Daymé Arocena busted out of the Cuban music scene with the release of Nueva Era, her 2015 debut, which positioned her as a crucial artist in the increasingly accessible U.S.-Cuban musical exchange. With her deep voice and strong jazz background, the Brownswood signee has crafted a Santería-inspired neo-soul sound, fusing together jazzy riffs with Afro-Cuban percussion.
In anticipation of her forthcoming One Takes EP, Arocena dropped “Stuck” last week, a jazz fusion rendition of Peven Everett’s futuristic funk track. Her cover is a near six-minute blended groove, layering upbeat funk and percussion with a propelling bassline. As usual, Arocena sings with a warm enthusiasm, boasting skillful arrangement and melodic talent. Although the track is a departure from the percussion-heavy ballads that fill much of her repertoire, the passion is not lost through her fierce delivery and dynamic electric rhythm.
Fresh off her SXSW performances in Austin, Daymé Arocena is taking on cities across the country with her first U.S. tour, which is now in full swing, thanks to a three-night stint at New York City’s Subrosa this week, co-presented by Afro-Latino Festival. Check out all of her tour dates here.