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[title]The legendary American trio Yo La Tengo —made up of Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley, and James McNew— returns to Buenos Aires to perform at the 2025 edition of the Music Wins Festival, which will take place on November 2 at Mandarine Park. The event promises a stellar international lineup featuring iconic acts such as Primal Scream and Massive Attack, along with an outstanding local roster that includes bands like Winona Riders and Camioneros, among others.
In this exclusive interview, Ira Kaplan answers our questions as we look back at the band’s history and music, their bond with Argentine audiences, and their view of today’s music scene.
You’ve performed in Buenos Aires several times over the years. How has your connection with Argentine audiences evolved? Do you have any particular memories or moments from your past visits that stand out?
Our last visit to Buenos Aires, in 2014, was the most memorable experience. All the guitars, effect pedals, and percussion instruments we were traveling with were confiscated at customs (that was our mistake). We asked for help on social media and were overwhelmed by people’s generosity — they lent us incredible gear (much more than we needed) so we could play the show. We’ll always be grateful.
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Your music ranges from melodic jangle pop to noisy psychedelia. How would you describe the evolution of your sound over the decades? What current influences are present in your music today?
I don’t think I could describe the evolution of our sound — and that’s fine with me. The evolution that matters most to us is the relationship between Georgia, James, and me — the level of trust that has grown over the years… to the point where we feel comfortable playing a show without any of our guitars, effect pedals, or percussion (for instance).
“The evolution that matters most to us is the relationship between Georgia, James, and me — the level of trust that has grown over the years”
This year you’re performing at the Music Wins Festival at Mandarine Park. What are your expectations for the festival? What does being part of this event in Buenos Aires mean to you?
I suspect the Music Wins Festival might be the first one ever to feature two different bands who have both covered “Be Thankful for What You Got” (Yo La Tengo and Massive Attack).
Argentina has a rich musical tradition. How do you view the Argentine music scene from your perspective? Have you had the chance to collaborate or interact with local artists in the past?
I wish I knew more. If anyone has recommendations on where to find 45 RPM singles from Argentine beat groups, please let me know.
Yo La Tengo was formed in 1984 and remains active more than four decades later. What do you think is the key to staying together for so long? What keeps you motivated to keep exploring and creating music today?
It’s still fun, and it still surprises us.