symbol of going to a very important event. He was also bearing gifts for me. The first one: a golden ring with the image of Mary. As a hardcore Catholic, he needed to get me something religious. The second: a disc of Tránsito Cocomarola - the father of chamamé - to infuse my life with musical roots. And the third one: a lovely wooden box containing a 38 caliber pistol, to be able to defend myself when he left the world. My grandfather would take care of me , he would make me lie in his bed, play with me, sing to me, make me dance chamamé in his arms. He died when I was very young, but I've always felt his presence - always - and that is what chamamé is to me: home, to his arms, to dancing with him and feeling his joy”.
The photograph below shows a very young Liliana with her father, outside his former business in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina.
Want to be a Making Tracks ambassador? We're looking for enthusiastic music lovers to spread the word about our concerts in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Bangor, London, Newcastle/Gateshead, Bury St Edmunds, Sheffield, Birmingham and York (you don't have to come from the same places as the music)! Ambassadors get free entry to our concerts and more ... get in touch via office@kapa-productions.com
