"The important artists are, of course, chosen by the Estefans"

Interview with Sergio Giral, Cuban-American filmmaker in Miami

Micmag: Is it possible to produce Latino music and make yourself known without the help of the Estefans?

Sergio Giral: The important artists are, of course, chosen by the Estefans. But many musicians don’t have any relation with them. Miami is a Cuban city, it is a musical city.

M: Some use the word "mafia" to refer to the Estefans. What is your opinion on that?

S. G.: Big record labels are like mafia families. We are talking about big amounts of money and it’s all mixed up with art. It is a very peculiar world.

M: Is it easy to approach them?

S. G.: I don’t know them personally, but it is very difficult. As for all these kind of people, there are a lot of intermediaries.

M: What did the Cuban community think about the Estefans supporting Obama?

S. G.: Obama was elected president thanks to Florida’s support. Miami’s middle class is not unhappy about him. Among other things, he helped to find ways to send money from here to the families in Cuba. But the old Cuban generation of exiles is still Republican. It has been like this since the time of the Bay of Pig’s attempt, when Kennedy decided not to support this choice.

Interview by Hélios Molina