Ana Cristina Cash says Aloha through her Soothing Voice and Vast Experience

Ana Cristina Cash is a strong female musician with a lot of back story to tell the world. Her family is originally from Cuba, where her parents left in the 1960’s to pursue life in America. She was raised in Miami, Florida, where as a young girl she began performing at the age of 6 on a Spanish-language variety show “Sabado Gigante”. It seems her talent for singing truly has been a driving force throughout her life, for at the age of 15 years old Ana signed to Sony Music in their Latin music division.

She tells Tom on episode #222 of Live and Amplified Podcast that she was recording a demo in Nashville, when someone at Sony gave her sound a listen. Next thing you know, she was recording with top of the line Grammy-winning producers. Her first album is self-titled as ‘Ana Cristina’. It is a Spanish album with attention-grabbing melodies. Uniquely, Ana points out that there is no ‘h’ in her spelling of Cristina. In the interview, she outlines her dedicated work ethic and ability to balance her life and work in the music industry.

As a singer, she has a vast vocal range from contralto to extremely high soprano, or as some would call it, the ‘whisper register’. Listening to all types of music growing up, she is inspired by a variety of genres. From gritty blues and jazz to pop-country, she always impresses with her blend of expressive emotion and impeccable tone.

Recent projects for Ana Cristina Cash include her full length LP “Shine” that was released in April 2020. The album boasts 14 tracks of bluesy and heartfelt twangy rock paired with her eloquent and powerful, yet smooth, singing. Songs like “Outlaw Blues” draw on old school and traditional sounds of blues. She truly holds nothing back in her delivery and word choice on the album. There is grit and a bit of mystery to the way she holds herself.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Ana's latest single release showcases her beautiful ability to capture a feeling and emotion via her tropical rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka”. It is her version of the classic Christmas song that combines the sounds of Hawaiian music with rockabilly and pedal steel guitar. It is a song that definitely transports the listener to a land of hula dancers and warm sun.

Getting to know Ana, you see her story is intertwined with music and interesting experiences, like when she sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at the 2005 Inauguration or when she moved to Hollywood, CA and ended up meeting Johnny Cash’s son. A truly talented couple, they moved to Nashville, and soon after welcomed their daughter Grace June Cash.

Ana encourages those seeking out a life in music to express themselves by rehearsing, singing, and practicing their craft daily. It’s a means to explore oneself and be heard. Ana touched on the interesting paradox that artists are deeply emotional beings, and yet they are expected to be tough as nails. In her interview around minute 34, she tells listeners to tune out the naysayers, for they are projecting their own discomfort.

It’s with an ease and surety that Ana Cristina Cash speaks. She is empowering and that’s reflected through her vast style of music in her catalog. I just added “Dónde Está El Amor” to my 2021 playlist from her first album in 2003. Give it a listen…

About the Writer:

Kendra Muecke of "Kendra & the Bunnies" Music is a singer/songwriter, writer, actress, spiritualist, and published author. She performs psychedelic folk rock Americana with an emphasis on storytelling and poetic presentation. She is based in Los Angeles, CA. https://kendraelisabethmuecke.com