Legendary New York rock band Blondie has announced the July 16, 2021 release of the official soundtrack to BLONDIE: VIVIR EN LA HABANA, a new short film capturing the band’s 2019 live debut performance in Havana, Cuba. The film is set for its North American premiere at the Tribeca Festival and UK premiere at the Sheffield Doc/Fest, both in June. A 40 year dream come true, the iconic band was invited to perform as part of a cultural exchange through the Cuban Ministry of Culture. The 4-day event dubbed ‘Blondie in Havana’ was a one-of-a-kind experience that included two career-spanning sets and brought the band’s prolific catalogue to Cuba for the very first time.
This seminal experience and career highlight was documented in the new short film, BLONDIE: VIVIR EN LA HABANA, created by artist and director Rob Roth. The official soundtrack of the same title is to be released via BMG as a six track EP on limited edition blue vinyl, and will feature some of Blondie’s most iconic hits performed live, including “The Tide is High” and “Wipe Off My Sweat” which are available digitally now, as well as “Heart of Glass”, “Rapture”, “Dreaming” and “Long Time”, taken from their last album UK Top 5 album Pollinator (2017). These shows were performed live with special guests including Carlos Alfonso, Ele Valdés and María del Carmen Ávila of Cuban group, Síntesis.
“We had wonderful Cuban musicians join us for the performances – vocalists, percussionists, horn players – they added a terrific level of excitement to our songs. On ‘The Tide Is High’, Síntesis vocalists Ele Valdés and Maria del Carmen Avila sang with me and did the original harmonies that John Holt had put on the song, it was incredibly beautiful. Latin music has always been part of the feel of New York, so it was amazing to finally be able to put a very personal touch on the heartbeat of Cuba. VIVA!” notes Debbie Harry.
“This was a great opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Cuba. It is such a beautiful and friendly country. There is so much appreciation for art, music and nature. The Cuban people have a joy for life, and it was amazing to experience that first hand,” added Clem Burke.
BLONDIE: VIVIR EN LA HABANA, due to be released later this year, touches on subjects ranging from the influence of Cuban artists, the crossover from Havana to New York City, politics and the last minute surprise and disappointment that Chris Stein unexpectedly wasn’t able to attend. Under Roth’s direction, the film, which features narration from Debbie, Chris, and Clem, presents a meditation on this formative trip, showcasing highlights from the two-night live musical performances, as well as unique, intimate behind-the-scenes moments captured throughout their time in Cuba. It is a dream-like portrait of this legendary band’s first experience in Havana and of the magical exchange between musicians from the two cities each call home and their intertwined influence.
“When this opportunity came up I could not imagine not documenting it. I knew it was going to be special somehow,” explains Director Rob Roth. “We were there for a short period of time but we managed to pack in some really beautiful moments, and authentic interactions with people think that is what the title of the film is all about: being ALIVE in Havana, not just living there. So for me the music, the live performances, watching all the Cuban people enjoy life, and the expressions on their faces… that is being ALIVE.”
In addition to its North American debut at Tribeca Festival (June 9-20), BLONDIE: VIVIR EN LA HABANA has also been confirmed to premiere in the UK at the Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 4-13), and has already garnered praise at the Rizoma Film Festival (May 12), and at SeeYouSound International Music Film Festival which took place in February of this year.
BLONDIE: VIVIR EN LA HABANA (Limited edition blue vinyl) is available to pre-order/pre-save now: https://blondie.lnk.to/vivrenlahabanaPR
Listen to ‘The Tide is High’ and ‘Wipe Off My Sweat’: https://blondie.lnk.to/tideishighPR
Track list:
The Tide Is High
Long Time
Wipe Off My Sweat
Heart of Glass
Rapture
Dreaming
About Blondie: Undeniably one of the most trailblazing and influential bands of our time, Blondie is pioneering frontwoman/songwriter Debbie Harry, guitarist/conceptual mastermind Chris Stein and powerhouse drummer Clem Burke, along with now long standing band mates bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Tommy Kessler and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen.
Among their hits is the groundbreaking rock-disco hybrid “Heart of Glass” the equally influential hip-hop fantasia “Rapture” the stalker-love song “One Way Or Another” and the lilting calypso “The Tide Is High.” It’s a thrilling journey back to when Blondie pushed punk onto the dance floor and introduced a wider audience to hip-hop sounds, all the while building a catalogue of enduring hits along the way.
For the last four decades, Blondie has become and still remains a true global icon; one whose influence both shaped and continues to inform the worlds of music, fashion and art. From an irreverent Lower East Side punk outfit to bona fide international ambassadors of New York cool, Blondie will forever be synonymous with that punk spirit that lives somewhere in all of us. Their chart-topping success, fearless spirit and rare longevity led to an induction into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and more than 40 million albums sold worldwide to date. As we look back at the band’s storied career, it makes Blondie’s current vibrancy that much more stunning after 40 years of entertaining all of us.
About Rob Roth: Rob Roth is a multidisciplinary artist and director based in New York City, and received his BFA from Pratt Institute. Roth has continually combined a variety of media in his distinctive works of art–using theater, film, audio, and performance–to create the richly textured work showcased at such venues as the New Museum for Contemporary Art, PS122, Abrons Art Center, Here Arts, Museum of Arts and Design, Deitch Projects, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others.
Roth directed the music video “Doom or Destiny” by Blondie featuring Joan Jett which appeared on several “Best of 2017” lists as well as performing in Atlas Obscura’s site specific Into the Veil event at Green-Wood Cemetery. Additionally Roth also just finished creative direction for Debbie Harry’s long awaited memoir ‘Face It’ becoming an instant New York Times bestseller.
