The Glorious Vocal Vidas front and Center in Soy Cubana

by Kathia Woods

The revolution brought many changes to Cuba; however, the arts remained untouched. Cuba, a country rich in Ballet, folkloric dances, Show Girls all of which helped infuse Salsa, remains of the most culturally influential countries in the world. So, it's not surprising to find a film centered on an acapella women's group. The group is Vocal Vidas, and the film is Soy Cubana.

The film introduces us to four amazing ladies, aka Vocal Vidas. Their home is Santiago de Cuba, and, on the weekends, they sing for tourists. Their musical repertoire consists of traditional Cuban songs as well as Negro spirituals. The quartet supports its musical endeavors via tips from the tourists who stop to hear them sing.

The beauty of Soy Cubana is that we get to know the women and through them, we get a fundamental understanding what life is like for the average Cuban person. Politics aside, the women deeply care for one another and take great pride in their artistry.

A good portion of the film surrounds the Vida's American debut. They have been invited to sing at a concert in Los Angeles. Naturally obtaining the visa to come to the US is not an easy task, but the ladies and their American benefactors are determined to make it work. The group has traveled outside of Cuban to perform but those prior journeys were mainly in Europe.

America is new territory for them, and it's commendable to see them make the most of the opportunity. Seeing the women hustle from gig to gig is simply remarkable. Others would want to relax and go sightseeing, but it's about earning as much as possible and growing the brand.

The documentary does a great job letting the viewers experience Cuba through their eyes. We get an opportunity to meet their families as well as seeing them maneuver in their daily lives. This adds to the essence of the story.

The film does touch briefly on the politics between the two nations. Mainly how some have fled to the US for "freedom." The ladies comfortably shared that while many have left, many wish they could return. The separation of family and the reality of living in a country where education and healthcare come at great expense weighs heavily on ex-patriots. There's also the high crime rate. All things that many didn't consider when making the journey.

As the Vidas were successfully making their American debut it was heartbreaking to see their families unable to get a reliable internet connection. This failure of a strong network is common in many places in the Caribbean, away from the tourist area. Nevertheless, their families are highly supportive of the ladies' career.

The best part of the movie is hearing the Vidas sing.

Four voices blending as one and singing like angles is food for one's soul. The group consists of Anita, soprano aka the magic flute; Annia, contralto "el sazon" the spice; Koset, mezza-soprano, "is dependable like a good Cuban Rice"; and Maryoris, contralto bass, "the salt of the dish." These are the ingredients for a fine dinner and, in this case, a fantastic singing group.

 Kudos also must be given to directors Jeremy Ungar and Ivaylo Getov for showcasing the women's music and enabling the viewer to come along the journey. As far as the ladies' music, you hear a wide range of musical influences, naturally Cuban music, but there are tinges of Latin Jazz and Black Gospel Music. All of the above speak to the richness of their native city Santiago. To say that the ladies' signing is beautiful doesn't quite serve it justice.

Soy Cubana started off wanting to tell us about a singing group; it accomplished that task and more. The film introduced us to the Vocal Vidas and showcased four amazing women to the world, which will do more for public relations than any politician.

The Vocal Vidas music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and IHeart.