Proud of what she has achieved and, above all, of accompanying other women on the often sexist path of Cuban popular music, this talented and daring woman spoke to CubaSí:

“I’m really very happy to be able to present this new image. I haven’t yet managed to make it an orchestra completely made up of women, but I have three male musicians and all the rest of us are women, that is, the feminine power is going to be seen and felt because we are the majority, of ten musicians on stage, seven are women, so I think it’s an important presence and I’m super happy to be able to work with talented women.”

And if we don't support each other, who will?

“We are less invited, women always have to make ten times more effort to be able to reach, achieve, conquer, etc. So I think it’s very important that we, as women, can continue to empower other women and continue to be examples for new generations.

“I’m happy to be able to work with these great women, with these great musicians, I feel very happy, very at ease. In fact, my musical director is my pianist, Roxana Morales, a girl who is 24 years old and she is a huge musician, she has played with maestro Bobby Carcassés. She is a jazz musician, graduated from the National School of Art, in Violin, but she plays an exceptional Cuban piano. I really love working with these women who give their all for Cuban music and for our art.”

Does this new format imply changes in the repertoire or in the sound of the band?

It’s still Cuban music, always Cuban music, which is what characterizes me. Women are always underestimated, especially with these instruments that must sound loud, like drums, wind instruments, but the reality is that Anacaona sounds fabulous and you have to see how Jaila's band sounds, it sounds spectacular.”

Haila, who is such a daring woman, doesn't she dare to compose?

“No, when I was young I did write poems, I'm talking about adolescence, high school, but it seems that my muse just faded away and I don't feel like writing anything anymore, but the composers who make music for me practically live with me and they know perfectly the things I want to express in a song. I’m one of those singers who say that what doesn't get into my blood I can't sing, so they know perfectly the things that I want to say, the message I want to send and they always write that type of songs for me.”

What new things can we expect from Haila in the immediate future?

"For 2025 I have a wonderful surprise for you, which has me very excited and I hope to be able to meet the expectations of what we are warming up... it’s the centenary of Celia Cruz, so I’m going to leave the surprise I bring here so that it comes on time. We are cooking up something wonderful, with which I know that many people are going to feel happy."

But recently you participated in an album in tribute to the hundred years of Sonora Matancera. What has it meant to you?

"It's a wonderful album that we recorded with Isaac Delgado and Michael Dinza. We're looking forward to recording it and being able to present to the public this spectacular and wonderful material which I recommend. You already know I have a very important connection with Mrs. Celia Cruz, someone whom I had the privilege and honor of meeting, of being able to share. My first record production, 24 years ago, was precisely a tribute album to Celia Cruz, produced by Isaac Delgado. Now we're going back into the studio to record an album that is also part of the life, career and work of Celia Cruz, of her years with the legendary group Sonora Matancera and once again, it's a great honor."

As for future goals, Haila prefers to summarize in a single word that, repeated three times, sounds more like certainty than expectation: “grow, grow, and grow.”

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff