Traditional Cuban music runs in her veins and jazz and American funk have shaped her artistic personality. Born in Cuba, to a very close family that enjoys warm afternoons improvising a melody, Leslie Cartaya decided to begin her solo career with her first record production “No Pares.” Singing is Leslie’s best therapy. She learned, from an early age, to clearly express her feelings, joys, passions, sadness, and even melancholic moments through music. Leslie admits to having discovered traditional Cuban and Brazilian music as she reminisces about her family, in particular, her cousins. They were the first to teach her nursery rhymes and accompany her on the guitar while she sang. Caribbean, Afro-American, Afro-Latin, and Latin American musical rhythms create a harmonious fusion in “No Pares,” a 19-track production. 18 of them are written and composed by Leslie. “In this CD, my first experience as co-producer and musical arranger, I had the opportunity of working with renowned musicians who supported me every step of the way,” said this attractive brunette. She defines herself as a happy, adventurous, inquisitive, expressive, but most of all a perfectionist woman. The official CD Release concert of “No Pares” took place at the Miami Dade County Auditorium on April 18. It was part of Miami on Stage, a series of concerts sponsored by Fundarte. With the release of “No Pares,” Leslie went up to the fifth position on the Miami Latin Reverbnation Charts.