Everything started on the roof of an art school in Havana

I grew up in Cuba next to the campus of the esteemed Escuela Nacional de Arte. My family wasn’t that artistic, but the creativity right next door inspired me. One day, when I was sneak peeking at the dance classes from the adjacent rooftop the music swept me away.

For me, dancing and singing have always walked hand in hand – one cannot be without the other. My sister and I danced and sang a lot. At the age of 12 I got into percussion instruments and my mother took me to music lessons. When I was 15 years old, I gave my first dance lesson. A year later my job as a DJ got me into mixing and I started playing at the art school. When I saw how magnificently the dancers moved to the rhythm and beat of the music I played, my fate with music was sealed.

Later I was invited to perform in the first Baila en Cuba dance event and the international Para Bailar Casino TV show. While dancing in my courtyard, I was scouted to a talent show, looking for the best dancers in Cuba and I became a vocalist in a famous band called Michel Maza Márquez.

Dancing and singing my heart out

In August 2008 my friend Jukka talked me into moving to Turku and I started teaching Cuban dance. One day, when I was singing in my class, one of my students asked me if I wanted to join Grupo Kaney, and month later I performed 10 songs on stage with the band.

During a decade in Finland, I have danced and sung my heart out. I have established a dance studio of my own in Turku, performed all over Europe and made friends with dozens of talented musicians throughout the continent.

In 2017 I stepped into a recording studio for the first time in my life, when my friend and manager Mari Tauler said that it’s about time to take a step forward as a musician. Mari – who basically knows everybody – contacted her business acquaintance Maki Kolehmainen and now my first single Verano is out! The guys behind the track are Maki Kolehmainen, who has produced more than 30 gold and platinum selling albums, and musician Tracy Lipp.

There’s more to come! Watch this space and stay tuned to my channels! Listen to Verano on Spotify »