“We are in danger of extinction, but we cannot let ourselves be extinguished”: Aymée Nuviola talks about salsa and her Grammy nomination

For the third time in a row, on behalf of women, Latin America, salsa and Cuba, Aymée Nuviola is nominated for the Grammy. Not only will he be able to take home a golden gramophone, but he will also be performing at the MGM in Las Vegas. In an interview with Infobae, the artist gave details of what this new recognition means to her and what salsa represents today within the industry. A nomination or a victory at the Grammys is the gasoline that Aymée has in her career to continue, 'it's not Daddy Yankee's gasoline, 'she says, but it is the fuel that moves her forward.

“We have had a time of planting and a time of harvest,” the Cuban woman begins by saying about her third nomination, in this talk with Infobae. And it is no wonder, his work is millimetre, perfectionist, well thought out. It is not only its music, it is its image that has made it remain valid in a genre that, over the days, is increasingly without exponents.

“We care about choosing the repertoire well, that the recording process is correct, that the tracks are well recorded (...) that above all is connected to me as an artist. Authenticity. That I don't lose seeing myself reflected in that work. As much as we go around music, or we're flirting with other genres, I always try not to get lost. That makes people not miss what they are listening to,” he said.

Aymée says a Grammy brings him more responsibility. It is not the same to be nominated for the Grammy the first time to be nominated for a third, with more years of experience, and with more experience in the complex industry. “The longer you spend, the more responsibility you feel. The first time you say, 'Well, maybe it was a stroke of luck, a fluke, a blessing', but, as the years go by, when you have a Grammy, as I do, you say, 'Well, and now? How do I overcome this? How do I move forward after this? ' I think it's not about overcoming it, but about doing the same thing, with the same excellence. Each work has its characteristics, its objective,” he explained.

Colombia has been no stranger to Aymée. In fact, it is with an album dedicated to this country that she is nominated for the Grammys. “Sin salsa no paraíso” has her competing in the category for 'Best Latin Tropical Album'. “One of the things that most unites me to Colombia is the novel by Celia Cruz, the one I did with RCN, where I lived almost six months. But other than that I have been with Colombia more. I always come to Cartagena to do my shows, that's where I did the casting. My fan club was born in Colombia, with some girls who are now ladies who are already in college or are working,” he said.

I wanted to pay homage to this land, but with respect. He didn't want to meddle in the country's classical genres, because it's not as easy as it seems, so instead of trying to appropriate them, he chose important songs in the country and adapted them to salsa. She is a big fan of Petrona Martínez and Toto la Momposina.

With her husband, after searching, she chose themes such as 'the cold drop', 'the land of oblivion', 'the creek, 'among others. He made them his own, reversed them into salsa. “Colombia and Cuba have a very strong musical connection. There is a lot of Cuban music that has influenced the Colombian music, and many Cuban composers with songs that were popularized by Colombians,” he added to Infobae.

Salsa is a classic genre, and current sounds don't seem to want to be directed to creating new songs from there. Aymée says, they're in danger of extinction. You have to give it a spin, however, it's not easy.

“I think we have to reinvent ourselves. One of the things that is hurting the genre the most is the lack of renewal, of having things to propose. He who does not propose is not leaving any legacy, he is echoing and repeating what is already there, of what already exists. Not that it's bad, but if you want screening, you have to propose. It's risky, because whenever you propose you move away from preconceived patterns, and then there are people who understand it and don't understand it. But I prefer to be that way. Music is full of forms, but there is no formula. When you put a formula to music, you reduce it to the full extent that the musical world can be,” he said.

“We are in danger of extinction, but we cannot allow ourselves to be extinguished,” he concluded.

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