Music and graphic design have a long standing romance by means of the album cover’s design. A romance that has had a powerful influence in the way we enjoy music. Created by the graphic design factory Zona de Obras ¡MIRA QUE LINDAS! is a journey through more than 500 historic and contemporary pop Latin album covers. In Miami the show will be the background for a comprehensive program on the music industry in the digital era and its relationship with graphic design targeting future music and design professionals as well as the public at large.

¡MIRA QUE LINDAS! is a project by graphic design factory Zona de Obras, presented by CCEMiami, Awarehouse, Casa América, Fábrikalink.com, Gibson and The Latin Recording Academy®.
The Cultural Center of Spain (CCEMiami) is a non profit organization dedicated to education, arts and culture that aims to promote and foster cultural cooperation, local creation and fostering dialogue of space and exchange by means of a yearly continuous programming. With this initiative, CCE aims to strengthen cultural local music industries by fostering networking and dialogue beyond the project’s completion. www.ccemiami.org

Workshops + Acoustic Showcases presented by The Latin Recording Academy®

June 3, 7 pm – ALEKS SYNTEK is a talented Mexican musician and five time Latin GRAMMY nominee that has been involved in many different projects such as advertisements, TV shows, and movies. By the late '80s, Syntek, along with two friends, decided to form an alternative band. Their first record, Hey Tú!, was released by EMI in 1990; it was followed by Más Fuerte de Lo Que Pensaba in 1993. That record included a contribution from former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. La Gente Normal garnered ample success in Latin America. In 1999, Syntek embarked on a solo career. In addition to his continued contributions to film soundtracks, Syntek maintained a steady output of albums throughout the 2000s, including De Noche en la Ciudad (2001), Multiple (2003), Mundo Lite (2004), and Lección de Vuelo (2007).. Syntec’s career spans for 30 years. Songs such as “Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas” or “Danzón” have turned into icons of an entire generation. www.myspace.com/alekssyntek

June 10, 7 pm - DEBI NOVA. Costa Rican multi-talented star DEBI NOVA is an internet sensation with her first single, “Drummer Boy,” from her debut album, “Luna Nueva.” Nova has amassed an impressive body of work including six GRAMMY-nominated projects, a #1 single, collaborations with the likes of Black Eyed Peas and Ricky Martin, and touring the world. She has been writing and performing professionally since the age of 14 and signed her first songwriter deal at the age of 17, subsequently penning songs for Latin recording artists Belinda and RBD, Sean Paul, Mark Ronson and her own single, “One Rhythm” which reached #1 in Latin America and on the US dance charts. The forthcoming Luna Nueva, was co-produced by Gustavo Santaoalla (two-time Oscar winner, multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner, Juanes, Café Tacvba) and Marius de Vries (five-time GRAMMY Award nominee, two-time BAFTA winner, Madonna, Josh Groban). Luna Nueva is an electrifying combination of irresistible Latin rhythms and potent pop smarts that showcases this vivacious artist’s considerable musical gifts – she plays piano, guitar, bass, timbales and more – as well as her rich Latina heritage. www.debinova.com

June 17, 7 pm – YAMANDU COSTA is a guitar player, composer and arranger that don’t fit into a single music style, yet he creates his own when he combines all of them playing his 7-string guitar. Yamandu fully deserves his beautiful name which in tupi-guarani, the native language of Brazilian Indians, means the precursor of the waters of the world. Whenever he is on stage, he fills with joy the most select audience since his impressive performance shows the deep intimacy between Yamandu and his guitar. The recognition he has earned throughout the years reveals what he can offer the audience – recreation of the magic of music - once from his fingers the music he plays travels through his body and soul and is almost miraculously. Yamandu has played with the best musicians from Brazil and his fame and shows have reached Europe, the Far East and Latin America. www.yamandu.com.br

Concerts:

May 29, 9 pm – “Sexy vocals abound, framed by understated flourishes, PACHA MASSIVE, is a continuous reward for the ears.” This is how Billboard describes this New York band founded by Dominican songwriter Ramón Nova. Pacha Massive has created its own style, a Funky Bilingual Fusion of Dub and Electronica with Latin Rhythms Like Cumbia and Palo. At “Mira que Lindas” we will be able to listen to the new songs in their second release “If You Wanted”. www.pacha.us.
ELASTIC BOND mixes groovy retro Latin, Afro and Soul sounds with edgy modern sample-based production always maintaining a foundation of organic songwriting, rich melodies and soothing lyrics courtesy of the lovely Sofy Encanto. With two independent album releases under their sleeves, this band has charmed audiences throughout different parts of the world. It has been voted Best Funky Fusion Band in the “Best of 2007” by the Miami New Times Elastic Bond has shared the stage with MC Orion, SI*SE, Amigos Invisibles, Locos por Juana or Dave Valentin. www.myspace/com/theelasticbond

June 5, 9 pm - The work of songwriter and singer Ramon Mejía (PERROZOMPOPO) is hugely marked by the recent history of Nicaragua. War, poverty, dictatorship, Church, the lack of education, friends, love, disappointment, and many other concepts and experiences are mixed with rock, melodic ballads, rap and reggae in a clear vindictive music. Perrozompopo, brother of the singer Luis Enrique, performs a urban Latin American music that talks about the stories of people that crowd the streets of many impoverished Central American cities. www.perrozompopo.com.
DJ LE SPAM blends improvisational electronic elements and turntables with latin, funk, hip hop and dub to create what he calls an electronic descarga. It’s not a known genre. It’s hard to describe. It attracts many types of people. But as you look out and see people dancing salsa, next to break-dancers, and festival-goers driving for hours to catch a show – you know something very special is going on. www.spamallstars.com

June 12, 9 pm -FANGORIA This musical duo is formed by two iconic figures of Spanish pop culture: Nacho Canut and Alaska. Both part of the iconoclastic cultural phenomenon of “La movida madrileña” they are now one of the most known disco bands in the Spanish panorama. Alaska has already been entertaining three generations of Spaniards who have followed her from children’s TV shows to musical performances with several bands and her appearances in Pedro Almodovar’s films. In Miami Fangoria will present its new album “Absolutamente”. They will be accompanied by another Spanish rock band: LAS NANCYS RUBIAS. www.fangoria.es

MR. PAUER a.k.a Toto González, is a promoter of the new Latin music and World sounds. A musician, producer and director of Fabrikalink.com, has consecutively participated in New York’s Latin Alternative Music Conference, was the official DJ of the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Ceremony in Vegas and has been on stage with artists such as Julieta Venegas, Macaco, Céu, Aterciopelados and Amigos Invisibles. www.mrpauer.com

June 19, 8 pm -CLOROFILA (NORTEC COLLECTIVE) Nortec Collective is a musical ensemble from northern Mexico. Their musical genre includes electronica in the nortec ("norteño" + "techno") style. Nortec Collective's second album, Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3, received much critical praise and was nominated for two Latin GRAMMY awards in 2006. 2008's Tijuana Sound Machine by Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich and Fussible was nominated for the GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. In April 2010, Corridos Urbanos by Nortec Collective Presents Clorofila was released. www.myspace.com/nortec

XPERIMENTO These GRAMMY Nominated artists have formed a fresh new band and sound, living up to their name, Xperimento. They gather members that have performed with world recognized artists and blend together as one. They have jammed with artist like Prince and Jon Secada, to name a few and are already receiving rave reviews from media nationwide. With members from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela and Peru, mixing traditional sounds with the music of tomorrow this band brings the past back with a sophisticated touch. www.reverbnation.com/xperimento

The Latin Recording Academy is an International, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys

Activities at the Cultural Center of Spain are sponsored by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation to the Development (AECID), Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

Schedule is subject to changes. All activities have limited seating.