As part of our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 coverage, we are running a series of interviews with artists and creatives that are taking part in the festival.
In this interview, we speak to Florencia Iriondo about their show Meet Me in Buenos Aires.
Where did your arts career begin?
Through the years I've built a dual career both on and backstage, working as a TV producer while also writing and performing my own music and plays. Over the last decade I moved from Argentina to New Zealand, then Ireland, and now New York where up until recently I was the Showrunner leading the video and audio production team at LinkedIn, spearheading the creation of the Studios at the Empire State Building. At the same time I was workshopping my musical "South" which was developed at New York Stage & Film, and The O'Neill, theatre incubators where shows like "Hamilton" and "In The Heights" had their start. Last year my show debuted Off-Broadway and I decided it was time for me to come to the Edinburgh Fringe, but I wanted to do so with a brand new show.
What can you tell me about your show?
"Meet Me in Buenos Aires" is an Edinburgh Fringe World Premiere. I wrote this show specifically for the Fringe and I'm delighted to bring it to Underbelly. It's a solo musical about my experiences living in four continents over a decade, falling into and out of love, with parallelism in my journey from Argentina to Europe and that of my great-grandparents' from Europe for the Americas. It's a heartwarming, fun and nostalgic show that blends storytelling with original music, all anchored in a box of old cassette tapes.
How would you describe the style of the show?
It's engaging, it's got a lot of heart, and it feels very casual, and intimate. My goal is to make you feel like we're sharing a story in my home. The songs are rooted in 80s and 90s nostalgia while also having a folk-pop feel.
It's engaging, it's got a lot of heart, and it feels very casual, and intimate. My goal is to make you feel like we're sharing a story in my home. The songs are rooted in 80s and 90s nostalgia while also having a folk-pop feel.
How have you approached developing the piece?
I wrote book, music and lyrics so that process can be a bit isolating at times but I'm lucky that I have an amazing friend in my dramaturg Chris Burney, who's been a true supporter of the piece since day one. He hosted a few readings in New York and even a staged workshop at Columbia University where I got to share the piece with some of his students. I spent a lot of time in a recording studio with Jason Cummings, a music producer based in New York who's helped me get the tracks ready for the box filled with tapes featured on the show. It's got a very vintage retro feel that I love. Agustin Uriburu, another usual collaborator of mine, recorded beautiful cello and guitar arrangements for my songs.
I wrote book, music and lyrics so that process can be a bit isolating at times but I'm lucky that I have an amazing friend in my dramaturg Chris Burney, who's been a true supporter of the piece since day one. He hosted a few readings in New York and even a staged workshop at Columbia University where I got to share the piece with some of his students. I spent a lot of time in a recording studio with Jason Cummings, a music producer based in New York who's helped me get the tracks ready for the box filled with tapes featured on the show. It's got a very vintage retro feel that I love. Agustin Uriburu, another usual collaborator of mine, recorded beautiful cello and guitar arrangements for my songs.
How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
Drink lots of water! I've been active and staying healthy in preparation for the run. Doing a solo musical every night is not an easy feat. But I'm always energized during and after performances so I'm very excited to meet new audiences in Edinburgh. I'm lucky that my sister who lives in London gets to join me for the run. I live in NY so any chance we get to spend together is a true gift and in this case, working together at the Edinburgh Fringe will be a time we remember forever.
Drink lots of water! I've been active and staying healthy in preparation for the run. Doing a solo musical every night is not an easy feat. But I'm always energized during and after performances so I'm very excited to meet new audiences in Edinburgh. I'm lucky that my sister who lives in London gets to join me for the run. I live in NY so any chance we get to spend together is a true gift and in this case, working together at the Edinburgh Fringe will be a time we remember forever.
Other than the show, what’s something you’re looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year?
I visited Edinburgh a few times over the years so I know how special the city is. This time I'm really excited to live and breathe the Festival. This is something that I've never experienced before so I want to be fully present and enjoy the run, make nre friends and meet other artists, see as many shows as possible, and walk, walk, walk (while I'm flyering!)
I visited Edinburgh a few times over the years so I know how special the city is. This time I'm really excited to live and breathe the Festival. This is something that I've never experienced before so I want to be fully present and enjoy the run, make nre friends and meet other artists, see as many shows as possible, and walk, walk, walk (while I'm flyering!)
What keeps you inspired?
I spent many, many years at a 9 to 5 job that left me little time and energy for my writing and performing. During the pandemic, I realized I wanted to spend my days doing what I truly love: writing, performing, and producing new work, collaborating with artists, and coming up with new projects in theater, TV, film, and music. Doing this work is something that I don't take for granted so I find inspiration in the small moments where I get perspective of how lucky I am that I get to do this for a living.
I spent many, many years at a 9 to 5 job that left me little time and energy for my writing and performing. During the pandemic, I realized I wanted to spend my days doing what I truly love: writing, performing, and producing new work, collaborating with artists, and coming up with new projects in theater, TV, film, and music. Doing this work is something that I don't take for granted so I find inspiration in the small moments where I get perspective of how lucky I am that I get to do this for a living.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
I hope people reminisce about their childhood and adolescence, leaving overjoyed, reenigerzed, and filled with joy, hope, and a longing for both what lies behind us and the time we have ahead.
Where can audiences see the show?
"Meet Me in Buenos Aires" premieres at Underbelly on July 31 and runs every day through August 11 at 7.15pm. Tickets at www.florenciairiondo.com or Underbelly.
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