Lila Downs is the daughter of a Mixtec Indian woman, Anastasia Sanchez, who ran away from her village at 19 to sing in Mexico City cantinas and a Minnesota-born, Scottish-American professor, Allen Downs, who saw her singing and fell in love. Lila Downs was born in the Oaxacan mountain town of Tlaxiaco, 7,000 feet up in the heavens. The first songs she remembers are her mother singing Lola Beltrán's heartfelt rancheras, and her father singing Woody Guthrie's ''This Land Is Your Land.'' Her border-blurring, multicultural upbringing infused Downs with a firm world view in support of the disenfranchised working classes and an aesthetic vision that embraces cross-cultural pollinations.
As a result Downs has become one of the most innovative exponents of Mesoamerican music on both sides of the border. Her lyrics are high-minded and sentient and her sound is all encompassing. By drawing on a pan-Latin palette of music as well as American folk, jazz, blues and rock, Downs and her worldly band of kindred spirits, La Misteriosa, have won accolades and a devoted following of world music fans. Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Downs has created a unique body of work that defies categorization in any single genre.
Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release Una Sangre and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s Shake Away, as well as various performance awards from around the world. Her newest release, Pecados y Milagros (Sony Music Entertianment Mexico, 2011) hit #1 on the Mexican music charts immediately after its initial release, and reached Platinum + Gold status. The CD was released in the United States on January 31st, 2012, on the Sony Music Latin imprint and garnered a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album, and a Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.Pecados y Milagros (Sins & Miracles) is an exploration of these religious notions in light of modern events, inspired by Downs' experience becoming a new mother (something she calls “a miracle”), and a contemplation of the meaning of “sin” in the modern world. The music is accompanied by a series of specially-commissioned votive paintings (retablos) by 15 Mexican painters curated by Oaxacan contemporary artist Demián Flores, in collaboration with Downs. This groundbreaking music and fine arts collaborative project was presented at MUNAL, the fine arts museum of México City, where viewers experienced the paintings and music as an integrated experience.In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festivals and events including the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; Montreal Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama, the Bicentenario de Mexico, the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Latin Grammys on Univision.
Hollywood also took notice when Lila played a role in the Salma Hayek film Frida and then performed the Oscar nominated soundtrack song “Burn It Blue” on the Academy Awards telecast, becoming the first female Mexican artist to perform live on the awards ceremony. Her music has been included in several other feature films such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Carlos Saura's Fados, Mariachi Gringo in which she also has a featured acting & performance role, and Hecho en Mexico, a beautiful documentary about the rich and diverse musical history of Mexico.
Lila Downs is also the recipient of the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship Award.
show less
As a result Downs has become one of the most innovative exponents of Mesoamerican music on both sides of the border. Her lyrics are high-minded and sentient and her sound is all encompassing. By drawing on a pan-Latin palette of music as well as American folk, jazz, blues and rock, Downs and her worldly band of kindred spirits, La Misteriosa, have won accolades and a devoted following of world music fans. Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Downs has created a unique body of work that defies categorization in any single genre.
Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release Una Sangre and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s Shake Away, as well as various performance awards from around the world. Her newest release, Pecados y Milagros (Sony Music Entertianment Mexico, 2011) hit #1 on the Mexican music charts immediately after its initial release, and reached Platinum + Gold status. The CD was released in the United States on January 31st, 2012, on the Sony Music Latin imprint and garnered a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album, and a Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.Pecados y Milagros (Sins & Miracles) is an exploration of these religious notions in light of modern events, inspired by Downs' experience becoming a new mother (something she calls “a miracle”), and a contemplation of the meaning of “sin” in the modern world. The music is accompanied by a series of specially-commissioned votive paintings (retablos) by 15 Mexican painters curated by Oaxacan contemporary artist Demián Flores, in collaboration with Downs. This groundbreaking music and fine arts collaborative project was presented at MUNAL, the fine arts museum of México City, where viewers experienced the paintings and music as an integrated experience.In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festivals and events including the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; Montreal Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama, the Bicentenario de Mexico, the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Latin Grammys on Univision.
Hollywood also took notice when Lila played a role in the Salma Hayek film Frida and then performed the Oscar nominated soundtrack song “Burn It Blue” on the Academy Awards telecast, becoming the first female Mexican artist to perform live on the awards ceremony. Her music has been included in several other feature films such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Carlos Saura's Fados, Mariachi Gringo in which she also has a featured acting & performance role, and Hecho en Mexico, a beautiful documentary about the rich and diverse musical history of Mexico.
Lila Downs is also the recipient of the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship Award.
Lila Downs is the daughter of a Mixtec Indian woman, Anastasia Sanchez, who ran away from her village at 19 to sing in Mexico City cantinas and a Minnesota-born, Scottish-American professor, Allen Downs, who saw her singing and fell in love. Lila Downs was born in the Oaxacan mountain town of Tlaxiaco, 7,000 feet up in the heavens. The first songs she remembers are her mother singing Lola Beltrán's heartfelt rancheras, and her father singing Woody Guthrie's ''This Land Is Your Land.'' Her border-blurring, multicultural upbringing infused Downs with a firm world view in support of the disenfranchised working classes and an aesthetic vision that embraces cross-cultural pollinations.
As a result Downs has become one of the most innovative exponents of Mesoamerican music on both sides of the border. Her lyrics are high-minded and sentient and her sound is all encompassing. By drawing on a pan-Latin palette of music as well as American folk, jazz, blues and rock, Downs and her worldly band of kindred spirits, La Misteriosa, have won accolades and a devoted following of world music fans. Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Downs has created a unique body of work that defies categorization in any single genre.
Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release Una Sangre and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s Shake Away, as well as various performance awards from around the world. Her newest release, Pecados y Milagros (Sony Music Entertianment Mexico, 2011) hit #1 on the Mexican music charts immediately after its initial release, and reached Platinum + Gold status. The CD was released in the United States on January 31st, 2012, on the Sony Music Latin imprint and garnered a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album, and a Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.Pecados y Milagros (Sins & Miracles) is an exploration of these religious notions in light of modern events, inspired by Downs' experience becoming a new mother (something she calls “a miracle”), and a contemplation of the meaning of “sin” in the modern world. The music is accompanied by a series of specially-commissioned votive paintings (retablos) by 15 Mexican painters curated by Oaxacan contemporary artist Demián Flores, in collaboration with Downs. This groundbreaking music and fine arts collaborative project was presented at MUNAL, the fine arts museum of México City, where viewers experienced the paintings and music as an integrated experience.In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festivals and events including the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; Montreal Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama, the Bicentenario de Mexico, the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Latin Grammys on Univision.
Hollywood also took notice when Lila played a role in the Salma Hayek film Frida and then performed the Oscar nominated soundtrack song “Burn It Blue” on the Academy Awards telecast, becoming the first female Mexican artist to perform live on the awards ceremony. Her music has been included in several other feature films such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Carlos Saura's Fados, Mariachi Gringo in which she also has a featured acting & performance role, and Hecho en Mexico, a beautiful documentary about the rich and diverse musical history of Mexico.
Lila Downs is also the recipient of the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship Award.
read more
As a result Downs has become one of the most innovative exponents of Mesoamerican music on both sides of the border. Her lyrics are high-minded and sentient and her sound is all encompassing. By drawing on a pan-Latin palette of music as well as American folk, jazz, blues and rock, Downs and her worldly band of kindred spirits, La Misteriosa, have won accolades and a devoted following of world music fans. Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Downs has created a unique body of work that defies categorization in any single genre.
Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release Una Sangre and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s Shake Away, as well as various performance awards from around the world. Her newest release, Pecados y Milagros (Sony Music Entertianment Mexico, 2011) hit #1 on the Mexican music charts immediately after its initial release, and reached Platinum + Gold status. The CD was released in the United States on January 31st, 2012, on the Sony Music Latin imprint and garnered a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album, and a Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.Pecados y Milagros (Sins & Miracles) is an exploration of these religious notions in light of modern events, inspired by Downs' experience becoming a new mother (something she calls “a miracle”), and a contemplation of the meaning of “sin” in the modern world. The music is accompanied by a series of specially-commissioned votive paintings (retablos) by 15 Mexican painters curated by Oaxacan contemporary artist Demián Flores, in collaboration with Downs. This groundbreaking music and fine arts collaborative project was presented at MUNAL, the fine arts museum of México City, where viewers experienced the paintings and music as an integrated experience.In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festivals and events including the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; Montreal Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama, the Bicentenario de Mexico, the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Latin Grammys on Univision.
Hollywood also took notice when Lila played a role in the Salma Hayek film Frida and then performed the Oscar nominated soundtrack song “Burn It Blue” on the Academy Awards telecast, becoming the first female Mexican artist to perform live on the awards ceremony. Her music has been included in several other feature films such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Carlos Saura's Fados, Mariachi Gringo in which she also has a featured acting & performance role, and Hecho en Mexico, a beautiful documentary about the rich and diverse musical history of Mexico.
Lila Downs is also the recipient of the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship Award.
show less
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