Santiago-born Singer, Songwriter Works on New Album

Experimentation is no longer a challenge for William Vivanco’s rhythm. His Santiago-rooted Cuban identity gives him a spontaneous skill to put notes together and merge melodies. Vivanco is working on a 3D video in this city for the promotional single of his latest album.

Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years

“I’ve gone deep into the Cuban folklore, without even noticing”, the artist confesses. “This new album includes a changüí entitled Changüí en París, an evocation of that Cuban rhythm mixed with French music.

Mozambique is present too and we’re preparing it for summertime, with Interactivo, named Mozambisamba de Verano, so it’s blended with that Brazilian rhythm. We have also tried other rhythms, like quizomba, and I’m going to record a danzon with prestigious Miguel Faílde band, which is made up of valuable instrumentalists and headed by the great-grandson of this Cuban creator.”

Along with this band and Matanzas-based Las Estaciones, the songwriter makes incursions into performing arts by giving his music to Cuentos de Amor en un Barrio Barroco. The play takes places in different places of the country, while Vivanco’s characters go beyond pentagrams and show the artist’s versatility.

“This time round, I’ll go for a national tour with a musical theater that has already won Villanueva and Caricato awards due to Rubén Darío’s work and the cast of one of the best puppet theater groups in the country”, Vivanco details.

“We have already performed in Las Tunas, Camagüey, Matanzas and Villa Clara –the artist says- and the tour will come to an end in Havana with performances at Raquel Revuelta Theater and other places. This play is very popular.”

Old Simon, Ali Baba the pirate, Yemayá, deities of water and a representation of the Virgin of Charity, are some of the characters taken by the playwright from the artist’s lyrics. “The most interesting thing is –the creator of the sound track points out – the love concept created by Rubén Darío, Zenén Calero with the design, the musicians and actors. That’s makes the play be so special.”

With a work dedicated to his Santiago de Cuba, Vivanco has promised to be back during Pepe Sánchez Trova Festival, in March. He says that those roots give him the pretext for constant experimentation.

“Not being shown on TV doesn’t mean that I’m not working. It’s quite on the contrary. The point is that we’re going through a complex moment for arts, including the television realm. Sometimes I don’t participate on TV shows because I’m not invited or that’s not among my priorities.”

William Vivanco told us about his recent trip to Mexico, where he’s working on a new project, and he shared some details on the tour he’s about to give in Puerto Rico, with Interactivo, and later in Miami.

“I don’t want to say much about this project. I’m making the arrangements with my musician colleagues from Santiago de Cuba to record a song dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the city.”

He pays tribute to his city by saying that it would be impossible not dedicate his art to the place “where I got into mischief, discovered the bohemian life, fell in love with music and discovered my vocation. She has the magic that helps me keep on creating.”