Nueva Trova (New Trova) was a movement in Cuban songwriting. Its roots lie in traditional Trova and Feeling. Later, in an attempt to explain the new phenomenon of this genre, the term “Novísima Trova” emerged, given the emergence, starting in 1978, of a group of singer-songwriters whose public exposure would take place in the 1980s, with a musical approach that set them apart from their predecessors.

In keeping with their historical context, creators such as Santiago Feliú, Carlos Varela, Gerardo Alfonso, Frank Delgado, Heidi Igualada, among others, conveyed new ideas and a commitment to the everyday transformation of Cuban reality. Instead of the poetry that characterized the Nueva Trova, those of the Novísima burst into chronicle and storytelling.

Among its most significant exponents is Gerardo Alfonso, a prominent singer-songwriter and one of Cuba’s best-known troubadours. His song “Son los sueños todavía,” composed in 1997, is dedicated to Ernesto Che Guevara and would eventually become one of his most emblematic works. His music is very urban, poetic, and reflective, blending Cuban and foreign musical genres. This artist sings about love, humanity, the society in which he lives, and his idols, who may be historical figures or ordinary people strolling the streets of Havana.

Frank Delgado is a singer-songwriter who, during the 1980s, performed in almost every permanent and temporary venue within this movement. Since the 1990s, his work has continued to grow, with numerous appearances at the National Theater of Cuba (Paseo and Calle 39, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). He has performed his music on stages in several countries in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. He has been accompanied on stage by artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Daniel Viglietti, Juan Carlos Baglietto, Luis Eduardo Aute, and Fito Páez.

Santiago Feliú is also an important Cuban singer-songwriter, belonging to the movement known as Nueva Trova, who has also transcended the Novísima Trova. In 1978, he auditioned for the Nueva Trova Movement. With two songs of his own, “Battle Over Me” and “Tell Me,” he was highly praised by Pablo Milanés, who was a member of the jury. Feliú has performed on stage alongside leading figures from both generations of Trova, such as Noel Nicola, Frank Delgado, Luis Eduardo Aute, Luis Pastor, Silvio Rodríguez, Vicente Feliú, among many others.

Carlos Varela is a Cuban composer, singer, and guitarist whose poetry is based on singing about the reality of Cuban youth. His music and work are the most distinctive aspects of the so-called Novísima Trova Cubana (New Cuban Trova). He has become one of Cuba’s most popular musicians, capable of drawing large crowds to his performances. He has composed music for films, documentaries, and theater and dance works. His songs recreate urban, social, and romantic themes, with a strong influence primarily from New Cuban Song and rock. He participated in the Paz Sin Fronteras (Peace Without Borders) concert along with other famous singers on September 20, 2009, in its second edition.

Heidi Igualada is a Cuban composer and troubadour whose repertoire is based primarily on her own works, framed within the trends of the new song. She prefers intimate and political songs with a highly lyrical approach, although she has also performed in ballads, boleros, guajiras, and traditional Cuban trovas. This troubadour has performed numerous times on various international stages in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Venezuela, Spain, and Italy. She is the author of songs such as Bolero, Cuando me mece la altura, and Serenata, in which she cultivates different genres of Cuban song tradition. Throughout her career, she has shared the stage with important artists, including Marta Valdés, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, Sara González, Anabel López, Marta Campos, Rita del Prado, Jorge García, Gerardo Alfonso, Lázara Ribadavia, Ariel Díaz, and the ISA String Quartet.

Norge Batista Albuerne is a Cuban composer, guitarist, and singer-songwriter. He has been a member of the Hermanos Saiz Association (AHS) since 1988. By this stage of his life, his work included several compositions, as well as various performances in his hometown of Las Tunas. His talent has been widely acclaimed in countries such as Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, and Spain. He has collaborated on stage with significant Cuban and international artists, including Vicente Feliú, José Aquiles, Ramiro Gutiérrez, Raúl Torres, Frank Delgado, Liuba María Evia, the Buena Fe duo, the Vieja Trova Santiaguera, Eliades Ochoa, the Argentine Rafael Amor, the Spaniard Ismael Serrano, and the Uruguayan Quintín Cabrera. A significant musical achievement in his artistic career is his participation in the compilation “De Cuba,” released by the Ayva Música label, which features his famous song “Búscame Dentro.”

Inti Santana Guerra is a Cuban troubadour who performed for the first time in April 1999 at a university peña at the Faculty of Social Communication and Journalism (Calle G between 23rd and 21st, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). He has developed a troubadour-style song, with a poetic way of interacting with the lyrics. He has created a musical work that fuses this genre with elements of Afro-Cuban music, as well as Son, Bolero, Pop-Rock, Arabic music, Brazilian music, and others. For this reason, he has named his work Trovafusión. He has shared the stage with important troubadours such as Vicente Feliú, Augusto Blanca, Alberto Tosca, Frank Delgado, Gerardo Alfonso, Polito Ibáñez, Yamira Díaz, Karel García and Carlos Lage, Ariel Barreiro, Erick Sánchez, Fernando Bécquer, Rolando Berrío (trio Enserie), Samuel Águila, William Vivanco, the Postrova duo, Ihosvani Bernal, Ariel Díaz, Charly Salgado, Silvio Alejandro, “Kinde”, Raúl Marchena, Leonardo García, Diego Gutiérrez, Heidi Igualada, Junior Navarrete, Alain Garrido, the Karma duo, Diego Cano, Víctor Quiñónez, among other musicians from all over Cuba.

Samuel Águila Monteagudo is a composer, singer, and guitarist who began his artistic career in 1988, the year he participated in the National Artistic Festival “Por un mundo sin fin” (For a World Without End). In 1989, he joined the Hermanos Saíz Association. He hosted the “Incomunicados” (Incommunicados) group at the Cultural Center of the Plaza de la Revolución municipality (Calzada No. 909, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). He is a persistent troubadour who creates spaces for the exchange of ideas through music. Among his national performances are his meeting with Argentine singer-songwriter Moncho Mier. He performed at the theater of the National Museum of Fine Arts (Trocadero Street between Zulueta and Monserrate, Old Havana, Havana), alongside David Sirgado, Aldo Antonio, Fernando Bécquer, and poet Sergio A. Gómez.

He also participated in the meeting with Canarian singer-songwriter Eduardo Perdomo, organized by Alberto Faya at the Casa de las Américas (3rd and G Streets, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), along with other prominent artists. The lyrics of his songs address everyday conflicts faced by human beings, love, and life itself. His best-known songs include “Queriendo” and “Del Otro Lado del Sol.”