Canadian Grammy Award Winner! Cuban-Canadian Artist Alex Cuba Wins First Grammy Award for Most Recent Album – Mendó
Cuban-Canadian Artist Alex Cuba Wins First Grammy in “Best Latin Pop Album” Category for “Mendó”! The Proudly Independent Artist Takes Home His First Grammy From Four Nominations, to Add Alongside His FOUR Latin
Cuban-Canadian Artist Alex Cuba Wins First Grammy in “Best Latin Pop Album” Category for “Mendó”!
The Proudly Independent Artist Takes Home His First Grammy From Four Nominations, to Add Alongside His FOUR Latin Grammy Awards!
From Alex:
“This is a surreal moment for me. I got to hear I won a Grammy while driving in the middle of a snowstorm between shows here in Canada. I am grateful beyond words to life and to my family. Music has won today, no marketing strategies or fashion trends. I hope that this album recorded at home in the middle of the pandemic inspires independent artists in Latin America to believe and follow their dreams.” – Alex Cuba
Mendó Also Holds A Current JUNO AWARD NominationFor:
Global Music Album of the Year
Alex is a Two-Time Juno Award Winner
Cuban-Canadian artist Alex Cuba is an eclectic, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who continues to be honoured by his musical peers. Recorded from his home in Smithers, BC during the pandemic, Alex’s most recent album, “Mendó”, was is a self-produced, independently performed, and stylistically diverse project that features numerous collaborations with artists Antonio Carmona, Cimafunk, Lila Downs, Gian Marco, Raul Midón & Gilberto Santa Rosa. On Sunday, April 3rd 2022, Alex was awarded his first Grammy from four nominations in the “Best Latin Pop Album” category. Alex was unable to attend the ceremony this year due to touring, but is looking forward to receiving his very first Grammy Award in the near future. His outfit from his performance at the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards is currently featured alongside numerous music icons in The Grammy Museum.
Reviews:
“Bringing his distinctive folk, funk and rock hybrid to life, the four-time Latin Grammy winner presents Mendó, a testament to the respect other artists have for Alex. On this set, Cuba collaborates with renowned artists including: Antonio Carmona, Cimafunk, Lila Downs, Gian Marco, Raul Midón and Gilberto Santa Rosa” – Billboard
“A while back I had to ask myself ‘Is it me or do I actually like everything Alex Cuba releases?’ So far, the answer is: Very much! …The four-time Latin Grammy winner’s brilliant discography has evolved from Afro-Cuban music to world music, rock en español, salsa, alternative Latin and Latin crossover blends of pop, soul and jazz. And it just gets better… Irresistible, superbly minimalistic yet profoundly full …a sensory upload of sublime playing, creative arrangements and melodic delight.” –Felix Contreras, NPR
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Mendó, meaning “substance of the soul, is a powerful project filled with international collaborations. From the healing voice of Grammy Award winning Lila Downs on “Mundo Nuevo”, to his colourful collaboration with world-renowned flamenco artist and Eurovision winner, Antonio Carmona, and commissioning a 13-piece horn band from his native country of Cuba, Alex’s vibrant new album reaches all the way around the world while ironically being stuck at home. Using his art as his refusal to be trapped by the circumstances surrounding him, Alex shares with listeners his “Mendó”, the substance of his soul, on his most powerful project to date.
About Mendó:
“When I began to imagine this album, I knew I didn’t want it to be small in any way. Neither did I want it to be known forever as the album that was born out of the pandemic. I was convinced that it definitely was the moment to aim at creating something very special, unique and vibrant, fuelled by the very deep emotions that this time has brought out of all of us.” – Alex Cuba
On this project, Cuba was “dedicated to virtually reaching as far and wide as possible”, and reach he did. From Northern British Columbia to Spain, Peru, Puerto Rico, and beyond, Cuba’s unlimited musical imagination saw him create vibrant, full-bodied songs in a wide variety of musical stylings. From flamenco, to tropical cumbia, to jazz, the assortment of genres on Mendó showcase an artist with deep musical knowledge, and immense musical talent. It will come as no surprise that Cuba is credited with playing all of the instruments on the album – something he almost always does.
Mendó is filled with beautiful, inspired, imaginative musical works – full and energetic – from the soul of a musician so immensely creative that when the world is locked down, he can find within himself the sounds of the world.
Biography:
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. With over 20 awards and nominations to his name, including 4 Latin Grammys and two Junos Awards and three 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.
Building on the 2017 Grammy nominated release Lo Unico Constante with its back to roots introspection, his latest collection of songs was released in September 2019 on the full length album “Sublime”, featuring six songs with Latin American singers and songwriters. Alex joined with Toronto based engineer, John Bailey to record in Gibson’s BC at The Farm Studio.
The decision to record all the instruments came to Alex Cuba years ago when making demos for new songs and wanting to share that undeniable personal sound.
The four-time Grammy nominee has received his first Grammy Award for Mendó – his most recently released album.
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