Cuba’s Electronic Dance Music Scene

Cuba’s electronic dance music scene is thriving, with a wide variety of genres and styles being represented. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular EDM subgenres in Cuba and explore the history of the Cuban music scene.

The History of Cuban Electronic Dance Music

The electronic dance music scene in Cuba has a long and complex history. In the early days, Cuban electronic dance music was influenced by American and European music. However, as the Cuban Revolution began to take hold, the Cuban government began to crack down on this type of music.

Pre-Revolution

Before the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the island had a thriving nightlife and was known for its “son” music. After the Revolution, the country went through a period of economic hardship which led to many clubs and dance venues being shut down. Despite this, Cuban electronic dance music continued to evolve and grow in popularity. In the 1990s, Cuba began to open up to the outside world and its electronic dance music scene began to flourish once again. Today, Cuban electronic dance music is enjoyed by people all over the world and is an important part of Cuban culture.

The Revolution

In the late 1950s, Fidel Castro and his Marxist-Leninist rebel army overthrew the Fulgencio Batista regime, which had been supported by the United States. The victory of the Cuban Revolution brought many changes to the island nation, including a greater focus on equality and social justice. One of the most lasting effects of the Revolution has been the rise of Cuban electronic dance music.

Since the early 1960s, Cuban artists have been experimenting with electronic music, incorporating elements of traditional Cuban music with newer styles from abroad. This fusion of sounds has given birth to a unique brand of Cuban electronic dance music that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

One of the most popular subgenres of Cuban electronic dance music is timba, which combines elements of Cuban salsa with Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies. Timba is characterized by its fast tempo and catchy melodies, making it perfect for dancing. Timba bands such as Los Van Van and Havana d’Primera are popular both in Cuba and abroad, and their songs often deal with political and social issues.

Other popular styles of Cuban electronic dance music include cubaton, a slower style that combines reggaeton with Cubana rhythms; electro-cumbia, a mix of cumbia and electronic dance music; and mojito-core, a fusion of moombahton and reggaeton.

With its catchy beats and socially conscious lyrics, Cuban electronic dance music has become an important part of Cuba’s cultural landscape. In recent years, it has also gained popularity outside of Cuba, with artists such as Orishas and Yelawolf incorporating elements of Cuban music into their own work. As Cuba continues to open up to the world, its unique brand of electronic dance music is sure to gain even more fans around the globe.

Post-Revolution

After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the country went through a period of great change. This included a number of different styles of music being banned, as the new regime sought to create a new identity for the nation. One of the banned genres was electronic dance music, which was seen as a symbol of Western decadence. However, there was a small group of people who continued to produce and listen to this type of music in secret.

In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba began to open up to the outside world again. This led to a number of Cuban electronic dance musicians being able to gain international recognition. Since then, the scene has continued to grow in popularity, with a number of world-renowned DJs and producers coming from Cuba.

The Current Cuban Electronic Dance Music Scene

In recent years, Cuba has begun to emerge as a hotspot for electronic dance music. This is due in part to the country’s rich musical history and its vibrant and creative culture. Havana, in particular, has become a hotbed for EDM, with many clubs and events springing up in recent years.

The Clubs

The Cuban electronic dance music scene is vibrant and growing, with new clubs and events popping up all the time. One of the most popular clubs in Havana is Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which hosts regular parties and DJ sets. Other popular clubs include La Fabrica de Arte Cubano, which has a more alternative vibe, and Cafe Cantante Mi Habana, which is known for its salsa and Cuban fusion music.

In addition to the clubs, there are also a number of electronic music festivals that take place in Cuba each year. The most popular of these is the Havana World Music Festival, which takes place in March and features a range of international and local acts. Other festivals include the Electronic Daisy Carnival, which takes place in May, and the Rototom Sunsplash festival, which takes place in August.

The Music

Since the early 2000s, Cuba’s electronic dance music scene has been growing rapidly. A new generation of Cuban producers and DJs are making a name for themselves both at home and abroad, fusing traditional Cuban music with modern electronic beats.

The most popular style of Cuban electronic dance music is called ‘timba-house’. Timba-house tracks often feature catchy melodies and heavy basslines, drawing inspiration from both Cuban timba music and international house music.

Other popular genres in Cuba’s electronic dance music scene include ‘cubaton’ (a fusion of Cuban reggaeton and electronic dance music), ‘moombahton’ (a fusion of moombahcore and reggaeton) and ‘trap-cumbia’ (a fusion of trap music and cumbia).

Despite the rise in popularity of electronic dance music in Cuba, the genre is still relatively unknown internationally. However, this is starting to change, with a number of Cuban EDM artists beginning to gain recognition outside of Cuba.

The People

The people of Cuba are passionate about their music, and this is evident in the country’s electronic dance music scene. The scene is made up of a wide range of people, from established DJs and producers to up-and-coming talents. There is a strong sense of community within the scene, and many artists are quick to support and promote each other’s work.

There are a number of well-known Cuban electronic dance music artists, such as Arca, who have gained international recognition. However, there is also a wealth of talented local artists who are lesser known outside of Cuba. These artists often showcase their work at local clubs and events, and many have built up a strong following among the Cuban people.

The Cuban electronic dance music scene is vibrant and growing, with new artists and tracks being released all the time. It is an exciting time for the genre, and it will be interesting to see how it develops in the future.