Lila Downs is a Mexican American singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and cultural fusion in music.
Born on September 9, 1968, Lila Downs has been captivating audiences with her music for over two decades.
She won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album, highlighting her impact in the music industry.
Biography
Early Life
Ana Lila Downs Sánchez was born on September 9, 1968, in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico. She is the daughter of Anita Sánchez, a Mixtec cabaret singer, and Allen Downs, a Scottish-American professor of art and cinematographer. Lila's passion for music emerged early; by the age of eight, she was singing traditional rancheras. After moving to the United States with her parents at fourteen, she honed her vocal skills in Los Angeles and learned English. A pivotal moment in her life occurred when she encountered the tragic story of a man whose son drowned while trying to cross the border, which deeply influenced her artistic direction.
Career
Lila Downs began her professional music career in 1994 with her debut album, "Ofrenda," which featured a blend of traditional songs and her own compositions in Spanish and indigenous languages. Although it did not achieve commercial success, it laid the groundwork for her future. Over the years, she released several acclaimed albums, including "La Sandunga," "Tree of Life: Árbol de la vida – Yutu tata," and "Una sangre: One Blood." Her music often reflects her commitment to social activism, addressing issues faced by indigenous peoples and celebrating her Mixtec heritage. Downs has received numerous accolades, including a Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album and recognition as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
Personal Life and Activism
Throughout her career, Lila Downs has been a vocal advocate for social issues, particularly those affecting indigenous communities. She adopted a child, Benito Dxuladi, with her partner Paul Cohen, who passed away in December 2022. Downs' music serves as a platform for her activism, as she seeks to raise awareness about cultural identity and social justice. She has participated in various campaigns, including the One Drop foundation to promote water preservation, showcasing her dedication to using her art for positive change.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Cambias mi mundo2026
- 1.Cambias mi mundo4:50
- 2.El beso4:05
- 3.La pochota4:43
- 4.El jardín del placer3:46
- 5.Tumba 75:01
- 6.Amo-te4:08
- 7.La pesca4:16
- 8.Falso amor4:25
- 9.Mal de amores3:33
- 10.El olivo y el maguey2:16
La Sánchez2023
- 1.Vas de salida3:02
- 2.Solita solita3:07
- 3.Dos corazones3:34
- 4.Conjuro3:05
- 5.Mandimbo2:35
- 6.Ni maíz2:59
- 7.Toda la noche2:44
- 8.El último trago3:17
- 9.La curación3:49
- 10.Fuiste feliz3:05
Desde Bellas Artes México2022
- 1.Semilla de Piedra4:14
- 2.Son del Chile Frito3:41
- 3.Espina3:52
- 4.Naila3:23
- 5.La Martiniana6:21
- 6.Tortolita3:59
- 7.Cucurrucucú Paloma5:32
- 8.Mandimbo3:35
- 9.Tiembla3:59
- 10.Urge3:32
- 11.Mezcalito5:46
- 12.El Último Trago2:49
- 13.La Cumbia del Mole4:08
- 14.Cariñito4:49
- 15.La Llorona4:43
- 16.Zapata Se Queda4:24
- 17.Paloma Negra5:10
Al chile2019
- 1.Las marmotas3:22
- 2.La campanera3:29
- 3.Cariñito3:40
- 4.Dear Someone3:29
- 5.Clandestino3:41
- 6.Dos botellas de mezcal3:27
- 7.La san marqueña3:11
- 8.Sé feliz3:05
- 9.Son del chile frito3:36
- 10.Los caminos de la vida3:25
- 11.La Llorona3:18
Salón, lágrimas y deseo2017
- 1.Urge3:25
- 2.Palabras de mujer3:54
- 3.Peligrosa4:01
- 4.Tus pencas3:23
- 5.La mentira4:30
- 6.El Querreque4:15
- 7.Inmortal3:41
- 8.Piensa en mí4:33
- 9.Envidia3:50
- 10.Seguiré mi viaje4:02
- 11.Ser paloma4:03
- 12.Son de Juárez4:36
- 13.Un mundo raro3:33
- 14.Peligrosa4:01
Balas y chocolate2015
- 1.Humito de copal3:52
- 2.Mano negra4:32
- 3.Balas y chocolate3:30
- 4.Una cruz de madera3:09
- 5.La farsante4:17
- 6.La burra3:18
- 7.Cuando me tocas tú4:35
- 8.La patria madrina4:18
- 9.Las casas de madera4:09
- 10.La promesa5:25
- 11.Son de difuntos3:37
- 12.Dulce veneno3:43
- 13.Viene la muerte echando rasero4:00
Raíz2014
- 1.La raíz de mi tierra4:13
- 2.Que nadie sepa mi sufrir3:51
- 3.Chacarera para mi vuelta3:12
- 4.La maza3:50
- 5.El día que me quieras4:12
- 6.Cumbia del mole3:01
- 7.Agua de rosas3:21
- 8.Sodade3:50
- 9.Puede ser3:29
- 10.Zapata se queda4:30
- 11.Tren del cielo3:31
- 12.Válgame Dios3:46
- 13.Y para qué4:07
- 14.Cómo será3:37
- 15.Dime quién soy yo4:26
- 16.Tierra de luz4:44
Canciones pa’ todo el año2012
- 1.Paloma negra4:32
- 2.La Llorona5:29
- 3.La iguana3:06
- 4.Corazoncito tirano4:00
- 5.Soy pescador3:59
- 6.La Martiniana5:48
- 7.La bamba4:14
- 8.La cucaracha4:41
- 9.La cumbia del mole4:09
- 10.La cama de piedra4:00
- 11.El relámpago3:07
- 12.La Tequilera2:46
- 13.Pa’ todo el año3:21
- 14.Árboles de la barranca2:53
- 15.Amorcito corazón3:23
- 16.Amarga Navidad4:19
Pecados y milagros2011
- 1.Mezcalito4:28
- 2.Tu cárcel3:44
- 3.Zapata se queda4:25
- 4.Vámonos3:32
- 5.Cucurrucucú paloma4:51
- 6.La reyna del inframundo3:11
- 7.Fallaste corazón4:45
- 8.Solamente un día3:43
- 9.Xochipitzahua1:13
- 10.Palomo del comalito4:08
- 11.Dios nunca muere4:56
- 12.Pecadora4:08
- 13.Cruz de olvido4:49
- 14.Misa oaxaqueña3:24
En París – Live à FIP2010
- 1.El relámpago3:56
- 2.La línea4:48
- 3.La Martiniana4:31
- 4.La cumbia del mole4:09
- 5.Paloma negra4:32
- 6.Minimum Wage4:27
- 7.Justicia5:14
- 8.Yo envidio el viento4:06
- 9.La cucaracha4:59
- 10.Los pollos3:48
- 11.Naila3:32
- 12.Arenita azul3:26
- 13.La iguana4:32
- 14.La Llorona5:48
- 15.Perro negro7:02
Shake Away / Ojo de culebra2008
- 1.Little Man3:46
- 2.Ojo de culebra4:03
- 3.Minimum Wage4:08
- 4.Perro negro3:01
- 5.Yo envidio el viento3:45
- 6.Skeleton3:02
- 7.Black Magic Woman3:12
- 8.I Would Never4:44
- 9.Justicia4:28
- 10.Taco de palabras3:04
- 11.Los pollos3:16
- 12.Tierra de luz3:39
- 13.Silent Thunder4:43
- 14.Shake Away3:43
- 15.I Envy the Wind3:46
- 16.Nothing But the Truth3:54
The Very Best Of: El alma de Lila Downs2008
- 1.La cama de piedra4:00
- 2.Naila3:13
- 3.El venadito2:31
- 4.Paloma negra4:32
- 5.La cucaracha4:42
- 6.La Llorona5:30
- 7.Agua de rosas4:23
- 8.Dignificada3:48
- 9.La niña3:09
- 10.La martiniana5:49
- 11.Arenita azul2:51
- 12.La cumbia del mole4:13
- 13.La línea5:02
- 14.Cielo rojo3:59
- 15.Tu recuerdo y yo3:21
- 16.Un poco más4:16
- 17.Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps4:47
- 18.Canción mixteca2:55
- 19.El relámpago
- 20.Penas del alma
- 21.La cama de piedra
- 22.Tu recuerdo y yo
- 23.La Martiniana
- 24.La Iguana
- 25.La cucaracha
- 26.Paloma negra
- 27.La cumbia del mole
- 28.La llorona
- 29.Viborita
- 30.La sandunga
- 31.El corrido de Tacha "La Teibolera"
La cantina: “Entre copa y copa…”2006
Tracklist not collected yet.
Una sangre: One Blood2003
Tracklist not collected yet.
Border: La línea2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tree of Life: Árbol de la vida – Yutu tata2000
Tracklist not collected yet.
La sandunga1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
Trazos1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Azuláo: En vivo con Lila Downs1996
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ofrenda1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
El demagogo2016
Tracklist not collected yet.
Zapata se queda2012
Tracklist not collected yet.
Palomo del comalito2011
Tracklist not collected yet.
Raíz nunca me fui2024
Tracklist not collected yet.
Live Session2006
Tracklist not collected yet.
Label
- Record label
- Sony Music
Achievements
- Award
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album
- Award
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- Award
- honorary doctor of the Berklee College of Music
- Award
- Leading Ladies of Entertainment
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Ana Lila Downs Sánchez
Ana Lila Downs Sánchez is a Mexican singer-songwriter, actress, and anthropologist. She performs her own compositions and the works of others in multiple genres, as well as tapping into Mexican traditional and popular music. She also incorporates indigenous Mexican influences and has recorded songs in many indigenous languages such as Mixtec, Zapotec, Mayan, Nahuatl and Purépecha. Born and raised in Oaxaca, she primarily studied at the Institute of Arts by Oaxaca and briefly attended the University of Minnesota, before withdrawing to focus on her musical career. She soon began performing in the traditional music scene of Oaxaca City.
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