Armenians Rock Out in Argentina: The Music and Message of Los Armenios

They’re Armenian, They’re Argentinean; They’re Los Armenios. They’re the Armenian music sensation coming out of South America.

This exciting new band is made up of Mariela Moumdjian, Pablo Kaloustian, Jacqui Boghossian, Gabriel Giogourtzian, and Juan Abadjian, all of whom met as youth in the Armenian community of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Each one of them came from a different area in this community and grew up listening to different styles of music.

The bandmembers all attended separate Armenian schools where they forged their passion for Armenian culture early on. Pablo and Gabriel went to St. Gregory School, Jacqui went to AGBU, Mariela attended the Mekhitarian School of Buenos Aires and Juan, the Tertzakian Institute. In addition, they stayed active in the Armenian community through such organizations as the AYF and Homenetmen, competing regularly in sporting events and various community activities.

Naturally, with such an upbringing and circle of friends, the band members had a great sense of Armenian pride; they felt the need to combine this pride with their creative talents and form an Armenian band.

Los Armenios has achieved a great deal of notoriety since the release of their first album in December 2006 and when they were nominated in 2007 for an Armenian Music Award for best alternative album. When asked if there was one piece of advice they would give to the Armenian Diaspora, Mariela urged the following: “Make an effort to keep the traditions and, what is really important, keep on speaking the Armenian language.”

Indeed, this is one of the main goals of Los Armenios itself, whose original compositions are penned and performed in their native Armenian. As artists, they hope to make Armenian culture better known in Argentina. “What’s more,” adds Gabriel, “we consider that through music we can awake the Armenians of the new generation to do something for Armenia and for the Diaspora, just the same thing that our exiled Great Parents did for us.”

For more information about the band, visit them at their website: www.losarmenios.com