From master producer and deejay Gilles Peterson, something wonderful from Havana native Daymé Arocena on Brownswood Records.
Nueva Era is the title track from the 22-year-old's debut album, "wonderfully layered with the multitude of vocal styles at her disposal, as a classical choir director, devotee of the Santería faith and newfound fan of Ella Fitzgerald."
Her record is out on June 8th, 2015.
At just 22 years old, Daymé – a singer, arranger composer, and choir director is already a veteran presence in Cuban music, and is fast gaining international profile. She says she has sung all her life and recalls her four-year old self performing on every block in her neighbourhood. 'Fun stuff,' she says, 'Wearing crazy dresses and singing like a rumbera. She has been performing semi-professionally since the age of 8, and became lead singer with the big band Los Primos at 14. She has performed with Winton Marsalis, and was invited by the Canadian saxophonist Jane Bunnet to perform in Canada (and together with some other Cuban players formed the all female group Macaque). Last year she appeared on 3 tracks on the Havana Cultura mix project which saw Gilles Peterson mentoring selected producers from around the world to make a record in Cuba. Seeing huge potential in her, Gilles invited her to London to perform at the album launch event, where she enchanted the packed out audience, and it was decided she should record a solo project for Brownswood Recordings / Havana Cultura. The announcement brought out a loud, rich, infectious laugh instantly recognizable as Dayme's deep and chocolaty voice. "My first record, here," she squeals. "It's a crazy dream."
Recorded in just a few days in London and Havana Daymé's debut album is a work of elegant maturity, showcasing Daymé's mix of influences. Her background as a choir director is in evidence on the wonderful layered vocals on tracks like Madres. Madres also alludes to the Santeria chanting that have formed part of Daymé's worship since childhood, the Yoruba and Spanish lyrics venerating her two mothers in her religion Yemaya and Ochun. "Even though I'm a classical musician," she says, "At school, I sang Santeria songs. It's the official Cuban religion for me; I studied its beautiful energy, all the elements from the sea, the wind and the earth." The lead single Don't Unplug My Body shows off Daymé skill at writing an easy-on-the-ear pop tune, whilst there is humour in El Ruso (about her mother being forced to learn Russian in the Soviet supported Cuba of the 80s) . A strong jazz influence is clear throughout the album – Daymé was advised by her teachers to explore beyond her classical training and listen to more jazz: "I started to listen to all the old singers even when I didn't like them," she revealed: "I don't want to sound like an old woman!" She liked Erika Badu and Gil Scott Heron – but didn't understand them. Billie Holiday took some time to grow on her but she eventually she loved. She still has the same CD: dirty, battered and precious. "But the first jazz singer I really liked was Ella because she got me crazy when I listened to her scatting." The switching between Spanish and English lyrics hinting at an ambition to reach a worldwide audience with her music. El Ruso was recorded in Cuba and produced by Daymé herself. For the rest of the record Daymé is backed by a world class London band (Percussionist Oli Savill, Robert Mitchell on piano, and Neil Charles on bass). Production duties are split between Gilles Peterson, his longtime collaborator Simbad and Daymé herself."
