Guantanamo Free (GF) is a young dream. It was born from the mingling of deep Cuban roots and Catalan "tumbao". Its intense fusion of genres and styles is increasingly interesting, especially among young fans.
In order to know about what is currently going on with GF and its new album Como el elefante, Cubamusic.com arranged an interview with Miguel Atencio, also known as Migue, who is the director and founder of the band. The charismatic musician, who always has a contagious smile and a teenager-like energy, said that he feels enthusiastic about the way things are working for GF.
Available at Cubamusic the album by Guantanamo Free "Como el elefante"The project was created 11 years ago and from the first chords it is noticeable the influence of two Cuban popular Pop Rock bands that made history at the end of the 1990's: Wena Onda and Moneda Dura. Migue was a member of both, giving him enough experience to nurture this explosive project he is holding between hands.
Migue, tell us about the name of the band, Guantanamo Free.
Guantanamo is home to me and, in Spain every time I was asked where I was from. I always made clear that I had been born in Cuba. The name is a matter of honoring my roots. I decided to call this new project GF.
How would you define the music you are doing? Is it fusion, rock, pop?
What we do is all about mestizo culture made music, that is the best way of calling the tremendous variety of genres we use. Then, we are a pop rock band, but we play with many Afro-Cuban rhythms and with the molasses of Batá Drums.
Guantanamo Free's music is working out very well. Why?
From the very beginning I intended to bring together the freshness of Wena Onda and Moneda Dura with new rhythmic trends and mixes. The band's tracks have mostly impacted the young audience. For example, the album Como el elefante turned to be the most popular in our entire discography, especially in Europe. Songs like El mojito and Fiesta are hits on the radio and on the charts, they have even set preference records in Latin America and Europe.
It is said that Guantanamo Free is similar to Qva Libre... Do you agree?
We do not find the comparison with Qva Libre unpleasant, although I want to clarify that we were established in 2006 with the Afro-Cuban rhythms that proved the band's worth, together with pop-rock. We admire Qva Libre's music, but every band has its own distinctives and DNA.
Guantanamo Free has gained a lot of ground with the European audience, but... How are you handling being fully known in Cuba?
"Como has engordao' " is one of the latest releases of the GF and it has been widely accepted by the Cuban audience. Here in Cuba, we have a permanent musical space every Tuesday at 11:00pm in the Diablo Tun Tun of the Casa de la Musica de Miramar.
We came to Cuba for the nomination of our CD Como el elefante to the 2015 Cubadisco. We were nominated in the fusion genre category, then we decided to stay for a season so we could win our fellows with our music.
This is just the beginning, we intend to move forward with this sensible madness and the new ways of insertion in the Island. We have been called by and heard in many local and national radio stations. We have made ourselves felt in spaces like the cultural center El Sauce, among others. We really want to make music and have everyone hear it.
Time just flew in the almost-one-hour talk with Migue. He is super simple guy, who seems not to have ever left his native Guantanamo. His kindness is not very common among successful people. Several times he made clear that he is only about producing an authentic rhythm and having the public know Cuban music.
The Cubamusic.com crew said good-bye with a huge hug. Honestly, we would love to know more about his project... we are looking forward for the next opportunity.
