JOC Havana, born Jose Alberto Garcia Montero, is a DJ, artist, songwriter, and musician from Havana, Cuba. With a distinctive sound rooted in his Afro-Cuban heritage, JOC fuses Deep House with the rich rhythms of his culture, making him one of the fastest-rising artists in the Havana music scene.

JOC has performed at the Havana World Music Festival and has become a staple at Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), which was recently recognized named by TIME Magazine as one of the world's top 100 essential places to visit. Inti Herrera, FAC partner, film director, and owner of I4 Films praises JOC: “JOC is representing Cuba in a new way. Cuba is mostly known for its Salsa legends, but JOC represents the future and the youth. We’re excited to see the changes he’ll bring to our music history.” JOC’s influence is growing beyond Cuba. He headlined the Latin stage at Serbia’s Exit Festival, performing for thousands. The success led to an extended stay, where he played additional shows in both Serbia and Croatia.

JOC's unique sound caught the attention of David Macias, president of Thirty Tigers, who signed JOC to an international record deal. Macias remarked, “I was fortunate to see him live—his fusion of electronic music with Yoruba percussion was unlike anything I’d seen before. It was one of the most compelling performances I’ve witnessed in Cuba.”  Thirty Tigers is a label known for working with diverse artists including many Grammy-winning artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Cimafunk, The Mavericks, Alanis Morrisette, Smashing Pumpkins, Charlie Crockett, Bobby Rush, Elizabeth Cook, Hector Tellez, Paul Cauthen, Jason Isbell, IlDivo to name a few. JOC joins this prestigious roster, ready to share his vision with the world.

Yoruba is the religion brought to Cuba by African slaves in the 1800s. It is a mixture between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa, the Roman Catholic form of Christianity, and Spiritism. JOC’s spiritual connection influences both his music and his style, including his traditional attire. JOC’s forthcoming EP, AYABA (meaning “Queen” in Yoruba), draws from these Afro-Cuban roots and folkloric stories. Using vocals, piano, and percussion, JOC creates a compelling electronic music landscape. 

AYABA marks his first international release after five years of independently releasing music in Cuba. His previous albums include Soy Cubano, Amor de Chicle, and Selva Negra. 

JOC is a classically trained musician, having studied the bassoon in Italy. His ability to write, perform on multiple instruments, along with his global experiences give him a unique perspective on how music resonates with diverse audiences. As Africa is the birthplace of humanity, JOC hopes that his Afro-Cuban-inspired dance music can serve as a communal experience, reconnecting listeners to the "Mother Land's" roots of rhythm and culture. JOC hopes that his Cuban Afrocentric slant on dance music will help act as a communal experience and bridge that helps us all get in touch with the source….

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