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Photo provided by: Macko Maj
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Vanesa Harbek, the Argentine-born guitarist, singer, and songwriter, is celebrated for her ability to seamlessly blend blues, rock, soul, jazz, and tango into a distinctive and passionate sound. Often called “The Angel with the Blues Heart,” she brings both technical mastery and deep emotion to her guitar playing, pairing it with a powerful, soulful voice. With formal training in classical music, trumpet, and voice, Harbek’s artistry reflects a unique fusion of South American heritage and global blues tradition.
A Journey of Sound
Born in Buenos Aires, Harbek grew up surrounded by a vibrant musical culture that fueled her creativity. Her early exposure to tango and jazz would later intertwine with her love of the blues, shaping her into a musician who transcends genres. After earning a degree in music education and studying various instruments, she committed herself fully to a career as a performer, quickly making a name on the international stage.
Now based in Germany, she has toured extensively across Europe, South America, and the U.S., captivating audiences with her charismatic stage presence and genre-crossing performances. Her album High Heels Tango is a testament to her ability to merge the passion of tango with the raw power of blues, offering listeners a one-of-a-kind experience.
Recognition and Influence
In 2023, Harbek was interviewed by Guitar Thrills Magazine, where she shared insights into her journey as an artist and the inspiration behind her innovative approach to the guitar. As Guitar Thrills noted, “Vanesa Harbek doesn’t just play the blues — she transforms it, weaving in the soul of Argentina and the fire of rock to create a sound that is entirely her own.” Her fearless exploration of different styles has made her a role model for aspiring guitarists who seek to honor tradition while also pushing creative boundaries.
Looking Ahead
With every performance, Vanesa Harbek proves that music is both universal and deeply personal. Whether delivering a fiery blues solo, crooning a heartfelt ballad, or injecting tango rhythms into her setlist, she reminds audiences of the boundless possibilities of the guitar. Her artistry continues to evolve, ensuring that her name will remain synonymous with innovation, passion, and the unifying power of music.
INTERVIEW WITH VANESA HARBEK AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: You’re often called “The Angel with the Blues Heart.” What does that title mean to you personally and musically?
Vanesa : I think that title captures both my spirit and my music. The “angel” reflects the softer side of who I am; the emotional depth, the vulnerability I bring to the stage, and the way I connect with people through my voice and melodies. I’ve always tried to bring light and feeling to every note I play. The “blues heart” speaks to the core of my soul. Blues has been with me since I was very young. It taught me how to ‘feel’, how to express emotions I couldn't put into words. I was a very shy child, and blues became my voice when I didn’t have one. Through it, I could let go, dream, cry, and heal.
Also as an Argentinian, I feel very connected to tango. Both blues and tango are born from the same place: passion, longing, heartbreak, and beauty. They tell real stories. My heart beats in blues, but it carries the soul of Argentina too. So yes, I carry a blues heart, and maybe I’ve always been a kind of musical angel, flying between genres, trying to touch people with honesty and emotion.
Guitar Thrills: How did growing up in Buenos Aires influence the way you approach the guitar and your unique fusion of styles?
Vanesa: Growing up in Buenos Aires meant growing up in a world full of music. My father is a pianist, so there was always music playing at home. There was everything from Bach to Weather Report, Chicago, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton. At the same time, my grandfather was a passionate fan of traditional Argentine music. Whenever I visited him, I’d hear the voices of Goyeneche, Julio Sosa, Atahualpa Yupanqui; the soul of tango and folklore. That blend of international and Argentine sounds shaped me deeply.
From a young age, I was curious about all kinds of music. This included different styles, instruments, ensembles and orchestrations. I started playing piano when I was 7, but everything changed when I was 11 and found a vinyl record of Eric Clapton’s Slowhand at home. The sound of that guitar pulled me in completely. That was the moment I fell in love with blues and with the guitar.
Buenos Aires gave me the gift of diversity. In the 1990s, the city had an incredible blues scene. I was lucky enough to see some of my biggest influences live: Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, and many others. Those experiences were unforgettable and left a mark on me as a performer.
Later, I studied music at the Universidad Católica Argentina, where I earned degrees in both Music Composition and Music Education. That academic training helped me go even deeper. I began writing classical pieces infused with Argentine flavors, jazz harmonies and blues soul. I’ve never felt the need to stay within one genre. For me, music is about connection, emotion, and freedom. So I bring together everything I love and let it speak through the guitar.
Guitar Thrills: Your music blends blues with tango, rock, and jazz — do you start writing with one genre in mind, or does it evolve naturally?
Vanesa : For me, composing always evolves naturally. I never sit down thinking, “Now I’m going to write a blues song,” or “This will be a tango.” Music comes from emotion first - from a feeling, a memory, a moment in life - and then the style follows.
Because I’ve been surrounded by so many genres since I was a child, they’re all part of my musical language. Sometimes a song begins with a bluesy guitar riff, but then I’ll feel a tango rhythm creeping in, or a jazz harmony that fits the mood. Other times, it starts with a melody in my head that reminds me of Argentine folklore, but when I play it, it wants to become something else. I just follow where the music leads.
I think that's the magic of blending styles. It gives me the freedom to tell stories in the most honest way. The emotions decide the direction, not the genre. And in the end, it's all part of who I am: a musician with a blues heart and an Argentine soul.
Guitar Thrills: What inspired your album High Heels Tango, and how do you balance tradition with innovation in your compositions?
Vanesa: High Heels Tango was born during a long tour in Poland. I noticed something beautiful happening. The audiences responded deeply to the songs I sang in Spanish. There was an emotional connection, even across language barriers. That inspired me to create an album entirely in Spanish, filled with original songs influenced by Argentine music and my own life experience.
I collaborated closely with bassist and composer Lukasz Gorczyca, and together we shaped the sound of the album. Our goal was to honor the spirit of traditional tango, but also to bring it into the present with the energy and edge of blues, rock, and jazz.
One example is the song “En el Abismo.” It’s written like a classic tango, the kind you’d hear in the cafés of Buenos Aires in the 1920s or ’30s. In it I also sing in that traditional tango style. But musically, it’s reimagined with modern electric guitar, giving it a cinematic, contemporary sound. It’s both nostalgic and fresh. That’s the balance I’m always searching for: staying true to the roots while letting the music evolve naturally. I never want to copy the past. I want to carry its soul forward into something personal and alive.
Guitar Thrills: You’re also a trained vocalist and trumpet player. How do those skills influence the way you play guitar?
Vanesa: Playing multiple instruments is like learning different languages. Each one gives you a new way to express emotion, and when connected together they expand your musical imagination.
The trumpet, for example, has taught me so much about tone, emotional intensity and breathing; how to shape a melodic line with intention and space; how playing a single not with feeling can say so much. I try to bring that same feeling to my guitar solos. And being a vocalist helps me think melodically when I play guitar. I don’t just focus on technique, but on how each note tells part of a story.
Sometimes I get a musical idea at the piano or with the trumpet, and later I’ll explore it on the guitar in a completely new way. I do this as well with humming or singing. That process, moving between instruments and letting them inspire each other, keeps things fresh and full of surprises. It’s a rewarding way to create something unexpected.
Guitar Thrills:Touring across Europe, South America, and the U.S., what differences have you noticed in the way audiences respond to your music?
Vanesa: Every audience is different. It is not just from country to country, but even from city to city, or between a night show and a daytime concert. Each crowd brings its own energy. But no matter where I go, there’s something universal that always happens: people connect emotionally with my music.
My shows aren’t just performances. They become shared experiences. Audiences open up, feel free to express their emotions, and truly have fun. It goes beyond just entertainment; it touches something deeper. I think people feel the honesty and authenticity in my music, and they respond to that. No matter what language they speak, they understand the feeling.
That emotional connection, that moment when the music becomes something we’re all living together is the most beautiful part of touring.
Guitar Thrills: In your opinion, what is the most powerful thing the blues can communicate to people today?
Vanesa: I believe music, and the blues in particular, has an incredible power to heal and inspire. It reminds us to never give up, to keep fighting for our dreams. For me, that’s the most important message the blues carries.
Always work towards your dreams. I wrote a song about this. During the pandemic, when live shows disappeared and I felt isolated and sad, missing the connection with my audience, I channeled those feelings into a song called Positive Day. It was my way of motivating myself during those tough moments. That song is about hope, resilience, and believing in the future, and I think that’s what the blues does best. It speaks to our struggles, but also to our strength and the light we can find even in the darkest of times.
Guitar Thrills: Can you share a moment on stage when you truly felt the connection between your music and the audience?
Vanesa Harbek: “...I love to be on stage, feel connected to the people. Cheers to the happiest moment ever, here in my real home...” This is an extract from my new Song “Lady on the road”, and it describes perfectly what it means to me to play live; feeling at home with the audience.
Sometimes, I perform my songs in Spanish in countries where people don’t understand the language. Yet, they tell me things like, “I got goosebumps,” or “You moved me, even though I don’t understand the words”, “I felt every word in my heart.” They say I made them feel sadness, hope, excitement or even brought them to tears.
Those moments, when my music touches people deeply, beyond words, are the most precious to me. Connecting with an audience, making people feel and smile, sharing emotions, that’s why I play. I’m truly thankful for that.
Guitar Thrills: What role does charisma play in your live performances, and how do you harness it to create memorable shows?
Vanesa: I believe my charisma comes from how deeply I connect with my emotions and communicate them through my music, especially through my guitar. When I’m on stage, I live every moment of the music. I give everything I have, both when I play and when I sing. I never hold anything back.
That honesty and intensity is what makes my shows memorable. I pour my heart and soul into every performance, and I think the audience feels that. It’s not just about playing notes. It’s about sharing a part of myself and creating a connection that is real with my audience.
Guitar Thrills: Who are some of the artists or guitarists who have inspired your journey the most, and why?
Vanesa : Discovering his music opened the door to the whole blues world. It’s quite funny as he himself felt like blues ‘outsider’ at first who then came to define his own style of blues. So I feel ‘outsider’ connection with him. Then I began exploring his influences like Freddie King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Albert Collins. They all shaped my understanding of the blues.
I also admire Chavela Vargas for the raw emotion and passion she brings to her singing. Astor Piazzolla’s unique style and the melancholy in his compositions, full of expression and feeling, are incredibly inspiring. Jazz and blues guitarist Wes Montgomery’s blend of styles caught my heart, and Chet Baker’s sound is something I always return to for inspiration. Etta James moves me every time I listen to her powerful voice. And Stevie Ray Vaughan, who during my school days, I couldn’t stop listening to. He remains one of my all-time favorites.
In recent years, I also discovered Prince. Perhaps this sounds strange that I had never heard of him before, but a good friend introduced me to his music. His fearless approach to music and incredible guitar skills (even praised by Eric Clapton) inspire me to push my limits and embrace my own unique style. Each of these artists has influenced me in different ways, helping me shape my own voice and musical journey.
Guitar Thrills: As a woman in the blues and rock world, what challenges have you faced, and how have you turned them into strengths?
Vanesa: Being a woman in the blues and rock world, and also in the classical music world, has definitely come with many challenges, especially back then in Argentina. When I started playing guitar in the Buenos Aires’ blues scene, it was very rare to see women playing instruments. It was slightly more common for women to be singers, but playing guitar as a woman was not at all widely accepted. I often heard comments like, “Women can’t play the blues,” or similar. It wasn’t easy, and at times painful because I was overlooked for bookings simply for being a woman.
But I never gave up. Those challenges made me stronger and more determined. I stayed focused on my passion for playing the blues, and that love has kept me going through it all. In the classical music world, the challenges are similar. When I graduated University in Music Composition, I was the only woman in my class.
Things are slowly improving for female musicians. Today many more women are playing instruments. But in some places, it’s still difficult to get booked or respected as a woman blues musician. It is still a big struggle, which is a shame because women offer a unique voice that should be heard and celebrated. All these experiences have fueled my determination to keep breaking barriers, to inspire other women, and to bring my authentic voice to every stage and song that I sing.
Guitar Thrills: Looking forward, what are your dreams and goals for the next chapter of your musical career?
Vanesa: One of my biggest dreams is to finally tour the United States. I’ve never performed there, but I have so many fans writing to me, asking, “When are you coming?” I can feel the love, and I can’t wait to bring my music and my guitar to that stage. I want to connect with American audiences the same way I do everywhere: with heart, honesty, and a blues heart. Right now, I’m working on a new album of all original songs in both Spanish and English. I’ll begin recording in November. But before that, I’m heading out on tour through Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Poland.
I’m also composing a piece for a string quartet in Argentina, and I hope to release a full album of my classical compositions in the future, For me, the guitar isn’t just an instrument. It’s my voice, my fire, my freedom. When I play, I’m telling my truth. I don’t perform to impress, and I’m not here to fit into a box. I’m here to make music that is fearless, soulful and unforgettable. Whether I’m playing a fiery blues solo, a haunting tango, or a delicate melody, I want listeners to feel something real. I play to connect, to move people, to remind them they’re not alone.
That’s the heart of everything I do - The Angel with the Blues Heart.
Thank you so much to Guitar Thrills for this interview, and for helping share my story and my music with your readers. I truly appreciate it.
Guitar Thrills Magazine would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Vanesa Harbek for sharing her time, talent, and inspiring story with us. Her passion for music and her ability to blend cultures and genres remind us why the guitar remains such a powerful instrument of expression. We are grateful for the opportunity to highlight her artistry and look forward to witnessing the next chapters of her remarkable journey.
Conclusion
Vanesa Harbek is more than a gifted guitarist — she is a storyteller whose music bridges cultures, emotions, and genres. From Buenos Aires to Berlin, her journey reflects an artist unafraid to embrace tradition while fearlessly innovating. Whether through the fire of her solos, the soul in her voice, or the magnetic charisma she brings to the stage, Vanesa leaves an indelible impression on all who witness her perform. As she continues to push musical boundaries, her place among the most compelling voices in modern blues and rock is undeniable.
