After over a decade on the Canadian music scene, Alex Cuba is hoping he is starting to blur the lines between some of the labels placed on music.
The Alex Cuba Trio will be featured during the seventh show in the 10 concert Blenders Music Series on March 13 at the Lyric Theatre.
And while Cuba has earned accolades for all four of his album releases dating back to 2006, he feels labels are less important that the quality of the music.
"I'm not really sure if people in Canada enjoy world music or not. I think people enjoy music in general, and it all depends how it's presented to them," Cuba said during a recent phone interview from his home in Smithers, B.C.
Cuba is currently in the running for his fourth Juno Award, earning a 2013 nomination in the World Music Album of the Year category for his current work Ruido en el Sistema (Static in the System).
He points out that the term World Music is something that was created a number of years ago to describe a large variety of music that did not easily fit in other categories.
"We don't know if (the term) is relevant any more to the music. It was created in order to bring to people that didn't necessarily speak the language the music was created in, in order to sell it to them."
"But nobody really knows what world music is at the end of the day."
"In Canada, what I've done I think only falls into that category, and keeps falling into that category, because of the language because it's not in English. But my fans know my music goes beyond that. My fans know that I'm giving them something that they can feel it."
He adds that his performances are not sharing music of a country, just to share the music of Alex Cuba.
Cuba has been a standout performer since breaking onto the music scene with the Juno Award winning album Humo De Tabaco. He won a Juno in 2008 for his release Agua Del Pozo.
His first Juno nomination came in 2001 in the Best Global Album category as a member of Puentes Brothers with his brother Adonis. Cuba also was nominated for in 2010 for his self titled album Alex Cuba in the World Music Album of the Year. Cuba also boasts a pair of Latin Grammy Awards for his impressive catalogue of work.
Being nominated a fourth time for a Juno Award is a special milestone for Cuba and it renews his excitement for delivering his music live to his fans.
"It is an exciting time. It is my fourth studio album and I keep getting that recognition, so this tour felt right on time. I bet all of the shows are pretty much going to be pretty much a celebration of that."
He appreciates coming into places with vibrant music scenes, regardless of the size of the community.
"Typically people in small communities are really appreciative of people coming through and playing music for them," Cuba said. "I like the intimacy of small venues. I like small towns where people don't get to see different kinds of music that often, and it's just going to be fun. I love the spontaneity of concerts in small places."
While he has appeared in Swift Current before, he is making his first appearance on a stage Swift Current stage with drummer/percussion Max Senitt and bass player/backing vocalist David Marion.
"Very often people say that we sound like seven people on stage and I'm looking forward to showcase that."
Cuba added that tonight's audience in Swift Current can expect a fun evening of music at the Lyric Theatre.
"People can expect a night in which they will be taken on a journey of music, because we play many different kinds of music in the same show."
"People can expect a wide variety of music performed by a trio that sounds like seven people, and there will be something for everyone in that. There are moments where people will feel like dancing, and moments when people will feel like hugging...and people can expect to have fun at the Alex Cuba show in Swift Current."
