Things are looking up for relations between the United States and Cuba: Alan Gross, an American citizen who was imprisoned on the island for five years, returned home this morning. That was followed by a phone discussion between President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, which marked the first official talks between leadership of the two countries since 1959. Big things could be on the horizon in terms of "normalizing" the diplomatic ties between the two nations. Music Times has prepared a brief look at some of Cuba's brightest modern stars so you can get comfortable with the country's bustling music scene before your (hopefully soon) trip to Havana.
Danay Suárez
The main complaint against reggaeton by Cuban conservative music listeners is that it borrows too much from the American hip-hop influence. We hear you guys and if it makes you feel any better, hybridization is taking off over here too. Suárez, despite being listed among the "up-and-coming" reggaeton performers by Billboard earlier this year, prefers more mature beats and can also sing an R&B hook. She released her newest album Polvo De La Humedad (or Moisture Powder, curiously enough), featuring tracks such as "Yo Aprendi," which rides relaxed on a subtle piano line and drum tandem.
Gente de Zona
What do you do when the more cultured members of society complain about the beats in your genre? You incorporate more traditional music of course. Gente de Zona has drawn attention for its use of Cuban salsa or timba rhythms in its reggaeton to both appeal to its younger listeners while proudly displaying its appreciation for Cuba's musical history. This group is probably the one you've heard if any, on this list thanks to its role in Enrique Iglesias's hit "Bailando" from earlier this year. Baseball fans may have also Shazamed the track "El Animal" thanks to now Tigers outfielder Yoenis Céspedes using it as his walk-up music.
Bakuleyé
Even the most experienced musicologists struggle to define the difference between salsa and timba, except that the latter is Cuba's version (and Cuban nationals proudly argue that there is a difference). At this moment in history, the hottest timba scene in the world is actually Miami, where expatriates form bands and bring new twists to the genre thanks to the huge market and performance opportunities. If you want to experience a purely Cuban product, Bakuleyé is about as good as it gets. This band makes it easier to differentiate timba from other forms, albeit largely because it works other Latin genres—such as jazz and bolero—into its music.
X Alfonso
Just like in the United States, much of the music development in Cuba is based on breaking down borders and experimenting between genres. That influence came from a number of places on our shored but X Alfonso stands as one of the biggest figures in modern forms thanks to his long tradition of blending rock, hip-hop and more traditional forms into his music. Even when he's not producing new music himself, his influence goes far: Suárez got her start thanks to promotion from Alfonso and when Audioslave performed its memorable Havana show during 2005, it invited the Cuban icon to perform with them.
Carlos Varela
A good folk musician doesn't sit back and enjoy his victory once the changes he's been pushing for take place. Nueva trova, a folk movement in Cuba, got its start around the same time as the Cuban Revolution, which Carlos Varela wasn't yet born during. He got his start playing music during the '80s and had no issue with associating his own music, which often criticizes the political stagnation of modern Cuba despite sharing a genre title with a pro-Revolution movement. His influence made its way to the United States as well, where Jackson Browne translated and recorded a version of "Walls and Doors." If the United States and Cuba begin new relations, that could boost the island nation's trade considerably...and then we'll see what Varela opts to sing about.
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