Original solo guitar compositions by Tomas Rodriguez
In these recordings, Tomas Rodriguez navigates an intersection of global traditions with a compositional directness that is most delightful and charming to listen to. Beautifully recorded and sensitively played. Listening to the record I felt like I was living in quieter times.
— Derek Gripper, South African guitarist, winner, Songlines Album of the Year 2025
“Whispered Awakening” features eight original compositions that draw from Spanish ancestral roots while exploring intersections with Afro-Peruvian, Cuban, and West African musical traditions. Each piece functions as a meditation on memory, time, and place – from “Melancolie,” evoking a childhood displacement in late August 1969, to “Landó para Maite,” an Afro-Peruvian piece featuring renowned percussionist Gigio Parodi, recorded in Lima with guitarist/engineer Ernesto Hermosa.
Rodriguez’s work sits at the crossroads of cultural authenticity and original composition, creating contemplative spaces that invite focused listening. His music appeals to sophisticated audiences who value technical mastery combined with emotional depth – listeners drawn to artists like Derek Gripper and Twanguero’s solo acoustic work.
Indie Boulevard - Album Review
“Good,” “professional,” “virtuosic” — all miss the mark. All fall short. The more fitting word here is “benchmark”: this is what it sounds like when a person feels the guitar on some cellular level, at the level of nerve endings. Sensuality — that is the precise definition. Raw, trembling sensuality. – Gabriel Rivera, Indie Blvd (Spain)
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Voxwave Magazine - Album Review
“An anthem to the guitar and beautiful music” – Voxwave (Spain)
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Oleada Indie - Album Review
“En manos de Tomas Rodriguez, el instrumento se convierte en un medio directo, donde cada ataque y cada pausa tienen intención. Esa manera de tocar no busca impresionar desde la velocidad, sino desde el control y la sensibilidad del fraseo.” – Rafael Mendez, Oleada (Mexico)
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Press Release on the new album
Dialogue
Reflection
Susurros
Lando para Maite
Al Maestro Toumani
Tamalabaa
Guaguanco
Melancolie