Daymé Arocena

About

Dayme Arocena – widely regarded as a modern Cuban icon – frequently compared to such divas as Celia Cruz, Aretha Franklin, La Lupe and Ella Fitzgerald. A highly skilled singer / songwriter / producer and band leader - Daymé is a powerhouse representing her native country on the world’s stage. Born in Havana in 1992, Daymé Arocena's musical journey began early, immersed in Afro-Cuban folk and inspired by her father's cassette tapes of Sade Adu. After gaining recognition as a prodigious talent at just 8 years old, she studied music at the prestigious Amadeo Roldán conservatory. Touring internationally with Canadian jazz group Maqueque, she earned a Grammy nomination in 2017 for her lead performances and complex vocal arrangements. Her fourth studio album, "Alkemi," marks a significant shift. Recorded in Puerto Rico and inspired by her love for the island, Arocena collaborated with legendary Latin producer Eduardo Cabra to reinvent her sound. This album is a fusion of neo soul, Afro-Caribbean beats, and pop, drawing on her Afro-Cuban roots while embracing contemporary influences. From the cosmopolitan smoothness of lead single "Suave y Pegao" to the defiant spirit of "American Boy," Arocena defies industry norms and expresses her artistic liberation. Through "Alkemi," she creates a transcendent musical experience, guided by her deep connection to music as a spiritual force.