Lila Downs

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History

Lila Downs, born Ana Lila Downs Sánchez on September 9, 1969, in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, is a Mexican singer and actress celebrated for her unique vocal style and her deep connection to Mexican traditional and popular music. Her artistry spans original compositions and interpretations of others' work, drawing heavily from the rich cultural tapestry of her native land.

Early Life and Musical Awakening

Downs spent her formative years between Tlaxiaco and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her musical journey began with the ranchera genre at a young age, performing at local gatherings in the Mixtec region. She honed her skills with bands such as Los Cadetes de Yodoyuxi and La Trova Serrana, a folk ensemble from the Zapotec town of Guelatao, Oaxaca. It was during this period that she met her lifelong musical collaborator and artistic director, Paul Cohen. Together, they began crafting original compositions that infused native Mesoamerican musical traditions of the Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya, and Nahuatl cultures.

A Fusion of Cultures and Influences

The daughter of Mixtec cabaret singer Anita Sánchez and Allen Downs, a Scottish/English-American professor of art and cinematographer, Lila Downs embodies a rich bicultural heritage. She grew up partly in Oaxaca, spent her teenage years in California, and later resided in Minnesota, where she pursued studies in voice and social anthropology at the University of Minnesota. Upon returning to Mexico, she furthered her artistic education at Bellas Artes in Oaxaca, where she also learned weaving.

Downs' music is characterized by its eclectic nature, blending elements of cumbia, ranchera, bolero, and indigenous sounds. Her lyrics often address themes of social justice, migration, and the experiences of marginalized communities, particularly Mexican workers in the United States. Critics have lauded her "stunning voice" and her "confident multicultural vision grounded in her Mixtec Indian roots." The New York Times noted her ability to shift between an "airborne near-falsetto" and a "forthright alto and a sultry, emotive contralto."

International Acclaim and Recognition

Lila Downs and her band have toured extensively across Mexico, South America, the United States, and Europe. Her international profile rose significantly with her duet "Burn It Blue" for the soundtrack of the film Frida, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Song. She also contributed other songs to the soundtrack, including "Benediction and Dream," "Estrella Oscura," and "La Llorona." Her music has been featured in other films such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, and Carlos Saura's Fados. She has also performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl's Festival of Sacred Music, and has been invited to perform at the White House.

Downs has received critical acclaim and numerous awards for her work. Her album Pecados y Milagros earned both a Grammy and a Latin Grammy Award and achieved double-platinum status in Mexico. She received her first Latin Grammy for the 2004 release, Una Sangre. Her collaborative album Raíz with Soledad Pastorutti and La Niña Pastori garnered two Latin Grammy nominations in 2014.