Addys Mercedes

"Addys" redirects here. For the Gunna song, seeWunna(album).

Addys Mercedes(Spanish pronunciation:[ˈaðismeɾˈseðes],formerly known asAddys D'Mercedes) is aCubanpop andworld musicsinger living in Germany and Spain.

Addys Mercedes with Lia atKULT,Niederstetten,2013

She made herUKdebut in 2001 at theGuildford Festivaland since then has undertaken twoBritishtours.

Early life

Addys was born in 1973 inMoa,a city in the east ofHolguín Province.At the age of 10, she had learnt a vast repertoire – from Cuban songs toboleros,Mexican rancherasto American pop-songs.

At the age of 15, Addys started performing with her first professional bandTimbre Latino.Shortly thereafter, she was asked by the nationally successful band "Los Neiras" to join them.

At the age of 18, Addys became part of a newly founded band with a daily gig in the tourist areaGuardalavaca.During theperiodo especial,when food was difficult to obtain, this was the gig every musician was dreaming of. She had a room in the hotel and was fully catered. With the fee and tips she made, she was able to support her family.

In 1993, Addys was invited to Germany and quickly learned German. She founded her first trio and began writing her own songs. She regularly visited her family in Cuba but also absorbed the new influences of her new home.

Musical career

In 1999, she moved toDüsseldorfand was signed by the label Media Luna. She began the production of her debut album which was mainly recorded in Havana with musician friends from her hometown.Raúl Planaswas a special guest on the recording.

Mundo Nuevo was released in 2001 by the label Media Luna (Warner) and became a huge success in European media.

In 2003, Addys released her second album,Nomad(Media Luna / Sony), recorded in Germany and Barcelona and mixed her Cuban roots with electronic elements. She performed in many concerts and toured in 16 European countries, sharing stages with artists likeEric Clapton,Bob Geldof,Mike Rutherford,Gary Brooker,Ringo Starr,Juan Luis Guerra,Compay SegundoandTito Nieves.

Singles and video clips were made for her songsMundo Nuevo,Gitana LocaandEsa Voz.In addition to the albums produced byCae Davis,her labelMedia Lunareleased several remixes from DJs Andry Nalin (Afro D'Mercedes), Ramon Zenker (Cha Ka Cha), Tony Brown (Mundo Nuevo), Guido Craveiro (Cry It Out) and 4tune Twins (Oye Colombia)

From 2005 to 2011, Addys lived in Germany and the Canarian island ofTenerife.In Spain she frequently appeared on TV and performed on national TV-stations like Antena3, Tele5, MTV and other local stations.

Since 2011, Addys has been living inEssen,Germany. That May, her new singleSabado Rotowas released. Produced by Cae Davis and Pomez di Lorenzo (Sasha, Dick Brave), Sabado Roto is the first single out of the third albumAddysreleased in 2012. Different from her last AlbumNomad,electronic elements completely disappeared. Accompanied bymandolins,ukulelesand aCuban tres,Addys sings of a rainy Saturday in summer, aSabado Roto(broken Saturday).

In addition to shows with her band, Addys started a Trio withPomez di Lorenzo(guitar) and Cae Davis (bass) under the nameEn Casa de Addys.In it, Addys provides vocals and also plays guitar,cajonand Cuban percussion instruments such as maracas,guiroandclaves.During her 2-month spring tour in 2012 she was accompanied by her daughter Lia on violin, who was a junior student atFolkwang University.

Discography

Albums

• Mundo Nuevo(2001 Media Luna)
• Nomad(2003 Media Luna)
• Addys(2012 Media Luna)
• Extraño(2016 Media Luna)

Singles

• Mundo Nuevo (2001 Media Luna)
• Gitana Loca (2005 Media Luna)
• Esa Voz (2005 Media Luna)
• Sabado Roto (2011 Media Luna)
• Hollywood (2012 Media Luna)
• Gigolo (2012 Media Luna)
• Rompe el Caracol (2014 Media Luna)

See also

• List of Cubans

External links

• Addys Mercedes WebsiteArchived2012-10-20 at theWayback Machine
• Addys Mercedes' Myspace