We Speak Music

Grammy-Nominated Cuban-Canadian Percussionist Joaquín Núñez Releases Electrifying New Single ”Ruta De La Clave”

Published

1 year ago

May 28, 2025

Multi-Juno Award winner and Grammy-nominated percussionist Joaquín Núñez announces the release of his powerful new single “Ruta De La Clave”, the title track from his forthcoming debut album with his Cuban-Canadian ensemble Habana Safari, available on all digital platforms May 23, 2025.

Rooted in Cuban conga, the most iconic rhythm of Cuba’s street music culture, “Ruta De La Clave” is a bold and innovative piece that fuses the raw, percussive energy of traditional Cuban rhythms with the harmonic sophistication of New York jazz. The track features a special collaboration with rising star Dayramir González, a Cuban pianist based in New York whose virtuosic playing bridges Afro-Cuban traditions with the improvisational language of bebop.

“This song is a journey through rhythm—an invitation to follow the pulse of the clave, wherever it leads,” says Núñez. “It’s both a tribute to our roots and a step forward in the evolution of Cuban jazz.”

Drawing a direct line to the golden era of jazz pioneers like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, the single showcases the Cuban DNA embedded in modern jazz, reimagined for a new generation of global listeners.

A force in the world of Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music, Joaquín Núñez has performed on stages across Cuba, Canada, and internationally. His resume includes collaborations with a diverse roster of icons—from jazz legends like Chucho Valdés, Hilario Durán, and Paquito D’Rivera, to pop and classical stars such as David Foster, Sarah McLachlan, and The Tenors. He has graced prestigious venues including Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, and Massey Hall, and was a featured performer on Durán’s Juno-winning and Grammy-nominated album From the Heart.

Now based in Toronto, Núñez is also a highly respected educator, serving on the music faculty at Humber College and leading community music programs throughout Ontario. His versatility extends to musical theatre, with credits in Disney’s The Lion King, Tina – The Musical, Dirty Dancing, and more.

The full album, Ruta De La Clave, is a compelling collection of original compositions by Núñez and Dayramir that reflects the dynamic crosscurrents of Afro-Cuban folkloric roots, jazz improvisation, and modern Cuban expression. With this project, Habana Safari presents a bold and celebratory vision of Cuban music’s past, present, and future.

We Speak Music

Naomi Aguilera casts her spell with her new single BB ILY

Published

2 hours ago

October 16, 2026

Morgan

Two years ago, Naomi Aguilera walked onto my radar with EGO, an infectious soulful pop debut that made it impossible not to move. Fast forward to her debut EP Mosaïques, and it was clear she wasn’t just passing through. Personal, colorful, rooted in her Spanish heritage & Brussels upbringing, it even earned her a spot as Apple Music Benelux’s Up Next artist!

Now she’s back with BB ILY, marking the start of a new era. The bilingual single — French and English — is built around one of the most universal human experiences: that special connection that doesn’t need translation. Where EGO invited you to forget your ex on the dancefloor, BB ILY pulls you somewhere more intimate: with sultry beats courtesy of Turana, it’s a dance where gestures, whispers, sighs and the sound of a voice matters more than the words that come out of it… It’s sensual, a little mystical, and entirely her own.

First taste of Naomi Aguilera’s upcoming project Ojalá, due in 2027, it feels effortlessly catchy. This is the kind of track that casts its spell quietly, with interesting and unexpected rhythmic shifts in the verses, and a delicious chorus that lodges itself in your head before you even notice. By the time you do, it’s too late. But you won’t find me complaining about it!