Heidi Igualada

Outstanding Cuban composer, guitarist and singer, member of the Nueva Trova Movement. Her voice full of nuances makes her one of the most excellent Cuban singer-songwriters.

Her artistic life begins in the early years of the troubadour's life. A private teacher from her neighborhood named Jesús Ponce was her first teacher, thanks to her uncle Pepe "El Gallego", who in addition to playing flamenco guitar was also a luthier. He made her first guitar when she was 7 years old.

Heidi graduated from Elementary Level Guitar at the Ignacio Cervantes Professional Development Center and from Upper Middle Level in the specialty of Singing at the Félix Varela Provincial Professional Development Center.

In her beginnings, her participation in Marta Valdés' composition workshops was fundamental, which is why the troubadour feels indebted to all Cuban traditional music and considers that her influences are multiple, from Sindo Garay to young troubadour Ariel Díaz.

Accompanied by her group, Trébol de ciudad, she has given important concerts in Cuba such as the one held in 2011 at the National Museum of Fine Arts and maintains her regular peña. Also at the Casa de las Américas, the Teatro del Palacio de Bellas Artes and a national tour in 2009 that included all provincial capitals with Sara González and Marta Campos.

This troubadour has accumulated different concerts in various venues throughout the country, as well as in Guatemala and Nicaragua.

During her career, Heidi Igualada has shared the stage with important artists, including Marta Valdés, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, Sara González, Anabel López, Marta Campos, Rita del Prado, Jorge García, Gerardo Alfonso, Lázara Ribadavia, Ariel Díaz and the ISA String Quartet.

Among the recordings in which she has participated is the tribute album to Teresita Fernández Vamos todos a cantar (1999). Furthermore, her works are included in the Anthology of Nueva Trova, Volume IV (1998) and in Songs of the hearts of Cuba (1998), by American record label Global Disc Records. She also participates in Cuerda joven (recorded live at the Pablo de la Torriente Brau Cultural Center in 1999); in Anthology 1 (1999) and La impúdica es la guitarra (2000), also produced by this Center.

Heidi does not accompany herself with the violent pace of this modern era (or post?) nor with hermetic metaphor, full of locks. Her poetry is clear, finding the daily tenderness that sometimes, from being so daily, we no longer see.

Her guitar, discreet but present, leads by the hand to her voice that makes us fly and fills the entire scene. And her song (that white cloud, that challenge that always ends in a nest, to recall her own verses) is made of simple tenderness, of good nourishment for the sensitive. It is a beautiful gift for the soul, a very brief rebirth, to receive Heidi Igualada in concert. From this patio always crowned with trills and sparrows, I propose listening to her (and now once again I use her voice in verse) as if we were discovering ourselves; as if from each song, overcoming all our distant stories, love would reach us.

Discography

"Serenata", Unicornio Records, 2007.
"En la línea de mi mano", Colibrí, 2008.

Compositions

She is the author of the songs: Es poco tiempo que tengo para amarte, Alma, Génesis, Volver a nacer, Estocada, Al caer, Debajo de tu rostro, Déjame volver a la esperanza, Cuando pienso en ti, Corazón de agua, Donde espera el mar, Sonero, Luna vivida, Canción al viento, Guajira para cuando el amor me llegue, among others.

Together with Lucía Huergo she composed the musical theme "Comienzo", from the telenovela La cara oculta de la luna, performed and recorded by David Álvarez with Juego de Manos and the quartet Sexto Sentido.

Awards and Recognition

Two nominations at CUBADISCO 2003, with the CD "Serenata", in the categories of "Opera Prima" and "Cancionística".
First mention in the "Adolfo Guzmán" competition, in 2000, with the song "Luna".
Second Prize in the "Adolfo Guzmán", 2007, with the song "Flor de Luna".
Award from the Pablo de la Torriente Brau Cultural Center, in the nueva trova category, in the collateral awards of the Cuerda Viva 2012 Festival.