{"id":327215,"date":"2025-08-17T08:36:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T12:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=327215"},"modified":"2025-08-17T14:13:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T18:13:33","slug":"gretell-sanabia-the-cuban-with-the-fiery-voice-who-conquered-peru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/gretell-sanabia-the-cuban-with-the-fiery-voice-who-conquered-peru\/","title":{"rendered":"Gretell Sanabia, the Cuban with the fiery voice who conquered Peru"},"content":{"rendered":"

Born in the \u201cland of fire\u201d of Santiago de Cuba, Gretell Sanabia Rodr\u00edguez<\/a> discovered very early on that music would be an inseparable path in her life. At just five years old, she took to the stage for the first time, during the Cant\u00e1ndole al Sol Children\u2019s Music Festival, and since then her voice has found venues and audiences both on the island and abroad.<\/p>\n

With a degree in Literature from the university in her hometown, Gretell never abandoned music and performed there as a soloist. But the birth of her daughter marked a turning point in her life, both personally and professionally, and the search for a better future led her to travel with her family to Peru. The South American country opened its doors to her and, in 2022, her participation in the singing competition La Voz catapulted her career.<\/p>\n

Today, Gretell \u2014 \u201cthe Cuban,\u201d as she\u2019s since become known \u2014 is one of the vocalists of the all-female salsa band Son Tentaci\u00f3n. She has traveled the world, reaping the rewards of her passion for music and never forgets where she comes from or where she\u2019s going.<\/p>\n

\"Gretell<\/a><\/p>\n

At what point did you get into music and decide it was the career path you wanted to pursue?<\/h3>\n

From a young age, my parents recognized my talent for singing. I don\u2019t come from a family of professional musicians, but music and my love for it were always there. I participated in my first festival, Cant\u00e1ndole al Sol, at age five: I was the youngest contestant at the event. From that moment on, I developed my singing empirically, participating in children\u2019s companies, festivals and various musical formats as I grew up.<\/p>\n

What do you remember from your years as an artist in Cuba?<\/h3>\n

I have fond and sad memories, like every human being, but I prefer to highlight the ones that were good for me, because it\u2019s thanks to the support I received from the positive that I got to where I am. From my time in Cuba, I fondly remember the Variedades Arco\u00edris Company, where I spent almost my entire childhood and adolescence. There I was a singer, dancer, actress and host. The Cant\u00e1ndole al Sol festivals were also a great gateway to gaining musical experiences.<\/p>\n

At 11 years old, I won awards for best performance, best orchestration and best composition for the song \u201cM\u00fasica,\u201d achievements I proudly took back to my province of Santiago. During my studies, I always pursued singing alongside my studies: from high school to university, I remained active in amateur festivals and of other categories.<\/p>\n

After graduating with a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Literature from the Universidad de Oriente, I decided to pursue a career in singing and was endorsed by the National Music Center to join the all-female group Vocal Divas.<\/p>\n

\"Gretell<\/a>
Gretell Sanabia. Photo: Courtes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How did you cope with motherhood amidst the whirlwind of music?<\/h3>\n

It was a very difficult time, as I graduated with my daughter in my arms. I put music on hold for a while to dedicate myself to her completely, and when the opportunity arose, I returned to music. I have always had the constant and unconditional support of my husband and family, which has helped me \u2014 and continues to help me \u2014 strengthen myself and fulfill my dreams.<\/p>\n

When and why did you decide to emigrate to Peru?<\/h3>\n

In 2020, my husband and I decided to leave Cuba due to the critical situation the country was going through. I wanted to seek new and better horizons where we could live with dignity and provide a better future for our daughter. The final destination was Peru, because we had friends and family there who welcomed us and helped us settle.<\/p>\n

What events or thoughts, positive or not, have marked your journey as a migrant artist?<\/h3>\n

I was always afraid of not fitting in, of not knowing how to adapt to a new way of life. However, over time, I realized that believing in myself and persevering were the keys to achieving what I wanted, regardless of the adversities. I remember that, upon arriving, I started knocking on doors; they paid me less than the average salary and I still returned home happy, grateful for another day doing what I love.<\/p>\n

\"Gretell<\/a><\/p>\n

La Voz 2022 marked a crucial step in your singing career outside of Cuba. How did you enter the competition?<\/h3>\n

In 2022, I saw the show\u2019s announcement and was thrilled. The application process consisted of recording a one-minute video introducing myself and singing a fragment of a song. I remember performing \u201cI Will Always Love You\u201d by Whitney Houston. A few days later, I was notified that I had been selected from among thousands of participants, and my heart didn\u2019t fit in my chest. From that moment on, I went through a screening process until I reached the big audition, which I successfully passed.<\/p>\n

On La Voz Per\u00fa, you demonstrated great vocal versatility. What did you learn about yourself during that television experience?<\/p>\n

I confirmed that I can accomplish whatever I set out to do, without expectations, but with intention, purpose and, above all, with faith. I learned that limits are mental and that, even though I\u2019m a foreigner here, authenticity is my best calling card.<\/p>\n

Did you ever feel like you could win the contest? How did you live that experience?<\/h3>\n

My intention, more than winning, was to take advantage of that international platform to make myself known and reach more people. When my audition went viral, I never imagined I would receive so much love and support from Cubans around the world, and from people of other nationalities who expressed their respect and admiration. It has been one of the best experiences of my life, a dream come true. La Voz Per\u00fa was definitely a turning point in my career.<\/p>\n