Dayme Arocena (De Los LA Times)

— NPR’S FELIX CONTRERAS

Born in Havana, Arocena's musical journey, shaped by Afro-Cuban folk and international experiences, culminates in "Alkemi," a spiritually charged exploration of Afro-Latin grooves that seamlessly fuses tradition and innovation. In 2021, she became the youngest Latin-American musician to complete Berklee College of Music's "Signature Artist" program, joining the ranks of legends who have influenced aspiring musicians at the prestigious institution.

Daymé Arocena, now a Grammy-nominated and Juno-award-winning Afro-Cuban singer, composer and choir director. Relying on instinct and intuition is how Arocena has managed her career since she burst on the international scene with Nueva Era, her prodigious debut album, in 2015. Now, she has reinvented her sound with her upcoming album "Alkemi," set to be released on February 23th, 2024, blending neo-soul singing, Afro-Caribbean beats, and modern pop. Collaborating with renowned producer Eduardo Cabra, Vicente García as special guest on “A Fuego Lento” and Rafa Pabön on “Suave y Pegao”, the album incorporates diverse influences from jazz to urbano stylings, challenging conventional notions of Latin pop.

Steel pannist/vocalist, Alan Lightner leads this energetic, creative, allstar band through original compositions and arrangements that span from calypso to cha cha, reggae to r&b and jazz to rock, all featuring the transcendent sound of the steel pan. In Trinidad, when a pannist plays well, they say he or she plays "sweet". Yes, and Lightner does play pan "dulce"!

Rocio "Wyldeflower" Contreras aka Ro is an on-air radio host and DJ on 89.9 KCRW & Dublab, a budding music supervisor, and creative from Pasadena, California. With decades of experience in art, festival, orchestral concert production and programming. Ro is inspired by discovery; exploring new and classic sounds from all over the globe ranging from tropicalia, mpb, soul, funk, jazz & beyond. Catch her behind the turntables setting intention with her vinyl collection & carefully curated otherworldly sonic selections.

This performance is made possible in part by grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.

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