Contest Promotes Development of Young Musicians in Cuba

In its fourth edition, the event constitutes a prelude to the Havana World Music Festival to be held in this capital from March 21 to 23 and has become a favorite place among non-professional musicians who find here an opportunity to publicize their talent.

Organized by singer-songwriter Eme Alfonso, the event has the support of the British Council, the Ministry of Culture, the Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS) and the Cuban Art Factory (FAC).

‘This is a platform that aims to mold new artists, provide them with basic knowledge of composition, stage projection, music production and marketing in social networks, which is vital to position yourself in the current market with quality and without losing your identity’. The current call for the Primera Base has this particularity this year that was based on the network of artists of the AHS to achieve greater reach, it extended five days more than the planned date (now March 5) and used digital platforms.

The contest consists of three stages in which first a selection of nine bands divided into the three categories is made (Dj Producers, Youth from 16 to 23 years and Seniors from 24 to 32 years).

These groups are presented before a jury of Cuban specialists in a live show who will select the three groups that will perform at the Havana World Music Festival. As a prize for the contestants, there is also the recording of a promotional video clip, of several subjects under study and the management of presentations in local venues.

In the 2018 edition, musical groups such as Bandera, Open Mind and Cimafunk bands stood out, the latter being considered a ‘time bomb exploding that, although it was not launched to stardom by the contest, the contest became a channeler and a point of return in the development of the project.