Lila Downs is a celebrated Mexican/American singer-songwriter. She was born in Tlaxiaco, Mexico in 1968 to parents of different nationalities. Lila's mother is Mixtec, a Mesoamerican people, and well known cabaret singer. Her father is a Scottish/English-American professor of art. Lila's years of childhood and adolescence were spent part time in her birthplace and part time in California. She eventually graduated from the University of Minnesota with degrees in voice and anthropology.
After finishing her post-secondary education, Lila returned to Mexico and learned some of the skills common among her aboriginal relatives. At the same time she kept her voice practiced by performing in clubs both in Mexico and Philadelphia. It was during this period that Lila began performing with American saxophonist Paul Cohen. They collaborated on several pieces of music that would eventually lead to studio recordings and their marriage.
Lila and her husband toured all over Latin America, the US and Europe accumulating fans and notoriety wherever they went. In 2002 Lila recorded Burn it Blue, a song featured in the film Frida which was about Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The song earned her an Academy nomination, and an invitation to perform at the 75th Academy Awards. The past few years have seen many of Lila's songs in film, including Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves and Fados.
In total, Lila has released ten albums and two DVD's of music compilations or videos. In 2008 Lila was invited to perform at Twelve Girls Bands concert in Shanghai, where she was met with excited fans especially when she sang in both French and English. In September of 2010 Lila released her most recent live album, Lila Downs y La Misteriosa en Paris. That same year she appeared on The Chieftains album San Patricio. Clearly, Lila's diversity in song and voice has earned her a particular place in the global music world. She has become an international source for diversity of style and expression. From the concert hall, to the recording studio, to the international stage, Lila can clearly handle it all.
Lila Down is based in Mexico City, and when she is not on tour or recording, it is said that she can sometimes be spotted jamming with local musicians on a quiet street corner. That may be urban legend, but even so wouldn't it be interesting to be on vacation in Mexico and suddenly come upon a world class musician busking in the street?
After finishing her post-secondary education, Lila returned to Mexico and learned some of the skills common among her aboriginal relatives. At the same time she kept her voice practiced by performing in clubs both in Mexico and Philadelphia. It was during this period that Lila began performing with American saxophonist Paul Cohen. They collaborated on several pieces of music that would eventually lead to studio recordings and their marriage.
Lila and her husband toured all over Latin America, the US and Europe accumulating fans and notoriety wherever they went. In 2002 Lila recorded Burn it Blue, a song featured in the film Frida which was about Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The song earned her an Academy nomination, and an invitation to perform at the 75th Academy Awards. The past few years have seen many of Lila's songs in film, including Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves and Fados.
In total, Lila has released ten albums and two DVD's of music compilations or videos. In 2008 Lila was invited to perform at Twelve Girls Bands concert in Shanghai, where she was met with excited fans especially when she sang in both French and English. In September of 2010 Lila released her most recent live album, Lila Downs y La Misteriosa en Paris. That same year she appeared on The Chieftains album San Patricio. Clearly, Lila's diversity in song and voice has earned her a particular place in the global music world. She has become an international source for diversity of style and expression. From the concert hall, to the recording studio, to the international stage, Lila can clearly handle it all.
Lila Down is based in Mexico City, and when she is not on tour or recording, it is said that she can sometimes be spotted jamming with local musicians on a quiet street corner. That may be urban legend, but even so wouldn't it be interesting to be on vacation in Mexico and suddenly come upon a world class musician busking in the street?
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