Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Roberto Poveda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Roberto, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

I am what is called a “seasoned” songwriter. It all started in Cuba when I was part of the Nueva Trova Movement and learned my craft by listening to the best singer-songwriters of my time. When I moved to Colombia to continue pursuing my musical career, I had a breakthrough opportunity when I signed an exclusive songwriter development agreement with a major publisher in the U.S. that eventually helped me make the move and establish myself in Miami, Florida. After writing and co-writing more than a hundred songs, the agreement amicably ended. Years later, I started working with a new publisher, Koze Music which specializes in synchronization, which is currently, in addition to public performances, where the money from music royalties comes from. They decided to work with me through a referral from another songwriter. They were looking to expand their Latin catalog and they felt I was the proper fit.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Since I was living in Cuba, I began to write my own compositions. I performed on small stages, bars, and not-so-relevant stages, carrying my inspiration that I finally landed in later years. My first musical influences were The Beatles, I listened to them when I was 9 years old and later I felt attracted to Jimmy Hendrix, James Brown, soul, jazz, r&B. The rock of the 70’s of Black Sabbath arrived, the Brazilian music, and obviously, the Cuban music that I chose when I understood that not everything was made in my country, despite having believed it for years.

I lived for eight years in Colombia, and performed in the musical “Doña Flor y sus dos Maridos”, in the adaptation of the book by the Brazilian Jorge Amado. Colombia was an important place of inspiration and the springboard to reach the United States. I arrived in Miami, with a suitcase full of songs that I delivered to Peer Music, more than 100 compositions, some of which materialized in the album “Son Eléctrico”, published in 2004, Brooklyn Nigths (2012), and Destino Manifiesto (2016)

As of 2018, I began working in the home studio of Layton Weedeman, owner of Yellow Couch Music and American drummer of Courtesy Tier. Together we’ve been re-working and re-tooling my catalog of songs, spanning the course of 30 years, what I like to call “Exploring the Music of the Cuban Troubadour”. I, along with Layton Weedeman and Lars Haake, recently provided the music for Coco Fusco’s latest film ‘The Eternal Night’ premiering at the Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present from 7 February to 11 June 2022.

Otra Noche Mas is one of my first compositions I wrote at the start of my career in 1985. The original song and lyrics speak to an idyllic freedom that transcends all walks of life and brings you back to the state one can only experience in the presence of nature. The original version of the song was picked up and recorded by the national record label of Cuba, EGREM, but met it’s interesting fate and was mysteriously lost without a trace. Now, nearly 35 years later, during the 2020 pandemic, I brought the song back to life, but this updated version brings a new spin, flair, joy, and upbeat tempo to the song’s original message.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFT’s became a big sensation recently and as of last year, they have been embraced by the music industry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what they are and how they would benefit me, but based on my current understanding, music NFT’s would give me more control over ownership of my music and more control over distribution, as opposed to relying on a third-party. They are also a powerful way to directly interact with and reward my biggest fans.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Freedom. The freedom of writing. The freedom of creating your art. The freedom of sharing your art with other creatives and audiences. The freedom of searching your soul for answers to crucial questions that turn into the lyrics you write. The freedom of traveling around the globe bringing your message.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.povedamusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/povedamusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/povedamusic/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/povedamusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@povedamusic

Image Credits
Image 1, 2 & 3 – Carlos Ramirez Image 4 – Surambika Pradhan Image 5 – Alex Correa Image 6, 7 & 8 – Amy V. Cooper