Sexto Sentido, a Cuban female quartet born in the Manuel Saumell Conservatory of Music in the Cuban capital (Calle F No. 660, Vedado, Havana City) in 1997, when four girls decided to unite their musical gifts: Arletys Valdés (musical director), Yudelkis Lafuente, Melvis Estévez Guzmán and Eliene Castillo.

Its members enjoy excellent vocal abilities, allowing them, with unparalleled style, to explore the best of Cuban and international music from a very different perspective.

Sexto Sentido’s line of work pursues vocal harmonization as its premise, fundamentally based on Rhythm & Blues, incorporating elements of Jazz, Rap, Brazilian Music, and Cuban Music.

They impose their own stamp through diverse genres such as Trova, Rhythm & Blues, Danzón, Bolero, Nueva Canción, and Jazz. Their music is influenced by figures such as Chucho Valdés, El Greco, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.

Sexto Sentido performs interesting versions of well-known songs and authors such as: “Come Together” by Lennon and McCartney and “No me platiques más” by Vicente Garrido, as well as songs by Noel Incola.

The female quartet’s first CD, titled “Bossa Cubana,” was produced under the Colibrí label and recorded at Abdala Studios (318 Calle 32, Miramar, Playa, Havana). The musical production was led by Vartan Tonoian, president of the Russian label Elephant Records. This CD features a repertoire of internationally acclaimed songs by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sting, César Portillo de la Luz, Joào Donato, Billy Strayhorn, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, all with arrangements by the quartet. The album features two songs written by the group itself. The album also features collaborations with musicians such as Roberto Carcassés, João Donato, Elmer Ferrer, Julio Padrón, Rafael Paseiro, Axell Tosca, Ramsés Rodríguez, Yaroldi Abreu, Rey Ugarte, and others.

In 2001, they won First Prize in the Cuban JoJazz Competition, in which the jury was presided over by maestro Chucho Valdés.

“Mi Feeling” is the second album by Sexto Sentido, released in 2007. It was produced by the renowned violinist and composer Joaquín Betancourt, who, in addition to producing, was the musical director and orchestrator of ten of the twelve songs on the album. This project also featured a large orchestra made up of distinguished instrumentalists, including Javier Zalba.

Currently, the group is complemented by an instrumental quartet (bass, piano, drums, and tumbadoras), an instrumental format that can be expanded or varied, depending on the different musical styles.

They performed the song “El principio” (The Beginning), written by Lucía Huergo, for the Cuban soap opera “La cara oculta de la luna” (The Hidden Face of the Moon) in 2006.

They won the Cubadisco Award in the Songwriting category in 2007. That same year, they were selected to identify themselves as part of the 2007 Young Women’s Campaign, with the song Tú puedes, due to their participation in charity concerts.

In 2010, Sexto Sentido released their latest album, Chisme. This album features the quartet’s signature song, “Guajiro,” which, like most of the album’s tracks, was crafted with an R&B sound.

That same year, they performed for the first time in the eastern Cuban province of Guantánamo. There they were warmly received by a warm audience. They opened the concert with a song written by Marta Valdés, entitled “Canción difícil.”

Among Sexto Sentido’s plans for 2011 is a national tour, with the faithful purpose of promoting their new production.

Sexto Sentido has served as a vocal sound format on more than fifty popular albums and shows, as well as in various film projects. They performed at the Moscow International Jazz Festival, where they shared the stage with Bulgarian pianist Milcho Leviev and great soloists from the Amazonian giant.

Many venues around the world have welcomed them and witnessed the high quality of their music, including France, Mexico, and Russia.

Sexto Sentido has been described by maestro Chucho Valdés as the creators of one of Cuba’s most important vocal works of the last three decades.

Sexto Sentido’s performances are characterized by a great sobriety. This group achieves excellent coherence and blending with their voices in each of their performances. They are one of the most representative groups on the country’s musical scene.

Discography: Cuban Bossa (2003), My feeling (2007), Chisme (2010).