Semilla del son is the Cuban music compilation that helped shape a cross Atlantic dialogue in the story of Radio Futura’s lead figure Juan Perro, a journey that began in the early 1990s. The project, shaped by Santiago Auserón, marks a pivotal shift as the band moves toward a richer, more adventurous sound. By that time, Radio Futura had reached a moment of maturity, and Auserón’s listening expanded beyond Spain’s borders. Cuban son became a central thread, weaving together New Orleans jazz, the rumba pulse, the blues of the Mississippi delta, and African rhythms. In this creative awakening, he adopts the alter ego Juan Perro, a persona through which his experiments and reflections find a voice.
A generation later, the film documents a long arc of musical exploration. Thirty years after Semilla del son, Juan Perro revisits the island, moving from Santiago toward Havana with a curiosity that remains restless. The photographer follows his path as he travels through Cuba, recounting a series of encounters that began in 1984 and continued on many later visits. Through conversations with local musicians, performances in intimate spaces, and moments of spontaneous collaboration, the narrative charts the enduring influence of a music that Spain has sometimes tried to quiet in the public sphere. The journey is framed as a dialogue about memory, identity, and the power of sound to bridge cultures, even in times of political tension.
Perro speaks at length about his creative philosophy, yet the documentary also affords space for listening. He engages with musicians across the island, from the artisans of La Casa de la Trova who craft guitars for legends to performers in Baracoa who interpret Cuban sounds with a fresh immediacy. The exchanges reveal a respect that travels beyond borders, a shared language forged through rhythm and melody. The film presents moments where collaboration feels spontaneous and honest, not choreographed, a testament to a musical current that remains alive when boundaries are drawn and redrawn. In these scenes, Perro demonstrates how listening can be as powerful as playing, inviting viewers to hear Cuban music not as a fixed heritage but as an ongoing conversation.
The documentary also touches on the political and cultural currents surrounding Cuban music. It highlights how a global audience encounters a living tradition that continues to evolve while facing external pressures and internal debates. Across the road stories, the film shows how artists respond with resilience, keeping the conversation about sound vibrant and relevant. The narrative emphasizes that music, when shared with openness, can serve as a counterpoint to isolation, offering a reminder of shared human experiences that cross language and nationality. This perspective adds a broader context for audiences in Canada and the United States who seek to understand how Cuban rhythms have influenced contemporary genres around the world.
Throughout the film, the presence of a seasoned listener and performer creates a palpable energy. Perro is portrayed not just as a transmitter of ideas but as an interpreter who absorbs what he encounters, then channels it through his own voice. The result is a portrait of an artist whose curiosity remains undiminished, whose career spans decades, and whose work continues to resonate with new audiences. By tracing his interactions with diverse Cuban musicians, the documentary captures the living spirit of a music that travels, adapts, and evolves, while still honoring its roots. The storytelling approach invites viewers to reflect on how cultural exchanges shape individual artistry and collective memory.
In sum, Semilla del son offers more than a retrospective. It presents a dynamic record of a personal voyage and a broader cultural exchange that unfolds across cities, studios, and streets. For fans and newcomers alike, the film provides a window into Cuban music’s enduring vitality and its capacity to connect people across oceans. The conversations, performances, and landscapes in the documentary reveal a truth about music: it grows stronger when people listen to one another, when traditions are held with respect, and when curiosity leads the way. This is a story of sound without borders, a reminder that roots can reach far and reveal new branches in the same musical tree. [Cited from interviews with Betancort and Auserón, 2023]