Soluna

Soluna was an Argentine folk ensemble that made the 1977 Microfón album Energía Natura. Frontman Gustavo Santaolalla resurfaced in the LA new wave act Wet Picnic and later gained renown as a soundtrack composer. Keyboardist Alejandro Lerner launched a prolific solo career.

Members: Gustavo Santaolalla (vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion), Alejandro Lerner (keyboards), Monica Campins (vocals, keyboards), Oscar Amante (guitar, charango, vocals, percussion), Sergio Polizzi (violin), Ricky Libman (bass), Horacio Gianello (drums, percussion), Roberto Valencia (percussion)

Background

Soluna formed in Buenos Aires in late 1975 when guitarist-vocalist Gustavo Santaolalla and drummer Horacio “Droopy” Gianello assembled a new group outside Arco Iris. Santaolalla left Arco Iris near the end of the Agitor Lucens V period and wrote more than thirty songs over the next month, including “Ella despertaba” and “Una vida para amar.” He first called Gianello, then recruited bassist Ricardo “Ricky” Libman, guitarist-vocalist Oscar “Osqui” Amante, and singer Mónica Campins.

Santaolalla knew Libman from the Camping Musical Bariloche program, where Arco Iris worked with musicians from several groups. Campins and Amante came from Airón, where Campins sang with her brother Willie. She also studied organ and piano. Soluna spent eight months rehearsing vocal parts, then added instrumental arrangements. Santaolalla first contacted Ave Rock keyboardist Osvaldo Caló, the reached Alejandro Lerner, the pianist on La banda de los caballos cansados, the 1974 second album by folk singer León Gieco.

On July 16, 1976, Soluna debuted at Luna Park on a bill with Gieco, Pastoral, and Crucis. They followed with a six-week run at Bola Loca and a tour across the Argentine provinces. As live openings thinned, Soluna returned to Buenos Aires and focused on studio sessions with Bubu violinist Sergio Polizzi and Películas conguero Roberto Valencia.

Soluna signed with Microfón and issued “Energía natural” in late 1976 as their vinyl debut (b/w “Mañana puede ser el día”). They devoted more than eighty studio hours to vocal tracks under producer Jorge Álvarez. Charly García played an auxiliary keyboard role on the ensuing album with cellist Mauricio Veber and accordionist Rody Ziliani.

Discography:

• Energía Natura (1977)
  

Research notes

• Gustavo Santaolalla, “Gustavo Santaolalla cuenta sus quince años de rock,” Expreso Imaginario, May 17, 1978. This is the strongest source for the formation sequence: Gianello first, Libman from Bariloche, Amante and Campins, eight months of vocal rehearsals, Lerner, Luna Park, Bola Loca, the provincial tour, and the recording period. (Rock.com.ar)
• Gustavo Santaolalla, “Verdades en movimiento,” Expreso Imaginario, January 11, 1977. Contemporary account of Soluna recruitment, the extended vocal-rehearsal phase, and the provincial concerts. (Rock.com.ar)
• Mónica Campins, María Rosa Yorio and Liliana Vitale, “Mujeres y rock,” Pelo, 1978. Campins identifies Airón, Oscar Amante, her brother Willie, and her organ/piano studies. (Rock.com.ar)
• Alejandro Lerner interview, El Litoral, 2023. Lerner recalls the 1974 León Gieco session and Santaolalla recruiting him for Soluna. (El Litoral)
• Revista Pelo archive, No. 75. The issue lists the Luna Park concert with Pastoral, Soluna, Crucis, and León Gieco; independent concert chronologies place the show on July 16, 1976. (Revista Pelo)
• Rock.com.ar / current label metadata. These support the recording lineup, guest musicians, Microfón affiliation, and Jorge Álvarez production credit. (Rock.com.ar)