Alex Cuba
Alex Cuba has added a string of Canadian dates to a tour he has taken worldwide in support of Ruido en el Sistema (October 9, Caracol Records). These shows follow several European and American performances with the Colombian rock superstar Juanes. Ruido en el Sistema is the follow up to the self-titled album that won him the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album, and a heap of critical acclaim. Ruido en el Sistema perfectly reveals Cuba’s artistry, a mix of styles—including rock, pop and funk—he calls “Latin soul.” To be sure, “Latin music” only partially describes his work, which has garnered him at least as many native Anglo as Latino fans, and which began to evolve after he had spent years studying and performing jazz and Cuban music. Cuba made the new album with producer Joby Baker, who has played a key role in Cuba developing his sound, having produced Alex Cuba in 2009 and, before it, Agua del Pozo in 2007. They recorded Ruido en el Sistema at Baker Studios Ltd. in Victoria, BC and the legendary Egrem Studio 101 in Havana, Cuba. The first Spanish-language single, “Eres Tu,” was released on August 7, following the release of the English-language version, “Are You,” this past April. The song epitomizes the Alex Cuba signature: rock guitar; an extraordinary knack for melody, pop hooks, rhythm and vocal phrasing; and balance of edge with hopefulness and spirituality. Cuba’s longtime collaborator Nelly Furtado is featured on the uptempo pop-rocker “Nadie Como Tu,” taking turns singing verses, and contributing harmonies on the choruses. Navigating more acoustic arrangements, such as the title track and “Por Donde Vas,” and the vastly dynamic “Suspiro en Falsete,” the album is just that: an album, which coheres as a single work from start to finish. With exceptional artistic integrity and independence, Cuba has achieved a remarkable level of success. He makes genre- and nationality-defying music, runs his own record label from a town 14 hours outside Vancouver, and has been equally, and increasingly, acclaimed by English- and Spanish-language media. His self-titled 2010 release received an NPR First Listen feature, an “Album Of The Week” feature at Jazz FM UK, a KCRW Today’s Top Tune download and airplay on BBC Radio’s “Paul Miller Soul Show,” in addition to reaching the #1 spot on iTunes’ Alternativo/Rock Latino chart.