Cuban-Canadian Artist Andy Rubal Receives 2026 JUNO Award Nomination for Latin Recording of the Year
With the 2026 JUNO Awards introducing the Latin Music Recording of the Year category, first-time nominee Andy Rubal is helping lead the moment.
Born in Santiago de Cuba and now based in Montréal, Rubal blends the vibrant rhythms of salsa with jazz sophistication and pop sensibility, creating a sound that is both rooted and contemporary. His sophomore album, Baila y Confía (Dance and Trust), released in November 2025, earned him his first JUNO nomination and showcases themes of self-discovery, romance, and faith through rich arrangements and storytelling.
A finalist on Piano Public and a performer at major festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and SunFest, Rubal has also collaborated and toured with Cuban icons such as Orlando “Maraca” Valle.
As English is his second language (he also speaks Spanish and French), Andy is available for email interviews in support of his nomination.
First off, congratulations on your JUNO nomination! What was your reaction when you found out you were nominated for Latin Music Recording of the Year?
I woke up one morning and my manager, Michael Litresits, called me with the news that Baila y Confía had been nominated in this new Latin music category. Honestly, it took me several hours—and even the first three days—to fully process such incredible news. It was the result of years of hard work and sacrifice, as we have been striving to bring salsa, in my case with original compositions, into a place within the preferences of Canadian audiences.
This year marks the debut of the Latin Music Recording category at the JUNO Awards. What does it mean to you to be part of this historic moment?
This category has allowed us to fulfill the dream of giving Latin music a true space within the broad spectrum of musical possibilities in this country, which feels like a real victory. It has been a long wait for other colleagues who have worked tirelessly in Canada, and thanks to God and the hard work of each of them, the inertia was finally broken. Latin artists are making history at the JUNO Awards.
Your album Baila y Confía (Dance and Trust) blends salsa, jazz, and pop influences. How would you describe the sonic vision behind the project?
I am a restless person with a diverse musical background that constantly resonates in my artistic journey. Occasionally, you’ll hear a jazz chord or classical forms and textures slipping through, because of my love for both of those styles. My goal has always been to create music that reflects this broad palette while staying rooted in salsa.
Is there a song on the album that feels especially meaningful to you? What’s the story behind it?
There are many stories throughout this album. For me, Déjame Vivir, the second track, is one of my favorites. It’s a cry from the soul asking to be freed from the prison of memories, the depression of a past that won’t return, and the vices that melancholy tends to bring forth. It comes from a prolonged state of unhappiness without direction, and for me, the liberation came through my faith. It’s deeply personal and emotional.
You were born in Santiago de Cuba and are now based in Montréal. How has living in Canada influenced your sound and artistic identity?
Coming from Santiago de Cuba, carrying rhythms in my DNA like Pacho Alonso’s Pilón, the Franco-Haitian rhythms, and son—the richest of our rhythms, the foundation of what we know today as salsa—is without a doubt part of my musical and artistic identity. Living in Montreal has enriched my music even further. For example, Dímelo Nawe is a fusion of Cuban and Canadian sounds, blending Miguel Matamoros’ Matamorino Son with Québécois country music. In Hay que respirar, the Pilón rhythm merges with the traditional Quebecois Chanson à Réponse in the opening verses.
You’re known for a commanding stage presence. What do you love most about performing live?
First, thank you for the compliment. I love feeling my music come to life when the audience, my musicians, and I come together as one body. I truly believe in this trinity of musical art: Music, Artist, and Audience united in a single feeling.
You’ve played major festivals like the Montreal International Jazz Festival and SunFest. Are there any standout memories from those stages?
The Montreal Jazz Festival has been one of the most significant moments of my career. In previous years, I had performed at major festivals in Europe, the United States, and Latin America, but always as part of a band or accompanying another artist. This time, I performed with my own band, presenting my own music—and I can only give thanks. I feel blessed.
SunFest is a beautiful festival that unites cultures and extraordinary people, led by an incredible human being, Alfredo Caxaj. It was a wonderful experience to participate.