Kelvis Ochoa

Kelvis Ochoa is tremendously popular among Cuban youth (as well as among more than a few older Cubans). His voice is as singular as his head of red hair, and truly, it is the voice of a generation. Alone on stage, armed only with his guitar, he can get the audience on their feet and make them dance all night long.

His ability to appreciate so many different types of music, his talent for capturing that inspiration in his work and conceiving a completely unique sound; this is what has made Kelvis Ochoa such a vital force in Cuban music today.

Kelvis Ochoa was born in 1970, in Las Tunas, Cuba. He was awarded the 2006 Goya Prize for best original music, as co-author of the Soundtrack for the film "Habana Blues".

One of the most unique characteristics of Kelvis Ochoa's works is his special way of projecting traditional Cuban song and especially the sucu-sucu (an indigenous rhythm from the Isle of Youth).

Kelvis is a master at bringing together traditional rhythms such as Son, Sucu Sucu, Cha Cha Cha, Macuta, Songo, Conga, Merengue, Milonga and Timba, among others with influences from Funky, Chili-peppers rock and pop Antillean and international pop. To his captivating melodies and passionate and fun lyrical texts, is added his surprising skill when it comes to improvisation.

As a composer he has written songs for Raimundo Amador, Tomasito and Beatriz Márquez, has collaborated on albums by Tino Di Geraldo and in productions made by him. He has also composed for Film Soundtracks, such as "Vampiros en La Habana" (Juan Padrón) and "Barrio Cuba" (Humberto Solás 2005) and "Habana Blues" (Benito Zambrano).

Descendant of a family of musicians, his grandfather, director of the Órgano Oriental orchestra, his father, Segundo Ochoa a recognized Cuban timbalero, Kelvis stood out from a young age for his innate ability to sing.

From early childhood he moved with his grandparents to live on the Isle of Youth, where he lived until 1992, when he moved to Havana and there quickly comes into contact with cultural circles, integrating with the new generation of composers, artists, performers, directors and writers that emerged with their own identity during that time in Havana.

He participates in the album produced by Gema Y Pavel "Habana Oculta". And it is then, for the promotion of this album, that he moved to Spain in July 1996 to participate in the Bilbao Tropical festival.

From then on he begins a series of concerts at festivals and venues across Spain, immediately awakening interest from both the public and the press and even from renowned Spanish artists and musicians.

At the end of 1996, along with other Cuban musicians from the collective 'Habana Oculta', they recorded an album now named 'Habana Abierta' published by BMG-Ariola in mid-1997. The same company released the second album by this collective "24 Horas" in 1999. From the beginning Kelvis stood out for the speed with which he was able to adapt and connect with Spanish audiences, especially for the stage presence that characterizes him, so much so that on the first and second Habana Abierta albums the first singles were "Tardes de Café" and "Cuando Salí de la Habana", both composed and performed by Kelvis.

In December 1999 Kelvis and Alejo Stivel (ASK) meet, that same night they proposed working together, beginning the recording in December of Kelvis's first solo album. In this first album it is important to note that, despite being full of traditional Cuban rhythms, the fusion ends up being CUBAN POP, or as it would be said in the international recording industry CUBAN-POP. "Si tu no quieres" is the second single from Kelvis's first solo album. A fresh song, in which the provocative instrumental base together with the bass and brass show us the best example of the fusion that Kelvis Ochoa projects in his album. A real gem. To this is added, in rap style, the sensual voice of Brazilian Fernanda Abreu and the production of Alejo Stivel, synonymous with quality and assured success.

His second album was made at PM Records studios in Havana and with Cuban musicians living both in Cuba and abroad, all reunited in this dream. This album maintains the musical bases of fusion of traditional rhythms now more focused on live performance. This time piano, brass and choruses acquire significant importance. This project was created from the freedom afforded by a more personal and independent production, in an environment more in the Cuban way of the "descarga". Important is to highlight the collaboration with Pavel Urquiza, Descemer Bueno, Roberto Carcassés (Director of the Cuban band Interactivo), Haydee Milanés, Yusa, Athanay, Francis (Interactivo), Samuel Formell (Van Van), Elmer Ferrer and Nan Sam Fong (guitar for Amparanoia, Habana Abierta, Lolita, Pastora Soler, etc.)

In 2005, Kelvis recorded "Boomerang" the fourth album by the group "Habana Abierta". The recordings were made in Madrid with the record label Calle 54 and brought together several musicians of different influences, countries and ages. (Alaín Pérez and Bebo Valdes, among others).

In 2007 the album Amor y Música was released under the Egrem label, a work in which most of the songs were created by four hands between Kelvis and Descemer Bueno, which also features participation from musicians such as Carlos Varela, Roberto Carcassés and Polito Ibañez.

Throughout his artistic career, Kelvis has worked with musicians such as Lolita, Pastora Soler, Pavel Urquiza, Descemer Bueno, Roberto Carcassés (Director of the Cuban band Interactivo), Edesio Alejandro, Haydée Milanés, Yusa, Athanai, Francis del Río (Interactivo), Samuel Formell (Van Van), Elmer Ferrer, Nan Sam Fong (guitar for Lolita, Amparanoia, Habana Abierta, etc.), Ojos de Brujo, Manu Chao, Puerto Rican group Calle 13, among others.

As a composer he has written songs for Raimundo Amador, Tomasito and Beatriz Márquez, and has collaborated on albums by Tino Di Geraldo and in productions made by him.

Music for Film
He has composed for Film Soundtracks, such as:
"Vampiros en La Habana" (Juan Padrón, Cuba)
"Barrio Cuba" (Humberto Solás, Cuba, 2005)
"Habana Blues" (Benito Zambrano, Spain-Cuba)
"Corazón del tiempo" (Alberto Cortés, Mexico)
"Lisanka" (Daniel Díaz Torres, 2009).