Meet Arsenio Diaz | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arsenio Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arsenio, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
There are many reasons of why I became a musician.
I spent my childhood and youth in Cuba, a country that has been under a tyranny that has banned free expression, among other human rights. All the frustrations, pain, abuse, alienation, and denials received by that system were channeled, at that time, through music.
After getting deeper into music, it became my passion. I started to find my own voice. I realized that art is significant to society, and that has the ability to unite people across the spectrum of humanity.
I got in love with the Sitar, and after years of studying it, I began to work deeply on my passion for ethno-convergence and multiculturalism. Fusing the sonority of the Sitar with melodies and rhythmic patterns from the Afro-Cuban repertoire, I have intended to raise awareness about the need to preserve cultural heritage and traditions. The music I have been creating and performing has been aimed at fulfilling this purpose and building bridges between cultures.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My passion is the ethno-convergence and multiculturalism. The music I have been creating and performing has been aimed at fulfilling this purpose and building bridges between cultures. I think that what sets me apart from others is that I use the Sitar, a musical instrument from India, to follow this passion by fusioning it with melodies and rhythmic patterns from the Afro-Cuban repertoire.
It is always a challenge to present something different or unusual to listeners. Fusing the sitar with Latin rhythms and melodies has brought different responses from listeners. From criticism from purists to compliments from avant-garde artists. It is a challenge that makes you grow by making you work harder. My passion is my main driving force. It is like an architect who, in my case, builds bridges between musical cultures. Bridges interwoven with ancestral melodies and rhythms. At the end, like every architect, the triumph and satisfaction will be seeing how that bridge is used by others to intertwine and unify two shores, thereby preserving cultural heritage and traditions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I probably suggest to spend some days in the Key West. There are various historic places and museums, many of them associated with my Cuban heritage I would suggest to visit while in there. I will tell them to spend a day in Bahia Honda State Park swimming at the beach or kayaking along the shoreline. Back in Miami, they need to visit La Calle 8, eat some Cuban food, and also enjoy some live music in different clubs and restaurants.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The list is big! Friends, teachers, peers, organizations… Just to mention the top 3, my answer is:
my mother, Adela Cardelle,
my wife, Ismaray Alonso,
and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

Website: https://mysticalsitar.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticalsitar

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/arsediaz1

Other: https://arseniodiaz.hearnow.com/la-rumba-de-sandokan#nt_musiclinks

Image Credits
Angel Segundo
Arturo Arocha
Rene Tapia