Alex Cuba

If there's any justice in the world, this will be the year that English-speakers decide to learn Spanish by immersing themselves in the work of a thoughtful singer-songwriter -- preferably a singer-songwriter who hails from Cuba and who in fact renamed himself "Cuba." Alex Puentes refocuses his Caribbean roots through the cool quiet of Northern Canada, favoring an intimacy reminiscent of '70s singer-songwriters, but warmed by the melodies and rhythms of his home country. There are lots of songwriters these days, but good songwriters are few and far between. Meet one now.