In May 2011, the young British dubstep producer Mala flew to Cuba for the first time to make music with local musicians. Starting out on a modest scale, with an invitation from BBC radio DJ Gilles Peterson, the project has since become much more, because the ground-breaking result Mala In Cuba has been in the stores since September last year. Looking for musical middle ground between hot Havana and cold London is no mean feat, and that is just what makes Mala In Cuba such an interesting project. On the album, hip hop, Latin, dubstep and jazz melt together in songs filled with heavy basses, sweet strumming, tropical chords and beautiful melancholy vocals. This all makes Mala In Cuba the Buena Vista Social Club for the dance generation. North Sea Jazz welcomes a true pioneer.
