Singer Vania has been immersed in the artistic world since she was born. Thanks to her family tradition: her grandparents, uncles, and parents are musicians and singers. At the age of six, she enrolled at the Manuel Saumell School, where she studied piano until ninth grade. When she switched from that instrument to the oboe due to her father’s influence.
I began studying the oboe at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory at the age of 14, where I attended for four years. I graduated as an oboe teacher and took theoretical subjects, music theory, music appreciation, among others.
At 17, I was assigned to the city of Matanzas, where I taught oboe and music theory. There, I completed my social service and returned to Havana to work in the choir of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television and the National Music Band.
In the choir, I met Mrs. Clodys, who was recruiting for a lead singer for Alina Torres’s quartet. I introduced myself, and Alina liked me, and I joined the group, with which I traveled to France.
In Paris, we performed in the Radio France Internationale competition. I sang “Madame Caridad,” a tribute to the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, patron saint of Cuba for the Catholic religion.
The quartet performed the song, with me as the lead singer. We won the RFI Grand Prix, the first time Latin America had won that award. The prize included a trip to Mali, Africa, where I was fortunate enough to work with Salif Feita.
Then I traveled to Japan to perform the show Noche Tropical. A tour throughout the Japanese archipelago. I stayed there for three months because the sponsor passed away, but we were supposed to be in the Land of the Rising Sun for almost a year.
I returned to Cuba, and the quartet disbanded due to disagreements among its members, and I joined the singer Panchito Alonso. I stayed with him for two years as part of his choir. When I finished with Alonso, I started the Bamboleo sextet.
The singer Haila was the one who sought me out to join Bamboleo, but I had barely exchanged two words with her. I joined this group as the lead singer alongside Haila. Also over the course of 10 years, I recorded five albums with the Ahí na’ ma’ record label.
Haila left Bamboleo, and I stayed on as the lead singer. I also began working with the Havana All Stars, the troubadour Compay Segundo. Pío Leyva, and Juan de Marcos, with whom I recorded several CDs, sang in concerts, and performed backing vocals.
In 2002, I entered the Adolfo Guzmán Cuban song contest, where I performed the song ¿Qué hago con la canción? (What Do I Do with the Song?) by composer Pedro Romero. At the time, I was about three months pregnant.
At the Guzmán, I won the Popularity Award, and the independence bug bit me, and I left Bamboleo.
I joined a Cuban delegation that toured the United States. Visiting cities like Washington, Seattle, New York, and several universities, including Oxford.
I returned to Havana, and on October 4th, 2002, I gave birth to my daughter, Vania Francisca. I took two years off from my artistic career to dedicate myself to her.
When I returned, I toured Italy, among other places, where I accompanied singers Manolito Simonet, Tata Güines. Charanga Habanera, and Havana All Stars.
During one of her breaks, she agreed to talk with this journalist, and in a comfortable and luxurious private room at the Villa El Bosque Hotel in Holguin, she agreed to give me an hour of her busy schedule.
Why were you included in the Cuban tribute album to the Catalan singer Joan Manuel Serrat?
-I’m a passionate Serrat fan, and that’s why I was part of the CD “Cuba Sings to Serrat,” on which I performed “Toca Madera.”
But you also participated in the album to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia…
– Yes, it was a wonderful experience, because I performed the song “Don’t Know Why” by Noora Jones. It has been one of the best-selling albums in the world. Directed by Quincy Jones, and featured bands like U2 and singer Sting, among others.
Have you made any solo albums?
– My first solo album was called Vania, and I recorded it with the Spanish label Disc Medis Barcelona, because no Cuban record label was interested. It compiled the 12 best-known songs by singer Alejandro Sanz.
They say you met Alejandro Sanz and he told you he would like to hear your songs sung by you. Is that true?
– No, I don’t know Sanz, but I love his lyrics: “Corazón parti´o,” “Cuando nadie me ve,” “La fuerza del corazón,” and I asked his record label on the peninsula, Warner Brothers, for permission to sing his songs, and they gave me permission. They allowed it.
But I confess that I’m dying to meet him to express my admiration and respect for his music, work, quality, and simplicity as a human being.
The Spanish musician Imanol Ortiz included him in the Vive Cuba project. What can you tell me about it?
Vive Cuba is a project for a tour I’m going to do in Spain, and for that occasion, I’m going to sing songs by Compay Segundo and Pío Leyva. Imanol Ortiz will carry out his project on a non-profit basis, because he’s only interested in spreading authentic and good Cuban music. As he is an excellent musician.
The newspaper El Correo Digital of Bilbao, Spain, says you have a powerful voice. What do you do to maintain it?
What I do to maintain it is sleep as much as I need. Although my daughter Vanita takes up a lot of my time, but I enjoy it. I avoid staying up late, smoking, or yelling, and I rest my voice as much as I need.
What do you prefer among world music?
I love Brazilian music, from Djavan to Fátima Guedes to Ivan Lynch. Music performed by Black people from the southern United States. The Brandenburg Concertos, the opera “Palaso,” The Dying Swan, the ballet “Coppelia.”
And what about Cuban music?
-Cuban music, for me, is also universal, and within that universe are: Elena Burke, Omara Portuondo, Moraima Secada, Gina León, Ania Linares, Miguelito Cuní. Virulilla, Pablo Milanés, Polito Ibáñez, Carlos Varela, Los Van Van… I like all good Cuban music.
Now, with reggaeton, there are some lyrics that are very commercial. What is Vania’s opinion on this musical phenomenon?
-We should preserve and respect reggaeton. We shouldn’t ban it, but we should analyze its lyrics, because we don’t know what messages they convey. We are living in a time of superficiality in the music world. I like “complicated” lyrics that make people think, that reach and remain in their hearts.
I think we live with too much stress, and that’s why we should make the best music we can to free human beings from the hectic lives we lead. I prefer to sing so I can see the audience more relaxed.
In your statements to the press, you always talk about your daughter. What does being Vanita’s mother mean to you?
-Vanita is in the most sacred place in my heart. She is my love, and even when I’m touring in Cuba or abroad, I never forget my daughter, because she is the most beautiful and greatest thing I have in my life, and I advise artists to never stop being mothers, because it is the most beautiful thing to be with.
What do you think of certain singers who believe themselves to be divas?
-I think it’s a huge challenge. You have to be very versatile as an artist to become a sublime artista. And you have to be excellent at singing, dancing, and acting. You have to venture into theater, film, radio, and television.
Here in Cuba, we have two great divas: Rosita Fornés and Omara Portuondo, but that title has to be earned through hard work and great respect for the public who enjoys the best art.
I think that to be a Diva, one shouldn’t impose oneself, but rather give one’s best in every moment of one’s life.
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