Major Lazer made history over the weekend as the first major American group to perform in Cuba since the normalization of relations with the United States. They performed to an estimated 450,000 people at a free show on Havana's main concourse outside the newly-establish U.S. embassy in the Cuban capitol. The show was to kick off the Musicabana Festival, where the Rolling Stones will play in a few days. Speaking to Charlie Rose down in Cuba, Diplo talked about the Major Lazer takeover of Cuba and how important it really was and even slipped in hints at new Jack Ü music with Skrillex.
Speaking to Charlie Rose either indoors or out driving around in an old-school convertible, Diplo and Rose discuss the cultural significance of the performance.
"I also think it's very important to create something new, that's why I first started to make music you know," Diplo says. "We first started to rent old VFW halls in Philly or whatever, we rented kegs and did parties and played our own music. We had to find a way to do it because nobody else was helping us, and I think now it's important to keep those dialogues happening, those parties happening. That's what we are doing here in Havana."
Constantly on tour, Diplo is aware of how important gigs are in places where electronic music is so new.
"I think it's important to play in places like this where the music is still brand new. These are the guys who are going to change it. The kids in Havana, the kids in Pakistan, the kids in India -- they're the ones who are going to bring it to a new level."
Always promoting something new and never shy with the media, Diplo revealed that he was gearing up to unleash some new music with Skrillex as part of Jack Ü sometime next month.
"Before I came down to you, I was sitting on my computer editing some new songs for the Jack Ü project, because we want to put something out around Coachella," remarked Diplo.
There have been rumblings about new music from the pair over the past few months, but this is the latest hints about a new EP or project in the works.
Watch the clip below where you get to see just how massive the crowd was for Major Lazer.
