The Cuban-American singer has released ‘Raíces,’ her first Spanish-language album in 18 years. In an interview with EL PAÍS, the artist talks about her success, Cuba, Miami, her family, and Donald Trump
Long before Latin music was playing around the clock in every corner of the globe, a couple of Cuban exiles struck the first blow in 1985 with the song Conga. It was a single that Emilio and Gloria Estefan pitched to Sony up to seven times — without any success. But luck was on their side. Conga became Gloria’s first global hit, followed by hundreds more. The 67-year-old artist, who has sold over 100 million records, released Raíces on Thursday — her first Spanish-language album in 18 years.
Seven years after Conga, Emilio himself became president of Sony Latin, and the couple began building an empire based in Miami, from where they helped shape and launch the careers of dozens of Latino artists, including Shakira and Ricky Martin. Miami is the place they call home, like thousands of Cuban exiles. Gloria arrived in Florida at the age of two and never left. Now, she watches with “concern and fear” the anti-immigrant turn of Donald Trump. That’s why she believes it’s more important than ever to celebrate “Latino roots.”
Gloria welcomes EL PAÍS to Sony Studios in New York just days before her latest release. She’s joined by Emilio, who wrote several of the lyrics and looks as happy as if it were the first time they were releasing an album. As they listen to the songs in the studio, they tap their feet to the rhythm and occasionally exchange shy glances. “Yes, we’re happy,” she’ll say later. No less than that.
Question. What are your roots?
Answer. My roots are Asturian. My grandfather had a large family in Pola de Siero [a town in the Spanish region of Asturias] and went to Cuba. My grandmother’s grandparents were also Spanish, like most Cubans. I was only in Cuba for the first two years of my life, but I have very strong roots there. My mother instilled it in me; I think she absorbed José Martí. When we arrived in the United States, the idea was to return, and it was very important to her to maintain those Cuban roots in music, in food, in the way of being. And when she saw we weren’t going to return, it became even more important. So, only Spanish was spoken in my home. I grew up listening to Cuban music: Cachao, Celia Cruz, Olga Guillot, La Lupe... And also to people like Nat King Cole, who went to Cuba a lot and my mom was a fan. Andy Williams, the Trio Los Panchos, Javier Solís. All of that is in my roots. I also feel part Lebanese because I’ve been with Emilio longer than without him, and I was able to live very close to his parents, who held on to those roots. So I feel like a citizen of the world; I’m at ease wherever I go.