“A new cycle does not begin outside, it begins inside.” That is how Yilian Cañizares introduced this single, adding that a cycle starts as a promise, becomes something inevitable and finally turns into reality. The Cuban violinist, vocalist and composer presents “Nuevo Ciclo” as music from that inner process in her own life, a time of opening to new possibilities that she wanted to fix in sound. Born in Havana and now based in Switzerland after studies in Cuba, Venezuela and Fribourg, Yilian has moved between conservatory training, jazz groups and Afro Cuban tradition, and the single is clearly part of that line.

The recording brings together close collaborators and two guests. Cañizares leads on violin and voice with Mozambican musician Childo Tomas on guimbass and Cuban percussionist Inor Sotolongo, then adds South African pianist Bokani Dyer and Senegalese vocalist Momi Maiga, whom she has described as artists she admires deeply. She uses a technique she has developed over years, singing and playing violin at the same time so the same African rooted melody runs through voice and bow, while guimbass and percussion repeat a firm pattern underneath and piano and second voice answer in short phrases.

In the middle of the piece she includes a traditional Cuban prayer to Orunmila, the Yoruba deity associated with wisdom and destiny, and introduces it with the line “Nuestro ciclo comienza aquí.” In her notes she describes this section as a spiritual turning point in the composition, a passage of intention, guidance and renewal.

Cañizares began violin and piano at four, gained a scholarship to study in Caracas at fourteen, then moved to Switzerland to train at the Fribourg conservatory, later forming the quartet Ochumare and winning the Montreux Jazz Festival Competition in 2008. In the years since, she has released albums such as Aguas with Omar Sosa and Erzulie and worked with musicians including Chucho Valdés, Richard Bona, Jon Batiste, Ibrahim Maalouf and Diego El Cigala.

“Nuevo Ciclo” is the fourth single from her forthcoming album Vitamina Y. You can stream the track following THIS LINK