Cuba Cuba
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Cuba Cuba

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom | INDIE

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom | INDIE
Band Pop Rock

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"Cuba Cuba look to the Wild West on their debut album Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/07/05/cuba-cuba-look-to-the-wild-west-on-their-debut-album-91466-28993444/#ixzz1Y11Ea8L9"

Cuba Cuba are going west for inspiration on their debut album, but it’s the hand of a prominent Welsh rock name that’s guiding them on their way, as singer Morgan Isaac reveals to Dave Owens

EARLY morning is not always the best time of day to disturb the frontman of a rock ‘n’ roll band.

Thankfully Morgan Isaac, singer with Cuba Cuba, is in good spirits and only slightly the worse for wear when he takes my 9am call.

His perky demeanour is surprising given he’s spent the previous 24 hours celebrating the fourth birthday of his band’s record label Walnut Tree, with what sounds like something of an all-dayer.


“We all crashed at the house of our label boss,” says Morgan.

“There were a few acoustic sets, plenty of drinking, a nice barbecue and we finished up by watching a film,” he adds, with an embarrassed laugh – as this potentially isn’t the most rock ‘n’ roll way to apply the full stop on your day.



Nevertheless, there’s plenty of cause for celebration.

Cuba Cuba last week released their debut album Where Else Is Safe But The Road? – brimming over with the sort of electro rock that has seen them snare comparisons to such lofty names as The Killers and Friendly Fires.

It’s a collection of songs that sets its sights high and never wavers in its pursuit of the perfect pop song.

Putting aside the album’s superior musical content, its equally intriguing for a striking cover image that sees the band transplanted to the Wild West.

“It was actually shot in Mid Wales, around Llandovery in the Brecon Beacons. You can actually see (the Beacons’ highest point) Pen-y-Fan in the distance,” says Morgan. “I’ve been obsessed with Wild West movies for a while, not the gun-toting side, more the adventure and scenery.”

Theirs is a widescreen ideology in every sense. You can bear witness yourself to their grandly ambitious approach when they play a homecoming show and album launch party at Clwb Ifor Bach tonight.

“It’s going to be immense,” enthuses Morgan. “We’re halfway through a tour that has been going really well. There will be plenty of family and friends, as well as people who’ve never seen us play.

“There’s a little added pressure, but we’re just happy the album is finally out there.”

The band, from Taffs Well and Church Village, have spent the last four years since their formation in 2007 juggling the twin demands of the band and school/university.

Although, like any other young outfit, they harbour dreams of securing the riches of the music industry, there’s a heavy dose of sense at play here.

“It’s not been easy but we decided early on that given how difficult it is to make a living out of music that we would all continue our education,” explains Morgan.

“If the music doesn’t work out we want security for ourselves.”

The singer has recently graduated Aberystwyth University with a 2:1 in international politics – “I got the news on the first night of the tour, so it was quite a momentous evening,” he recalls.

The singer’s brother and Cuba Cuba drummer Lewys is about to start university in Cardiff, while guitarist Danny Owen is following Morgan’s steps to Aberystwyth.

“We agreed that if anyone was to go away to university, they couldn’t go too far away from home,” Morgan points out. “When I was at Aberystwyth I was travelling back to South Wales every weekend. The band needs that commitment.”

It’s that sort of dedication to Cuba Cuba that saw the frontman take time out after his second year at Aberystwyth to write and record the much-anticipated debut album.

“It’s more than a passion for us, we all love what we’re doing and are committed to it,” he says.

The band have a great support network around them too. Morgan waxes lyrical about the work ethic of Walnut Tree Records, while their manager is no stranger to the pitfalls that can befall fledgling rock ‘n’ roll musicians.

Cuba Cuba are being guided by Ryan Richards, drummer with Welsh rock heroes Funeral For A Friend, a man who Morgan can’t praise highly enough for the help and support he’s given the band.

“He’s been invaluable,” he says. “Ryan has been through it all and can help us to not make the same mistakes Funeral For A Friend made when they were starting out.

“He shares our highs and lows.”
- South Wales Echo


Discography

E.P - Tales From The Cabin (2009)
Single - Home Is The Fire (2010)
Album - Where Else Is Safe But The Road? (2011)

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Bio

Cuba Cuba are a Welsh angular pop-rock band from Cardiff, South Wales, formed in late 2007. With an average age of 21, they are currently signed to small London based indie label Walnut Tree Records. Critics have often compared their sound to the likes of Bloc Party, Friendly Fires, Phoenix, The Killers and Minus The Bear.

Their debut single ‘Home Is The Fire’ sold out of its first pressing before its release in 2010. Also in 2010 the band saw their first video, 'Icarus', stay in the top three requested videos on Lava TV for several weeks. They have supported acts such as Friendly Fires, The Airborne Toxic Event and The Joy Formidable. Since the release of their debut album ‘Where Else Is Safe But The Road’ in June 2011, the band have played the infamous BBC Introducing Stages at Reading and Leeds Festivals. Over the summer, they also played Wychwood Festival, Merthyr Rock Festival, supported the likes of Funeral Party and completed two successful co-headline tours of the UK. Click below for highlights of BBC's coverage of Cuba Cuba's Reading Festival performance : http://db.tt/SXHqMN3

The album takes inspiration from classic Western Movies, the Wild West and adventure in the unknown. ‘Where Else Is Safe But The Road’ has been hailed as an “absolute triumph” by Alter The Press, a “thinking man’s record” by Punktastic and a “truly creative and beautiful masterpiece of a record” by Plugged In Magazine. Rocksound Magazine have hailed the album as a “cheery slice of indie-pop” and recently featured their latest video ‘We Rode’ on Rocksound.tv : http://www.rocksound.tv/videos/article/cuba-cuba-we-rode

National UK Print Newspapers ‘The Independent’ and ‘The Telegraph’ tipped them as one of the hottest young bands for Wychwood and Merthyr Rock Festivals. The band have received great support from International BBC Radio 1 and enjoyed spot plays by numerous DJ’s on the station such as Huw Stephens.

American based website Bestnewbands.com recently tipped Cuba Cuba as ones to watch at Reading and Leeds Festival : http://bestnewbands.com/festivals/item/1842-dont-miss-at-leeds-reading-cuba-cuba#

Album themes such as the Wild West seem to have instant appeal to the U.S audience. With constant physical album orders and tour requests from American fans, Cuba Cuba look to play in the U.S very soon.