Sol Ruiz: Positive Vibration Nation

BIOS

SOL RUIZ (Creator / La Barbara / Vocals) • Cuban American, Grammy-nominated recording artist, producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Sol Ruiz, performs in her native tongue, Spanglish.  Ruiz has released 6 albums under various names including Picadillo and Sol and The Tribu and has toured globally.  She is currently producing “Positive Vibration Nation”, a rock opera, funded by The Knight Foundation, NPN, National Endowment for the Arts, and Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects and Miami Light Project.  The Opera, premiering in April 2024 at Miami Theater Center, is performed by her band Sol and The Tribu, ambassadors of the “New Miami Sound”.  They will also perform the production at Prototype Festival in New York.  The band prides itself on what makes Miami “The Magic City” with its blend of Caribbean influences and American swamp funk.

TEO CASTELLANOS (Director) • Teo Castellanos is an independent actor/writer/director, who for the past 30 years has worked in devised theater, film, and television. Teo is a Doris Duke Artist 2021, United States Artist Fellow 2019, and a Sundance Institute ScreenWriters Intensive Fellow 2015. His award-winning solo NE 2nd Avenue, commissioned by Miami Light Project, toured extensively for a decade and won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland 2003. He is the recipient of several awards and grants including the National Latinx Theater Initiative, National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, MAP Fund, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, National Performance Network, Knight New Works, Knight Arts Challenge, Knight Foundation People’s Choice Award, Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs and also won the State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship 2005 and 2013. Teo’s most recent solo, Third Trinity, was directed by long-time friend and collaborator, Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney. He founded the Dance/Theater Company Teo Castellanos D-Projects in 2003 and is also Artistic Director of the devised theater company Combat Hippies. Teo has toured solo and company works throughout the U.S., Europe, South America, China, and the Caribbean. Some acting theater credits include playing Elegba in Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size, (Miami) and Santos in The Hittite Empire’sSkeletons of Fish (London). Film credits include playing opposite Matt Dillon in Sunlight Jr. and opposite John Leguizamo in Empire. Teo is a member of SAG/AFTRA, an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and holds a BFA in Theater from Florida Atlantic University. Teo is an ordained Zen practitioner and belongs to the 44th generation of the Vietnamese Lineage of the Lam Te (LinJi) Zen School. He has developed a theater training pedagogy steeped in Zen, Music/Movement and Archetypes. He has worked as a volunteer at Everglades Correctional Institute teaching both Theater and Zen.

SANDRA PORTAL-ANDREU (Choreographer) • Sandra Portal-Andreu is a Miami-based Interdisciplinary Artist, and Choreographer of Colombian/Cuban descent. Her practice is  deeply rooted in community and identity, exploring themes of culture, motherhood, and nature. Her work has been supported by Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs, Miami Light Project, Live Arts Miami, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Miami-Dade Public Library System, PBS’ Filmmaker Project, NALAC, among others. Sandra has presented work at Movement Research at the Judson Church NYC, Dance on Camera NYC, Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC., and in festivals abroad. She is a recipient of the 2023 Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Grant, 2022 Telly Award, and 2021 Dance Miami Choreographers grant. Portal-Andreu holds an MS in Movement Science from Barry University, BFA from Florida State University, and AA from the New World School of the Arts. Her training includes studying with Fernando Bujones, Suzanne Farrell, Gerri Houlihan, Roxane D’Orleans-Juste, and Actor/Director, Thomas Richards at the Workcentre of Jerzy Grotowski in Pontedera, Italy. She is a certified Gyrotonic/Gyrokinesis Trainer and an Intimacy Consent-Forward Artist. Her performance experience includes Josée Garant Dance, Miami City Ballet, Florida Grand Opera, and Juggerknot Theater Co. An educator and arts cultivator, she has worked with New World School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet, City Theatre Miami, Nova Southeastern University, and ProjectArt Miami.

LUISA BUITRAGO (Production Stage Manager) • Luisa Buitrago, is an artist from Colombia, exploring the fields of poetry, storytelling, mixed media, and performing arts as producer and performer. Dedicated to enjoying her life inside diverse communities in South Florida, Luisa has collaborated on projects that transform traditional and alternative stages into one-of-a-kind encounters. Nurturing artists’ needs and building creative spaces for their productions has guided Luisa to joint discoveries and futures, both joyful and imaginative.

Her recent projects include a full time position as Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor for Urban Bush Women NYC. “Anna In the Tropics,” a Pulitzer winner play by Nilo Cruz (2023, Miami New Drama), “Papá Cuatro,” a documentary/theatrical Play by Juan Souki (2022, Miami New Drama), “Corporeal Decorum,” a contemporary dance and multimedia by Liony Garcia (2022, The Ringling Museum), “National Water Dance,” a community oriented multi-art celebration by National Water Dance Projects (2022, SMDCAC), “Where Home Is,” a navigational game-inspired sonic journey by Juraj Kojš (2021, Live Arts Miami and Knight Foundation), and “Devotion,” a contemporary dance performance by Rosie Herrera Dance Theater Company (2022 and 2023,ADF and tour).

Luisa is honored and excited about returning to Miami and joining the Positive Vibration Nation’s Team, where new adventures await.

CELIA LEDON (COSTUME DESIGNER) • Graduated from IPDI (Polytechnic Institute of Industrial Design) as a project manager in 2005, Celia continued her studies at ISDI (Higher Institute of Industrial Design) and graduated as an Industrial Designer in 2011.

Later she participated in several courses and workshops of art direction, costume design for cinema, among others.

She has participated in several exhibitions and parades both in Cuba and in other countries of the world: Kennedy Center (Washington DC), designlab (Miami), galleries in Portugal, and in the main galleries of Cuba that expose the Cuban imagery; FAC, Fine Arts among others.

Since graduation, she has worked as a designer at Teatro El Público, Ludi Teatro and other independent companies on an intermittent basis.

She has being designing for the dancing company Rakatán for 3 years, and she works as costume designer and art director in video clips, fiction shorts, commercials and mostly feature films, audiovisual categories in which she has several awards. Since 2018 he joined the creative group of Clandestina.

CARLOS JOSE MARTINEZ (Music Director / Octoman / Percussion / Vocals) • Carlos Jose Martínez, born in Havana, Cuba, in 1992, is a NYC-based composer and performer known for his genre-blending music that combines Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, and electronic elements. His experimental project, Yongolailan, gained recognition in Cuba by winning the Cuba Disco Award for his debut album “Sueño Tropical” in 2015. In 2018, he founded Caribbean Sea Sound, an independent record label focused on collaborating with emerging artists from the Caribbean and Latin America. Currently pursuing studies in Music Production and Sound Design at Berkeley College of Music, Carlos continues to push musical boundaries with his experimental approach.

ALEJANDRO SIERRA (Alegua / Trumpet/ Vocals) • Professional Musician with more than 10 years of experience teaching music and performing various instruments. Alejandro Sierra holds a MBA in performing arts from University of Habana, Cuba.. Trumpet player that has gone through several music styles. Plays also Piano, saxophone and some percussion Instruments.

REY RODRIGUEZ (Rey Sugar / Guitar / Vocals)• Rey Rodriguez, Born in Santiago de Cuba, Rey Rodriguez picked up the guitar at 15 years old and has been playing ever since. He began his musical journey in Cuba studying classical guitar at the highly esteemed Miguel Cervantes School of the Arts, and went on to become the Musical Director and sole Composer at the Hubert de Blanc at the young age of 19. At the age of 20 Rey relocated to Madrid, Spain where his musical career took off. He spent the next 13 years writing, singing, arranging and performing. He formed the critically acclaimed band Picadillo, signed with Warner Chapel publishing company, and released his first album “Las Cosas de la Vida.” Picadillo worked with sounds from Cuban Son, American Blues, Timba, and Rock n Roll. Rey and his band had the privilege to play and tour many festivals and concert halls. They played in Canada at the infamous Roy Thomson Hall, Lula’s in Toronto, Sun Fest in Ontario, Madrid’s popular Café Central & Café Berlin, the famous Fabrica del Arte in Cuba, Miami’s New World Symphony Center, Carnival on the Mile Fest, and multiple other venues and cities across the map. Picadillo’s music was played on MTV Spain, as well as NPR, and WDNA Miami radio stations. Rey also toured Spain for 2 years with the Spanish Pop- Star Merche, as her guitarist, arranger and composer. His time in Spain was also spent working as a vocalist and guitarist for advertisements. In his next chapter, Rey relocated to Miami, Florida with long – time musical partner Sol Ruiz from Picadillo, and formed a new band called Sol + the Tribu, influenced by Afro-Cuban, hip hop, rock and electronic music. They released the album “Miami 3050” in 2019 and have played Carnival on the Mile, 305 Day festivals, Global Cuba Fest, The Rhythm Foundation’s Afro-Roots Fest, multiple venues in Miami, and received grants from Miami Light Project for The Here and Now Festival, as well as a 2021 Knight Arts Grant to create a Rock Opera, now additionally funded by the National Endowment of the Arts. Since the pandemic, Rodriguez has been working on his debut solo album, and just released the first single (self produced) called “Florida Blue Skies,” (Featuring Shira Lee). It is a love song to Florida and to falling in love with the right person. The swelling of electric guitars, the acoustic plucking along, and the country vibe conjure the feeling of “on the road” and “home” as one. After 3 albums, traveling the world as a professional musician, and performing with multiple projects, it is Rey’s time to step out and make his personal statement as a solo artist. He is about to drop the next single off the Album, “El Racoon,” with a world class music video to match. Directed by Grethel Castillo the video and song are in a vintage world with a timeless theme of betrayal. Rey Rodriguez is breaking expectations of the “Cuban Sound,” and leading us to discover something new. With his music pulling from Afro-Cuban and African- American roots music, his voice & electric guitar sing, expressing the story of his life as a world citizen who knows no bounds. Ernest Ranglin (Jazz/Caribbean fusion), Manuel Galban (Cuban electric guitar), Chuck Berry (Rock n’ Roll storytelling) and Robert Johnson (finger-pickin’ blues) have guided him to define his sound. Rethinking traditional Cuban melodies and Caribbean rhythms, his Rock n Roll edge seeps through the music with a stealthy yet fiery passion. Edgy & refined, groovy & deep, the sounds of his warm voice and creamy distorted guitar are so satisfying. This blend of sounds is something he has been cultivating for years. You can hear his earlier work in the albums he made with his former band Picadillo, and his latest single “Florida Blue Skies.” From Soul, Rock & Blues, to Son & Guaracha, Rey’s storytelling and lyricism pulls from an autobiographical standpoint. He writes about falling in love & loves lost, he paints pictures of abandoned towns and deserted spirits, but also of rising again & winning. As someone who perceives his identity without borders after living in Cuba, Spain & now the US, his songwriting also touches on the life of Cubans, immigrants, and all humans around the world that have experienced exile. His songs might reveal harsh realities but they also evoke hope in reaching one’s wildest dreams. Rey Rodriguez has created a world of sultry Rock, introspective Cuban psychedelia, and grooves that keep lilting as you ride out into the sunset. Español Disparando su guitarra eléctrica desde Güajiro a Cowboy, de Surf Rock a Son, Rey

GRETH CASTILLO (Media & Filmmaker) • Greth Castillo was born in Havana, Cuba. Director, producer and screenwriter of various film and advertising projects in Cuba and Mexico. He has obtained and received several awards at major film festivals for his performance with short film projects such as Lie to Me Well Jackie Chang (2012), Yemaya (2022) and Oshun (2022). His interest in always leaving a message is present in his work. Her diversification in the different branches of art develops in her a genuine interest in the creation and innovation of new ways of seeing and understanding cinema. With extensive experience in the audiovisual industry, she has directed several video clips and experimental pieces for national artists. and international. He is currently developing his first feature film.

BETH GLADEN (Sound Designer) • Beth Gladen is a self-taught musician, recording engineer, melody maker, and lover of all music. She owns her own recording studio, utilizing both analog and digital formats in a hybrid formula to achieve great tones. She writes a lot of music on piano and is always in the market for great topliners or collaborations with other musicians, composers, and producers. Her writing styles are very eclectic, drawing from numerous genres and musical influences. She writes in many different genres, never really married to just one. Currently, she is building her studio in Miami after relocating there two years ago. Throughout her career, she has had and built recording studios, with this one in Miami being her 12th studio buildout. She finally owns the property on which they are building the studio, so she is hopeful it will be her last studio build. Her control room is all finished, and her live room and booths are about halfway done. She also works as a recording engineer for a studio she built out the control room for in the Cleveland, Ohio area, called Somewhere Recording at Suma. This studio features an SSL, 56-channel 4000G console previously owned by Anne and Nancy Wilson of Heart, originally called Bad Animals Studio, and later sold to Studio X in Seattle, WA. The Somewhere Recording at Suma Studio is her mix-down go-to studio, while her Miami location serves as her tracking studio.