With “De Tu Alma Preso” out now, we took some time to hear from Alexander Abreu and José Alberto “El Ruiseñor”. Read below to learn more about Alexander Abreu and José Alberto “El Ruiseñor”, the story behind “De Tu Alma Preso,” and what’s to come.
Hi! Let’s start with how did you both choose your artist names?
Our artist names: Alexander Abreu is the real name and the group Havana D’Primera is me and my band. Jose Alberto is the first name, but started singing when I was 7, so people started calling me Ruiseñor meaning Nightingale.
What city are you both from, and where are you both based now?
Alexander: Based in Havana.
Jose Alberto: Bayamo.
When and how did you two get started in music?
Alexander: I must have been 12 when I started playing the trumpet and later on started singing, but people knew me first as a trumpetist.
Jose Alberto: I started singing in my school when I was 6.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your guys’ music career so far?
Alexander: I have produced over five full-length albums, and each one has been an important point of my life. Each one of them has sold over a million and more on streaming.
Jose Alberto: In 2021, when I was nominated for a Grammy for my album, Mi Tombao.
What would you both say are the greatest lessons that you both have learned so far?
Never give up and always think success is around the corner.
Now onto “De Tu Alma Preso.” What inspired this song?
Original lyrics written by me Jose Alberto. I wrote the lyrics when my wife was in jail for a minor offense, and when she got out, that was her present from me to her.
What is “De Tu Alma Preso” about?
About love. That in my entire life, never met someone who I loved so much. Your kisses, you are the only one in the entire world.
How did this collaboration come about?
This is an idea that the president of label Tumi Music, Mo Fini, suggested and produced it.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “De Tu Alma Preso?”
A moment of joy in the studio after we finished recording.
What was the creative process like when making “De Tu Alma Preso?”
It took several months. The producer, Geovanis Alcantara Lopez, lives in Mexico and us living in Cuba. It meant that we had to travel to Mexico once and the producer came to Havana twice.
How long did it take to complete “De Tu Alma Preso?”
Off and on 3 months.
What do you both hope fans take away from “De Tu Alma Preso?”
Think about love and that life without it is not worth a cent, and you have someone special that you love, then never leave her.
What’s next for you two? Are you both working on any upcoming projects, or do you two have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
Alexander: I have just finished a tour of South America: Peru, Chile and Argentina, but we are in the middle of finishing this ten-song album and “De Tu Alma Preso” is the first song.
Where can we follow you both on social media?
You can see them in this link:
https://tumi.music/de-tu-alma-preso
Before you all go, let’s ask you all something off-topic. What are things that you all can’t like without?
We love rum and tobacco.
Thank you both for the great interview; wish you two much continued success!
