Guitar BCN: Lila Downs

Lila Downs is one of the most influential artists in Latin America. With one of the most unique voices in the world, she is known for her charismatic performances.

Her compositions combine genres and rhythms as diverse as Mexican rancheras and corridos, boleros, jazz standards, hip-hop, cumbia, and North American popular music.

Named by Chavela Vargas as her “successor”, she has frequently focused her lyrics on justice, immigration and women's issues.

She was also invited by Barack Obama to sing at the White House, and performed at the Oscars for her role in the film Frida.

She grew up in Minnesota and Oaxaca, Mexico, her mother is from the Mixtec indigenous group and his father was Scottish-American. Lila sings in Spanish, English, and various Native American languages ​​such as Zapotec, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Mayan, and Purépecha.

The artist has recorded nine studio albums, has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and has won six.

She has also done duets with artists like Juanes, Nora Jones, Santana, Nina Pastori or Diego El Cigala and has been invited to sing with symphonies such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony and the UNAM Symphony in Mexico.