Ana Alcaide at Montreal's Festival International Nuits d'Afrique

Ana Alcaide is a musician and composer from Toledo, Spain, who carries out research on ancient traditions and cultures.

Ana Alcaide’s music is inspired by the journey of the Sephardic Jews and her city, which is why it is commonly referred to as the Toledo Soundtrack. Rooted in ancient traditions yet resolutely modern, her compositions deftly blend musical styles from different cultures. From the inspirational backdrop of the city of Toledo, Ana writes and produces her songs, creates new arrangements and adapts her instrument to ancient melodies that originated in medieval Spain and have travelled throughout the Mediterranean region.

She received international recognition for her third album, La Cantiga del Fuego, that remained 5 months on the WMCE – World Music Charts Europe, and was considered one of the best albums of 2012. Beginning as a self-production, it was released worldwide by the English label ARC Music in November 2012.

In 2015, she started the new recording series Tales of Pangea, in which she created new music in collaboration with musicians from other parts of the world. The first release, Gotrasawalaensemble, was recorded in Java island, Indonesia, after two years of musical and cultural exchange with local musicians. It was released by ARC in May 2015 and stayed on World Music Chart Europe from June to September 2015.

In 2016, she released Leyenda, an album that digs into the strength of femininity through the presence of the woman in diverse cultures and mythologies from a modern view, and which represents an important step in presenting her music.