Julieta Venegas é a atração que abre este novo episódio do Conexão Latina  com Belinha Almendra, com sua música que não tem fronteiras. Morando no Canadá,  Alex Cuba, indicado novamente ao Grammy, não esquece suas raízes mas acrescenta uma levada pop.   E os cubanos Mayito Rivera,  Alain Pérez e Alexander Abreu deixam cair com   clássicos do passado da ilha. Não fique por fora das novidades:  inscreva-se já no canal YouTube da Coringa Comunicação e ouça as faixas completas!

Canadian Juno and Latin Grammy winning artist, Alex Cuba joined us to talk about his songwriting process and perform a new song, Solo Mia, live on the show.

We talked about:

• Alex’s first visit to Canada as part of his father’s band
• How a melody-first way of songwriting tells Alex what the song is about
• The differences between solo writing and collaborating with others
• How to develop unique and rich chord progressions (hint: jazz)
• Writing in Spanish vs English
• How Alex’s playing style is unique to him, and why this is important – this applies to everyone!

This week on TransCanada Music West, we welcome the first two-time Grammy nominated artist to ever appear on the program; the immensely talented Smithers, BC-based artist Alex Cuba.

Alex Cuba was born to the musical Puentes family in Artemisa, Cuba in 1974. His father, Valentin Puentes is a celebrated Cuban musician and music teacher. His twin brother Adonis is also a JUNO nominated Cuban-Canadian musician.

In 1995, Alex fell in love with Canada while touring the country with his father and brother. Soon after, he met his bride-to-be in Vancouver before making his new home in Smithers, BC, where he’s lived for over a decade.

Since becoming a Canadian, Alex has been embraced and celebrated in the Canuck music community. He’s collaborated with the likes of Nelly Furtado, Ron Sexsmith, and Alejandra Ribera, and David Myles, and scored 2 JUNO Awards. Alex will head to the Grammy Awards in LA next week, where his fifth record, Healer, is up for Best Latin Pop Album of the Year.

This week on the program, you’ll hear Alex perform songs from that record live at the Arden Theatre in St. Albert, supported by Jake Jenne on drums and backing vocals, Ian Olmstead on Bass and backing vocals, and Jose Sanches on percussion and backing vocals.