Preview

Addys D’Mercedes grew up in Oriente, the southern, rural part of Cuba. At local parties she heard her father playing sones and guajiras on the guitar, such as ‘El Cuarto De Tula’ or ‘El Carretero’, which now have become popular worldwide thanks to the success of the Buena Vista Social Club. The radio played songs of the Nueva Trova from Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez and Sara Gonzáles, Dominican merengues, Mexican rancheras and the latest songs from Madonna and Michael Jackson.

As a young girl, Addys sang boleros and Nueva Trova songs at parties. At the age of 16 she became the lead singer of the group Onda Joven, in Moa. One year later she started her professional career as lead singer of several famous Cuban groups: Los Neira, Timbre Latino and Spectrum.

In September of 1999 she recorded a set of nine original compositions, entitled ‘Mundo Nuevo’ (New World), featuring musicians from Afro Cuban All Stars and Jóvenes Clásicos del Son. Unlike Cuba, the recording had a wide range of Spanish American musical styles Cuban styles like son, timba, guajira and cha cha cha alternate with salsa, cumbia, bolero and bachata.

With her youthful, incredibly warm soulful-voice, she undertakes a musical journey between her childhood in South America and her time in Europe. Based on up-tempo latin grooves, ‘Mundo Nuevo‘ tells us about her ambiguous feelings towards these worlds, her arrival, full of curiosity in wintery Europe, her yearning for her tropical home and the gratitude for the new inspiration provided by this new world. Beside the original Timba-version, there is an additional Latin House remix by London based T.H.O.R. (The House Of Riddim).

The CD is also a homage to the past with Addys collaborating with musical legends from her grandparents generation. In the guajira ‘No Me Abandones‘ the smoky voice of 76 year old Raul Planas, singer of the legendary ‘Afro Cuban All Stars‘, duets with the clear, natural voice of Addys. The only cover versions on the recording are new interperatations of the standards ‘El Carretero‘ and ‘Como Fue‘ in which Addys is accompanied by maybe the most famous tres-player Coto, and musicians of her former cuban group "Los Neira".

Cheeky, vocally playful and always stylish, Addys is inspired by the inexhaustible treasure chest of dancable latin grooves without being over respectful to the puristic ceremonies of certain styles -"I`m singing music that touches me, no matter if it comes from Cuba, America , Europe or even China". The Song ‘Deja Que Digan‘ parodies grumblers and critics, wrapped in hot salsa grooves with a pinch of the cuban rhythm Pilon. In ‘Cha Ka Cha‘ Addys tells the story of her smaller brother, who in her childhood was crazy about learning how to dance Cha Cha Cha in order to impress the girls.

Addys´ grand passion for harmonic, exciting ballads, which are more usually found in Brazilian music, can be felt in the romantic and melancholic Bolero ‘Tu Vanidad‘ and the optimistic Bachata ‘Versos Y Flores‘. The beautiful hymn ‘Yemaya‘ is a tribute to the african roots in salsa and tells about the afro-cuban godess of water and fertility worshipped in many South American countries today.

Mundo Nuevo is an inspiring journey whose individual songs, reveal facets of the whole. "Tu tierra, mi tierra, solo hay un mundo" ("Your world, my world, there is just one world" - from ‘Mundo Nuevo‘).

Review 1

For those who braved the weather last Friday night to visit the Talbot, the trip was certainly worth it. Addys D'Mercedes and her band certainly brought some Cuban heat to a wet autumn night, with a sensational gig. Her soulful voice and great stage presence were complimented perfectly by some superb musicianship from her band.

The set comprised mainly of songs from her album, 'Mundo Nuevo', the majority of which were written by Addys herself. From sultry ballads to hot rhythmic Cuban 'Sons', there wasn't a dull moment in the entire evening, and resulted in a rush for CD's at the end. So our regular gig season is off to a flying start.

Review 2

Addys D'Mercedes and her wondrous 7-piece band proved that Cuban music is anything but preserved in aspic. With her commanding vocal and personal presence, supported by a breathtakingly controlled multi-instrumental outfit featuring multiple harmony vocals, she had the gratifyingly well-filled room gravitating to the dance floor in no time at all.