At South By Southwest, The Sounds Of Cuba Come To Texas

As President Obama touched down in Cuba over the weekend, Cuban artists were making waves at the SXSW music festival in Austin.

Organizers of the so-called SXAmericas — or South By Americas — series held a “Sounds of Cuba” showcase. Record label reps, music press and Latin music fans got to see rappers, Afro-Latin jazz singers and more from the Cuban music scene. The show was the first of its kind, given the difficulty these artists have getting clearance to go abroad. Many of these Cuban musicians had never performed on a U.S. stage.

NPR Music’s Felix Contreras, host of the podcast Alt.Latino, was at South By Southwest and said to remember one name: Dayme Arocena.