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Writer's pictureThe Sound Cafe

Grammy Award Winner Alex Cuba Has Released Delicate, Romantic New Single 'Quiero Quedarme'



Less than a year after receiving a Grammy Award for his most recent album, "Mendó", an honourary doctorate of laws degree from Queen's University, and the Hagood Hardy Award from SOCAN, Cuban-Canadian Grammy Award Winning artist Alex Cuba released brand new music along with performances across Canada in early 2023.


Kicking the year off with a solo tour and a brand new single, Alex has also introduced Aarón Miguel, an artist Alex is both producing and releasing on his nearly 20-year-old record label, Caracol Records, from his newly built home studio in Smithers, BC. Alex's brand new single, "Quiero Quedarme'', is a romantic, delicate ballad which translates to "I Want to Stay''.


A love song released release just in time for Valentine's Day, Alex Cuba's first release of 2023, "Quiero Quedarme" is a notably avant-garde Latin song nourished by blending the Cuban styles of Son and Bolero with Soul, R&B and a touch of organic urban sounds. Alex gently wonders if he's the same with and without the undefined "you" he muses about - be it a person, a couple of photographs, an entire city, or the music itself. In these times of the ephemeral, where digital hearts wither in a day or two, Alex submits that the best compliment is to say thank you that you haven't left... yet. "Quiero Quedarme", or "I Want to Stay" in English, is the serene, comforting soundtrack of a dreamy morning in which the bed is made into a fortress from which one only leaves to make coffee. With a delicate groove and tender harmonies, the verses leave room for the listener to decide whether they are a request or a wish. In "Quiero Quedarme”, what is ours, Alex sharply points out, does not have to go.

Established in 2005, Caracol Records was founded in response to the trade restrictions placed on Cuba, which extended to Cuban citizens. Though already living in Canada, Alex's debut album was unable to be licenced to a major label, leading to the establishment of his own imprint responsible for releasing all of his work from 2007 onward. Caracol Records has just released Aarón Miguel's brand new single La Aguja on January 20 2023.


From his recently completed home studio in northern B.C., Alex is also in the final stages of completing an album for Guatemalan/American singer-songwriter David Lindes, for an audiobook project.



TOUR DATES

February 2 - Waterford, ON - Old Town Hall (Tickets)

February 3 - London, ON - Wolf Performance Hall (Tickets)

February 4 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre, Babs Asper Theatre (Tickets)

February 5 - Peterborough, ON - Market Hall (Tickets)

February 17 - Swift Current, SK - Lyric Theatre (Tickets)

February 18 - Regina, SK - Conexus Arts Centre, Symphony Show (Tickets)

February 24 - St Albert, AB - Arden Theatre (Tickets)

March 4 - Miami Beach, FL - Miami Bandshell - US date with Band (Tickets)

April 7 - Stanford, CA - Stanford Live, The Studio (Tickets)

May 11 - Concord, NC - Davis Theatre (Tickets)

June30/July1/2 - Smithers, Midsummer Festival, Band Show and Guests Alex's Parents (Valetin Puentes and Maria del Carmen Graveran)


Though raised in Artemisa, an hour outside of Havana, Alex Cuba’s artistry is as far-flung as the place he has settled and lived for over fifteen years: Smithers, BC, 14 hours north of Vancouver. His music at once incorporates his roots and is a unique amalgam of styles, having collaborated with artists ranging from Jason Mraz to Ron Sexsmith and Nelly Furtado; and bringing together melodies, popsoul hooks and rock chords in songs that may seem to bear little resemblance to traditional Cuban form.

A forward-thinking, indie-minded artist, Alex has amassed a steadily growing following among critics and fans who has over 20 awards and nominations to his name, including 4 Latin Grammys, two Juno Awards and in 2022 brought home his first Grammy Award from a total of four career Grammy nominations.


Alex carries his Cuba within, incorporating subtle jazz influences, gained from his early years as a bass player in Cuba, and tasteful, sophisticated chords and lyrics expressing his poetry in an undeniably Cuban way. His growing body of work defines a unique musical place in the Latin diaspora.






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