The roots of the special singer Lila Downs lie in two countries: her mother was a Mixteca Indian woman from Mexico, her father an American of Scottish descent. Downs spent her first years in Mexico, but after the divorce of her parents she moved to the United States and received an American education. This led to an identity crisis around her twentieth, after which she decided to study Anthropology
… and Singing and to immerse herself in Mexican-Indian culture. Today, Downs resides in Mexico with her husband, the saxophonist, musical director and producer Paul Cohen. Downs sings (and raps!) In Spanish, English and various Indian dialects, accompanied by an excellent band of multi-instrumentalists from various (Latin) American countries. On the album One Blood / Una Sangre, her style is a unique blend of traditional Mexican folk music, American blues and jazz, Arabic elements, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, hip-hop, reggae and gospel. Blessed with a long-range, dark-hued singing voice, Downs harnesses all the expressiveness to sound like a tender and sensual Sade as well as a confident and powerful Mercedes Sosa. Downs' hip-swinging music is full of joyful passion and temperament. (SvdP) take advantage of all the means of expression so that she can sound like a tender and sensual Sade as well as a confident and powerful Mercedes Sosa. Downs' hip swinging music is full of joyful passion and temperament. (SvdP) take advantage of all the means of expression so that she can sound like a tender and sensual Sade as well as a confident and powerful Mercedes Sosa. Downs' hip-swinging music is full of joyful passion and temperament. (SvdP)more
