Alex Duvall has transcended borders with his music. Since he was part of the group Yuly and Havana C he has earned a space in the Cuban artistic circuit. His originality, interpretative quality and the freshness of his sound have made him stand out in the urban music scene.
He started making songs at the age of nine and from that date his passion for music awoke. Then, her effort and talent grew during her career.
His creative capacity has been confirmed throughout his career. Alex has become a benchmark for Cuban urban music. Furthermore, he is an entrepreneur who is passionate about what he does.
You started in music as a showgirl. Was this stage decisive for the urban union to open its doors to you?
Starting to work with these musicians for whom I was a backing vocalist was a great learning experience. I was able to see all the things that being an artist entails and nourish myself from all the experiences around me.
Being part of the Jackal and William the Magnificent team gave me visibility and gave me the tools to function in other groups and, eventually, develop my solo career.
Were you clear from the beginning the concept you wanted to work with your music? Was it changing over time?
My generation has been touched by the reggaeton era and, although I have been influenced by artists of dissimilar aspects, I decided to venture into urban music because it is the genre that young people consume today.
I have worked in pop and salsa, but right now I feel comfortable in urban music. I believe that with the work that we have been doing we can contribute to the genre so that it continues in the preference of a part of our population.
You are an artist who sings and composes. At what point in your creative process do you know that a song can work?
Sometimes a magical atmosphere is created in the studio that gives the feeling that a certain song is going to be a hit once it’s released.
It can also happen that everyone involved in the creation of a song puts all their effort into it and, even so, the public does not support it in the same way.
From my experience, what has resulted for me is doing a job well done so that my music reaches as many people as possible and, thus, having a better opportunity to connect with the audience.
Alliances between musicians, even between those of different genres, are very fashionable. What does the success of these collaborations depend on?
It is a phenomenon that has been taking place for a long time in music. I think it’s beneficial, because two individuals generate more ideas than one person.
Collaborations have contributed to boosting the urban movement, because they have given visibility to many performers and have allowed the music to reach other recipients than those who directly follow your artistic proposal.
What do you put first when accepting a collaboration proposal?
Achieving a collaboration is made complicated by the fact that each of the parties has their agenda. We must try that the topic in question does not coincide with the release of another topic by the musicians who are involved in the project.
When the conditions are given to make the approach, I connect with the artist to be able to establish a working relationship. The first thing I look for is that, beyond her quality as a singer and her work, she is a person that I admire and respect.
Do you analyze the success of your songs according to the reception they have on digital platforms, or do you feel that you have already crossed that barrier?
Most of the artists are pending the numbers of the songs on digital platforms. I’m not going to tell you that I don’t, but I wasn’t guided solely by that. I am one of those who pay more attention to the public’s response and the interaction that is generated in live concerts.
When I see that in a massive event they chant and support my songs, I feel that we are reaching people and that they identify with the proposal that my work team and I are making.
Regarding your reference to the importance of a good work team and a good support network to achieve success, how do you think your decisions would have been if you did not have the unconditional support of your mother? Do you think your career would have developed in the same way?
I take advantage of this space to recognize all the people who have been part of my project and who, from their role, have made it possible for this dream for which we are committed to materialize. They have allowed me to overcome all the difficulties that have appeared along the way and have made it easier for me to be at this point in my career today.
I have always had the guidance of my family and my mother, Ysela Rodríguez, in particular. At this stage of my career, the accompaniment has been closer because my mother is currently my manager. That has had a positive impact on everything we’ve done. She has allowed me to focus on the creative part, because I know that my career is in good hands.
What has been the most challenging part of your career?
Reinvent ourselves every day to stay in the public’s preference, try to get people to want to follow Alex Duvall’s proposal and to support us in everything we do.
Many people who are dabbling in urban music without having the required preparation have positioned themselves in the popular preference. In your opinion, what causes this phenomenon?
With the appearance of networks, a company is no longer necessarily needed for an artist to develop their career. Anyone can, through a telephone, expose what they want. In the end, people are the ones who decide what they consume and which artist they are interested in following.
My advice is to work with the resources that one has, because in the end in this profession talent is worth it, but perseverance and dedication are also important so that the proposal that is brought to the public has a greater reach.
You have an enviable vitality. Any secret?
It must be related to the fact that I was an athlete, I practiced swimming and soccer, from an early age I do physical exercises and I have a fairly healthy life. I am always developing projects and it is something that keeps me active and in constant creation.
A few years ago you were a backup singer for various artists and part of the staff of singers of the group Yuly and Havana C. You have already consolidated your own project, how do you manage not to be passing through such a changing profession?
It’s been a long road to get to this point in my career. There has been a lot of sacrifice and sleeplessness to be able to materialize the ideas in which we believed it was worth investing in to achieve the objectives we set for ourselves.
You have to update yourself with the trends that arise every year to be in tune with what is coming to the market and adapt it to our context. Also to capture the attention of the people who consume my music and are the driving force behind my career.
