Ile | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar |
Also known as | PG-13 |
Born | Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico | April 28, 1989
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2004–present |
Labels | Sony Latin |
Member of | Calle 13 |
Website | ilevitable |
Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar [1] (born April 28, 1989), known professionally as Ile (stylized as iLe), is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. She began her musical career during her teenage years as a backing vocalist for Calle 13 under the stage name PG-13, a group she took part in for 10 years alongside her brothers René Pérez Joglar (Residente) and Eduardo Cabra Martínez (Visitante).
Her debut solo album, Ilevitable was released in June 2016. It won a Grammy in the category Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album in 2017. For it, Ile was also nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards as "Best New Artist".
Ile has performed in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Europe.
Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar is the daughter of Flor Joglar de Gracia, an actress who formed part of the theatre troupe Teatro del Sesenta. Her father, José Cabra González is a creative advertiser and musician. From a very young age, Cabra showed great interest in music. She began to sing even while still learning how to speak, phonetically imitating the voices of famous singers or movie soundtracks that appealed to her. During this time, she would often sing at private parties and family gatherings.
While attending Josefita Monserrate de Sellés elementary school, she joined the School Choir and the Handbell Choir headed by Evangeline Oliver. For eight years, she studied piano at El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. [2] Cabra inherited her voice from her mother and her grandmother, Flor Amelia de Gracia, teacher, and composer, who is also featured on the back cover of Calle 13's self-titled debut album. [3] At age 16, as a second year high school student, her brother Residente picked her up one day after class and asked her to sing "La Aguacatona", a song he had written for a demo he was working on with her brother Visitante. She began to take private singing lessons with renowned Puerto Rican soprano Hilda Ramos and then additional vocal studies with Cuban singer Gema Corredera, a member of the group Gema y Pavel.
From that point on, she began to collaborate as a vocalist for her brothers' new musical project. "La Aguacatona" caught the attention of White Lion Records. After recording a second song, "La Tribu", she was immediately nicknamed PG-13 by her cousin Ian Marcel Cardozo Joglar, since she was under-aged at the time, she joined the group and PG-13 is normally used to classify movies that require parental guidance for children under 13.
During 2005, she was active in the late-night circuit of shows and presentations in various venues throughout the island, which would help give form and structure to what was to become Calle 13. At only 16 years of age, she found herself singing on stage in front of thousands at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, as part of Calle 13's first concert. She chose to interpret "Puro Teatro", a song previously recorded by La Lupe, which is one of her favorite artists.
On May 2, 2009, Calle 13 performed once again at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot for the release of their third album Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo. "In The Heights" playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda was invited to make an appearance after Residente had seen his acceptance speech for Best Original Score at the 62nd Tony Awards. [4] [5] [6] Backstage, Flor Joglar de Gracia, mother of Ile and Residente, revealed to Miranda their connection to Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party. [7] [8] Miranda and Residente have since confirmed their family relation through social media. [9] [ non-primary source needed ] [10] [ non-primary source needed ] [11] [12] [ non-primary source needed ] [13] [ non-primary source needed ] [14]
PG-13 continued traveling with Calle 13 during her junior year of high school. At that time, she had the opportunity to visit other countries and share the stage with some of her most admired artists, such as Gustavo Santaolalla, Kevin Johansen, and Susana Baca.
When she was 18, PG-13 sang at the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards presentation held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, as part of Calle 13's interpretation of "Pa'l Norte" which opened with PG-13 performing a solo a cappella . [15]
In November 2011, Calle 13 opened the Gala at the 12th edition of the Latin Grammy Awards with the theme "Latinoamérica" performed with a symphony orchestra arrangement by Alex Berti and conducted by Musical Director Gustavo Dudamel. According to Latino Fox News, PG-13's high notes left everyone in silence. [16]
By the end of 2012, she participated in the traditional Banco Popular TV Christmas Special which has been produced and transmitted each year since 1993. On this occasion, for the special "Hecho con Sabor a Puerto Rico" Cabra had an impressive performance singing "La Pared" [17] which was described by the Diario of NY as "superb" 4 La Pared is one of the first successful songs written by Puerto Rican composer Roberto Angleró.
In 2010, Kevin Johansen invited Cabra as a guest performer during his presentation at the Buenos Aires National Theatre where together they sang "Logo," a song included in Johansen's repertoire and recording; The Nada Liniers: Live in Buenos Aires. [18]
In 2012, boxing champion Miguel Cotto chose Cabra to sing the Puerto Rican National Anthem during the introduction ceremony prior to his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Her interpretation was widely acclaimed, including by the legendary Bob Dylan, who in 2015 mentioned her in his MusiCares Person of the Year speech: "I was in a boxing match a few years ago watching Floyd Mayweather fight a boxer from Puerto Rico and someone sang the Puerto Rican national anthem. And it was beautiful, it was heartfelt, it was moving". [19]
In 2014, she collaborated with Gustavo Cordera on the theme "Estoy Real" for the "Cordera Vivo" production, which was recorded at La Trastienda Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. One year later, in 2015, she was invited by Jorge Drexler to sing on stage the song "Olas y Arena" by Puerto Rican composer Sylvia Rexach during Drexler's concert in Puerto Rico as part of the Uruguayan singer's tour.
In 2017, she guests sang on "Hijos del Canãveral", the closing track of her brother's debut solo album. [20]
In March 2022, she was featured on a single by Adrian Quesada called “Mentiras con Cariño." [21] [22] [23]
In August 2015, Cabra announced that she was changing her stage name to Ile and was working on her first solo album. The recording took place during that entire year under the production of Ile and Ismael Cancel. [24]
In May 2016, Ilevitable was released to the praise of critics and peers. According to NPR "the album established her immediately as a first-class interpreter of the classic sounds that flow through Latin America." [25] Jon Pareles of The New York Times described it as "a knowingly retro survey of Latin music's past, full of romance and a longing that can turn despondent. She sings richly orchestrated boleros, delicate ballads and percussive boogaloo and mambo, without a hint of either irony or naïveté." [26]
Some of Puerto Rico's most prominent musicians collaborated on the album: Piro Rodríguez, Charlie Sepulveda, Bayrex Jiménez, Eduardo Cabra, Fofé Abreu from Circo, Louis García and the late Cheo Feliciano in one of his last recordings ever.
The first single released was "Caníbal" and it was accompanied by a dramatic video directed by Argentinian Juan Manuel Costa. The video was described as an "animated Frida Kahlo painting" [27] and was positively reviewed. [28] Her second single and video, "Te Quiero Con Bugalú," was released on July 7.
Also in July 2016, Ile embarked on her first tour with her new band, performing the songs from iLevitable. On July 7, she performed at the Highline Ballroom as part of the Latin Alternative Music Conference Official Showcase. [29] July 8 she performed her first solo show outside of Puerto Rico—live at SOB's, also in New York. [30] Later that month she participated in the Nuevofest in Philadelphia and in the Millennium Park Summer Series in Chicago. [31] August 4 Ile performed at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors series, presented and recorded by NPR. [32]
In September 2016, The Recording Academy nominated Ile for her first Latin Grammy as Best New Artist.
In February 2017, Ilevitable won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.
On May 20, 2019, Ile released her sophomore album, Almadura, a title that literally translates to "strong soul" and is a play on words of the Spanish word for "armor" ("armadura"). [33] The album contains modern and electronic takes on Puerto Rican and other Caribbean musical styles and folklore, referencing traditional musical genres like bomba and featuring artists like jazz and salsa pianist Eddie Palmieri. [2] [33]
Almadura not only reflects on Puerto Rico's cultural roots but on its present and future, as well, notably in the wake of Hurricane Maria. [2] [33] The video for the lead single, "Odio," reenacts the Cerro Maravilla murders as a message of empowerment and solidarity in response to the aftermath of the storm. [2] [34]
In a year-end essay for Slate , Ann Powers cited Almadura as proof that the format is not dead but rather undergoing a "metamorphosis", with artists such as iLe utilizing the concept album through the culturally relevant autobiographical narratives. [35]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022) |
Her third album, Nacarile, was released on October 21, 2022. [36]
Nacarile, a substantial 11-track project, is the outcome. It incorporates iLe's love of traditional Latin American music, Puerto Rican folk percussion, and even some of the hip-hop she and her brothers used to perform in the renowned group Calle 13 when she was younger. However, Nacarile also fuses new genres into iLe's most inventive, forward-thinking effort yet by fusing astral synths, irreverent art pop, and prismatic melodies. [37]
A song, Afilando los cuchillos , (English: "Sharpening the knives") with lyrics by Bad Bunny, Residente, and iLe, was released during the Telegramgate protests. [38] [33]
Dr. Gilberto Concepción de Gracia was a lawyer, journalist, author, politician, former senator and founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party. He is the great uncle of maternal siblings Residente and ILE of Calle 13, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican alternative hip-hop band formed by stepbrothers Residente and Visitante, along with their half-sister iLe, also known as PG-13.
Calle 13 is the debut studio album by Puerto Rican urban/hip hop band Calle 13, released on November 29, 2005, by White Lion Records. The album was recorded in the wake of the group's online success with the song "Querido FBI". The album received positive reviews, with critics praising Residente's lyrical style and the musical diversity displayed on the record.
"Atrévete-te-te" is a Grammy-nominated song by Puerto Rican urban duo Calle 13 from their eponymous debut album Calle 13, released in February 2006, by White Lion Records. It is one of the duo’s best-known songs. It was a hit single in many Latin American countries. The video for this single won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video at the 2006 Latin Grammy Awards. The song is featured in the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV and was later named the second-best single of the decade by Latin music website Club Fonograma.
Residente o Visitante is the second studio album by Puerto Rican urban/hip hop band Calle 13, released on April 24, 2007, by Sony BMG. Recorded in various countries while on tour in promotion of the duo's debut album Calle 13, Residente o Visitante marked an evolution in the band's musical and lyrical style. While writing the album, the duo took a trip to South America to explore areas populated by Latin America's indigenous and African-descended minorities, a journey that greatly influenced the music on Residente o Visitante. The album features six guest artists and delves into genres such as tango, bossa nova, cumbia, and electronica.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker, rapper, and librettist. He created the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015), and the soundtracks for the animated films Moana (2016), Vivo, and Encanto. He has received numerous accolades including a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Grammy Awards, along with nominations for two Academy Awards. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018.
Los de atrás vienen conmigo is the third studio album by Puerto Rican alternative hip hop band Calle 13 and was released on October 21, 2008, by Sony Music Latin. This album is a bit more colorful than the previous, although dark humor continues to be the tone. The album has a fusion of rhythms the band discovered during their visits to several countries. They fuse rhythms of 'cumbia villera' native to Argentina, and rhythms of Balkan music. The album features collaborations with Rubén Blades, Café Tacuba, and Afrobeta. It won Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards and five Latin Grammys including Album of the Year at the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Pedro Francisco Rodríguez Sosa, known professionally as Pedro Capó, is a Puerto Rican singer who is a grandson of singer Bobby Capó and former Miss Puerto Rico Irma Nydia Vázquez. He studied at Colegio Calasanz in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.
René Pérez Joglar, known professionally as Residente, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker. He is best known as one of the founders of the alternative rap band Calle 13. Residente released five albums with Calle 13 before announcing his solo career in 2015. Residente released his debut solo album in 2017. He has won four Grammy Awards and 28 Latin Grammy Awards—more than any other Latin artist. Residente has also delved into producing documentaries including Sin Mapa (2009) and Residente (2017) and has directed some of his own music videos.
Eduardo José Cabra Martínez, better known by his stage name "Visitante Calle 13", "Visitante", or more recently, "Cabra", is a Puerto Rican producer, musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He rose to fame due to the Puerto Rican band Calle 13, which he co-founded with his step brother René Pérez Joglar ("Residente").
Throughout the thirteen-year history of the Latin Grammy Awards, multiple records have been set. This page includes competitive awards only and does not include special awards such as Lifetime Achievement awards or any other non-competitive awards presented by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
"Latinoamérica" is a song by Puerto Rican alternative hip hop band Calle 13. It was released on September 27, 2011 as the fifth single from their fourth studio album, Entren Los Que Quieran (2010). It was written and produced by Rafael Arcaute and Calle 13, and features additional vocals from other Latinoamerican recording artists. These artists include Peruvian Susana Baca, Colombian Totó la Momposina and Brazilian Maria Rita. The song won Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the Latin Grammy Awards of 2011. The song is important in that it touches on many underlying historical, social, and political themes present throughout Latin America.
Alejandro Santiago Ciena was a Latin Grammy Award-winner music video director. He was the director of the production company Crema Batida Films, and also has credits as a second unit director for the Puerto-Rican film Manuela y Manuel (2007). Santiago Ciena was best known for his work directing music videos for the Puerto-Rican band Calle 13; Santiago Ciena was the cousin of René Pérez (Residente), the band's lead singer. The first video he directed for the band was "Calma Pueblo", the lead single of Entren Los Que Quieran in 2010. The video presented Calle 13 as terrorists dressed as nuns and was deemed as "violent" by Judy Cantor-Navas of Billboard magazine. Santiago Ciena, commented about the concept of the video, which uses nudity as a representation of freedom: "We wanted the lyrics and the visuals to be strong... we wanted it to be real, but still have a positive message to the show the union of people who fight to produce art." The video was recorded in Milla de Oro, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was intended as a tribute to the work of American photographer Spencer Tunick. Calle 13 and Santiago received the Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for "Calma Pueblo".
Residente is the debut solo album from Puerto Rican rapper of same name, released on March 31, 2017, by Sony Music Latin during the hiatus of his main band Calle 13.
"Desencuentro" is the second single by Puerto Rican rapper Residente, released on March 24, 2017, as the second single from his 2017 debut solo album Residente. It features French indie pop singer Soko and was nominated for the 2017 Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter Residente has released one studio album, twenty singles, and three music videos as soloist.
"A Forgotten Spot (Olvidado)" is a song performed by American composer Lin-Manuel Miranda along with Puerto Rican singers Zion & Lennox, De La Ghetto, Ivy Queen, PJ Sin Suela and Lucecita Benítez. It was released on September 20, 2018 by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. The song was written by Miranda, along with the rest of the collaborators.
Pedro Juan Vázquez Bragan, known professionally as PJ Sin Suela, is a Puerto Rican rapper and doctor. Born in The Bronx, New York City and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he graduated from medical school in 2015 before pursuing a musical career. He is known for his socially-conscious lyrics and his collaboration with Bad Bunny and Ñejo on the single "Cual Es Tu Plan?" reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in August 2018. The song also reached number 17 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart.
Las Letras Ya No Importan is the second studio album by Puerto Rican rapper Residente, released on February 22, 2024, through Sony Music Latin and 5020 Records. It is Residente's first full-length project in almost seven years since the release of his debut solo album Resīdεntә (2017).