United for music: transvestite, trans and non-binary artists in a self-managed and federal network
United for Music is the federal project that transvestite, trans and non-binary artists created in the middle of the quarantine in Argentina and has already released 10 songs in a virtual album.
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United by Music is a federal project created by transvestite, trans, and non-binary artists during the quarantine in Argentina, and it has already released 10 tracks on a digital album. Its goal is to "reach all of society," as well as to provide visibility and support for each artist's career.
"United by Music was born in the midst of strict quarantine, from communication with a trans woman artist from Rosario, Ayelén Becker ." This is how the project's producer, Claudia Ada Falcón, or by her stage name, Demir Hannah, tells it.
"Actually," he corrects himself, "I first spoke with HD Ibañez, who is in charge of mixing and mastering the songs for Unides por la Música. Then I spoke with Ayelén Becker to see if she would participate in a song together. She said yes, we did a cover of Gilda's ' No es mi despedida ' and that was the starting point for Unides por la Música."
The initiative currently includes 14 artists from various provinces and was largely made possible thanks to the support and guidance of the Mocha Celis Transgender Popular High School. Furthermore, the project "doesn't discriminate against musical genres: there's folk, ballads, pop, electronic music, a whole range of genres. It also doesn't discriminate against languages," its producer affirms.
Demir Hannah is a trans woman born in Buenos Aires, raised and living in Corrientes. From a very young age, she was involved in the arts, first through dance and visual arts, and later through music. She chose her name after Ada Falcón, the Empress of Tango, who was also her paternal grandfather's cousin. Demir also worked as a radio announcer in the 1990s, and towards the end of that decade, she began recording her first compositions at Joseph Chaparro's studios. After several projects, she achieved success with her first album, which was played in the most popular clubs of the time, and in 2009 she performed on the Pride March stage in Plaza Congreso. In 2020, she embraced the idea of creating art in community as a way to overcome the obstacles posed by record labels.
"There is still strong discrimination and a significant lack of visibility. Small and large record labels alike are not willing to take a chance on a trans woman as a singer. It seems ironic in a country where we have so many inclusive laws. A great deal of sociocultural work needs to be done to bring about that change," she says.
“Unfortunately, we artists in Argentina don’t have much luck,” adds Daniela Hassan , 31, a member of Unides por la Música. “Most of us are underground and don’t have much popularity; we don’t belong to an international production company. We do everything on our own; we’re independent. Taking on a project like this is a window to the world.”
Daniela has also been involved in music "since she was very young." She sings soul, R&B (rhythm and blues), and gospel. "I sing everything, but what I'm most drawn to is the African American style. In fact, it's what inspires me every time I sing," she says.
"For me, it's super important to feel the support and camaraderie of everyone involved in Unides por la Música. We're always there for each other, listening and giving each other advice," she adds.
Bebo Chacoma , a trans man, is "the folklorist of the group." He sings, plays guitar and other instruments, and participates in musical projects such as Al Alba Folklore, Cantares del alma, Folclore por todes, and Folklorazo queer, always within the framework of Latin American music.
“It’s important to join with others in pursuing the same initiative: showcasing and carrying out quality projects proposed by trans and non-binary people. In a way, it’s also an invitation for more dissident groups to be encouraged to show what they do.” She adds, “Beyond that, by uniting, we’ll be able to access and occupy spaces that would otherwise be completely foreign to us.”
Regarding Unides por la Música's vision for the future, Demir Hannah says the goal is "to work within a production company and, from there, foster each artist's career. The virtual album is a showcase of what we aim for in the future: to grow our careers, to seek the visibility we need, and also for society to be more inclusive of us ," she concluded.
Unides por la Música includes artists from various parts of Argentina and Uruguay: in addition to Demir Hannah, Bebo Chacoma, and the singer Ayelén Beker from Rosario, there are RD, Lucio, a singer and songwriter (Salta); Daniela Hassan, a singer from Villa Madero; Mariano Crippa and Gabryel Russo "Elisa" from Las Colonias (Santa Fe); Lorena Carpanchay from Paraje San Luis (Cafayate, Salta); Mayu Flow, a singer (Tigre, Buenos Aires); Naomi, a singer and songwriter (San Luis); Cyano, a singer and songwriter from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Ríos); Luly Arias, a singer (Catamarca); and Mia Salas, a singer from Río Cuarto (Córdoba). Agustina Piñeiro, a singer from Tacuarembó and special guest from Uruguay, winner of the reality show Urbana Trans Talentos, also joined the group.
Contact Unides por la Música: The group can be found on social media as Unides Por La Musica (YouTube) and @unidesporlamusica (Instagram). Email: unides.por.la.musica@gmail.com
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