Album Notes

Born in Madrid to Argentinean parents, Rafa started his musical career in New York playing at some of the famous Greenwich Village Clubs such as 'The Bitter End' and 'Kenny Castaway's'. He then moved to London and settle there for the next nine years. Whilst in the U.K. he released his first album 'A Petrified Forest (Conspiracy Records 1990) after playing regularly on London's thriving acoustic scene. The album got very favourable reviews, including one by the prestigious magazine NME which landed him support gigs to artists such as Tori Amos, Melissa Etheridge or John Martyn.

In 1994 he released his second album ‘Despite Myself' on Mauve Records, and in 1996 the third 'Raging Clowns' (i Records).

At the same time, Rafa began to develop a career as screenwriter and later as a film director. His first screenplay 'If Only' (a.k.a. 'Twice Upon A Yesterday') was made into a film in 1997, directed by Maria Ripoll starring Penélope Cruz, Douglas Henshall and Lena Headey.

Rafa made then the leap to film directing and, making two short films: 'El Cumplido' ('The Compliment' 2000) and 'Nada Que Perder' ('Nothing To Lose' 2002). The latter won a total of 40 awards in festivals all over the world including the Goya (Spanish Academy Award) for Best Short Film in 2003.

2006 saw the release of his debut feature film as a director 'Amor En Defensa Propia' ('Love In Self-Defense' 2006), a Mediapro/Universal production. The film was critically acclaimed and features Rafa's own soundtrack. The film is now out on DVD.

His first book, a collection of short stories entitled "Pisos Vacíos" ("Empty Apartments") was published by Caballo de Troya in June 2009.

Rafa has now finished his new album 'Sunken Ships' which will be released in early 2011, and is preparing new projects as a writer and film director.