Melanie Santiler is visiting Madrid and is preparing some concerts in Spain. From the Iberian country, she assured that Miami plays a fundamental role in the growth and international projection of Cuban artists.
During an interview granted to the Spanish newspaper Artículo 14, on the occasion of the launch of "Gataza", Santiler reflected on the challenges of making a name for herself in the music industry from the island. She explained how the audience in Miami has become an essential ally for growth in this competitive field.
The American city tops the Spotify statistics for Santiler. The artist explained that this leadership also reflects the limitations faced by creators within Cuba, where numerous streams are not reflected on the major digital platforms.
"In Cuba, the platforms do not work. Neither I nor any Cuban artist have virtually any numbers from Cuba, only on YouTube. There are countless people who listen to the music of Cuban artists without being able to provide us with numbers, without showing up in the statistics. They are phantom listens: bots, downloads, alternative methods, because there is no access to this in Cuba," he commented.
"Thanks to the Miami community, we have statistics, numbers, and reach. There is also a Cuban community in Spain and in many places around the world, thank God, but Miami is extremely important. We conquered Miami," summarized the young woman, expressing her regret for not having been able to visit the Sunshine City yet.
Santiler defended the Reparto as a manifestation deeply connected to Cuban society. In his view, the genre, which emerged from the blend of timba, rumba, and other urban rhythms, is today “the identity of the Cuban people.”
It also emphasized the significance of national slang and cultural codes that make it difficult to reproduce outside of that context.
He acknowledged, however, that pursuing a musical career in Cuba involves significant obstacles. While he wishes to become an international figure without severing his ties to Havana, he admitted that "right now, it's very difficult to find opportunities there" due to the situation the country is facing.
"I aspire to be an artist of the world, without a doubt, but without leaving Cuba, without stopping to go, and without ceasing to draw inspiration from what is happening. Right now, it's very difficult to find inspiration there due to the situation, but at some point, it has been wonderful to create in Cuba," she said.
The singer also lamented the lack of prominent contemporary female Cuban figures. She pointed to Celia Cruz as an essential influence in understanding how an artist can command the stage and project her identity to international audiences.
"Celia is a huge reference for live performances because she embodies Cuban roots. That's how a Cuban person puts on a show," said the singer. In her opinion, Cuba has not had a female figure with a similar impact since then.
Another of her great goals is precisely in Havana. Santiler dreams of offering a concert at the Estadio Latinoamericano, an emblematic venue for the Industriales. For her, performing there would hold even more significance than appearing at Madison Square Garden.
The performer seeks to forge new paths for Cuban music, preserve the connection to her roots, and achieve global recognition supported by a diaspora with its main centers in Miami and Madrid.
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