Cuban musician Roberto Carcassés establishes himself in Spain: 'Cuba is in flames'

August 31, 2023

Roberto Carcassés is a cat's son who catches mice. His father, Bobby Carcassés, is a pioneer of Afro-jazz in Cuba. His music is full of paternal influences, although "Robertico" followed his own path. When talking in Cuba about the music made in recent years, one must mention Interactivo, the project founded in 2001 by him and great talents from the Island. Francis del Río, Yusa, William Vivanco, Telmary  and many others have contributed, under the concept of timba-funk, to the construction of this space. 

Interactivo will perform in Madrid on August 31, but this will be more than just a concert: Roberto Carcassés, its leader, will establish himself in the Spanish capital, as he reveals in an interview with DIARIO DE CUBA.

The Madrid venue Galileo will host what Carcassés describes as "Interactivo's first concert in the diaspora".

"I'm thinking of staying in Spain for a while. I want to return to Cuba whenever I want and can, but I'll stay to live away for a bit", he explains.

Why exactly now? 

There are many reasons. I am affected by everything that happens in Cuba like any other Cuban. Cuba is, as we would say, in flames. It has been in flames for many years. I'm going to rest a bit from the flames all the time. 

You are a musician who has always maintained a critical position against the Government. Have you suffered any act of repression?

I have not suffered direct repression from State Security, but I have been censored. In a way, I feel censored and repressed in Cuba.

The exodus that Cuba has experienced has had a high composition of artists. Do you think the Cuban cultural atmosphere has degraded because of it?

The cultural atmosphere in Cuba has degraded. What happens is that, since Cuba is an Island of so much talent, talented people will always continue to emerge who will do interesting things. But I do feel it has degraded greatly. Cuba's most important theaters are closed right now. You can feel the pressure on artists and musicians. You really feel the pressure over what you say, what you don't say, what you do, what you fail to do, and it has intensified in recent years. It's crude and ugly; you can't even say the word "freedom" anymore. If you say "freedom" you're subject to being censored. So imagine not even being able to say that word.

Yet the Government keeps making festivals and events...

I think that the Government is something very abstract and the people who have to do with the Government in Cuba, or who have to do with the State, are all of us. Everyone has to go through the State, because the State controls everything. So, I am open to working with whoever, as long as no one tells me what I have to say and what I have to do. I think that within the Government itself in Cuba there are also people who might have a different vision of what Cuba could be and I cannot close myself off to that. I cannot say, "this one yes, this one no, you who work with the Government, you who don't work". You cannot set those limits in Cuba because we all have to work. For example, to enter Cuba you have to do it through the State or to leave, for anything you want to do there. That's something I don't agree with, but I am not going to stop going to Cuba, trying to go to Cuba because I have my parents in Cuba, because Cuba is my country. There are many Cuban brothers of mine who cannot return to Cuba, something I don't agree with.

Any advice for someone who wants to dedicate themselves to music in Cuba?

My advice is that they be consistent. The advice I can give a musician is that music is a way of life. I see music and relate it to religion. For me music is like my religion, what unites me with other people, the way I express myself, the way I am. It's an infinite path that never ends, a path of learning. And it's beautiful for that reason, because not everything is discovered. There is no absolute truth for anyone. There is always something that surprises you and saves you.