Perla Batalla
Encyclopedia
Perla Batalla is a Mexican-American singer-songwriter
.
Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla was born in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was a musician and record store owner. She first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen
who later encouraged Perla to embark on a solo career. Perla released her self-titled debut on the Warner/Discovery label in 1994. The critics loved it, calling her singing "sublime" and her talent "stunning". Like many original artists today, Perla opted to go independent early on, releasing her second album, "Mestiza" in 1998 on her own Mechuda Music label. An immediate favorite on Public Radio shows throughout the U.S. "Mestiza" was selected as Best Independent Release of the Year by the editorial staff at Amazon.com. "Heaven and Earth" followed in 2000, along with a nod to Perla as Amazon's Emerging Artist of the Year. "Mestiza" and "Heaven and Earth", both co-written with David Batteau, offer a vision of a resplendent culture born from the explosive marriage of separate worlds – a vibrant culture still nourished and inhabited by mysticism, imagery, magic and myth.
Perla's eagerly awaited follow-up album to the "Mestiza" song cycle is an innovative undertaking of contagious rhythm and pure joy. Recorded in 2002 as an homage to her parents' record shop of the same name, "Discoteca Batalla" is a compilation of new compositions interspersed with pristine treatments of traditional Spanish language classics arranged to reflect Perla's rich bi-cultural personal and musical heritage. Perla has taken the timeless songs heard growing up and molded their rhythmic and melodic forms to create a stunning cross-pollination of trend and tradition. Since its release, "Discoteca Batalla" has consistently appeared on "best of" lists throughout the country. In 2004 Perla was invited by The Kennedy Center to perform songs from the album as artist in residence.
Perla's 2005 tribute to Leonard Cohen
entitled "Bird on the Wire" features a Who's Who list of celebrated and world class musicians, including DavidHidalgo (of Los Lobos), Bill Gable, Vinnie Coliauta and Greg Leisz, to name a few. The album has been embraced with open arms by the Cohen loving public at large and critics alike. As "Sing Out" magazine's Michael Tearson
wrote: "Beautifully conceived and executed, Bird on the Wire is a rewarding listening experience I find myself returning to frequently. It is every bit the equal of Jennifer Warnes' classic Cohen tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat. For those uninitiated to the glories of the songs of Leonard Cohen this is a wonderful introduction. For the rest of us it is simply heavenly". In celebration of its release, Perla produced a sold-out concert at UCLA's Royce Hall with special guests Michael Mc Donald, Jackson Browne, Bill Frisell, Don Was, Marta Gonzalez, Howard Tate, Javier Colis and Julie Christensen.
As a well-respected interpreter of Leonard Cohen's music, Batalla has found herself co-starring in Cohen inspired concert series throughout North America, Australia and Europe in venues as diverse as The Sydney Opera House, The Brighton Dome, and Spain's 12th century Lorcan castle, "Fortress of the Sun". In 2006, Perla's concert film appearances in Hal Wilner's "I'm Your Man" featured her in a cast that included Rufus
and Martha Wainwright
, The Handsome Family
, Nick Cave
, Beth Orton
, Antony
, Teddy and Linda Thompson
and Jarvis Cocker
. Spain's 2007 concert and film "Acordes con Leonard Cohen" had Perla sharing the stage in Barcelona with Jackson Browne
, John Cale
, Javier Colis, Ducende and Toti Soler.
2008 has brought more film work for Perla; this time on the other side of the camera as well, arranging and musical directing a comedic segment for Will Ferrell's "Stepbrothers". She is also back on the road (highlights include an impromptu performance with the legendary Quincy Troupe at the Border Book Festival in New Mexico) and has again returned to the studio, currently completing post production on her 6th CD, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation, by Perla Batalla" and preparing for the first European release of "Bird on the Wire, The songs of Leonard Cohen" by the Spanish record label, Discmedi.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla was born in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was a musician and record store owner. She first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
who later encouraged Perla to embark on a solo career. Perla released her self-titled debut on the Warner/Discovery label in 1994. The critics loved it, calling her singing "sublime" and her talent "stunning". Like many original artists today, Perla opted to go independent early on, releasing her second album, "Mestiza" in 1998 on her own Mechuda Music label. An immediate favorite on Public Radio shows throughout the U.S. "Mestiza" was selected as Best Independent Release of the Year by the editorial staff at Amazon.com. "Heaven and Earth" followed in 2000, along with a nod to Perla as Amazon's Emerging Artist of the Year. "Mestiza" and "Heaven and Earth", both co-written with David Batteau, offer a vision of a resplendent culture born from the explosive marriage of separate worlds – a vibrant culture still nourished and inhabited by mysticism, imagery, magic and myth.
Perla's eagerly awaited follow-up album to the "Mestiza" song cycle is an innovative undertaking of contagious rhythm and pure joy. Recorded in 2002 as an homage to her parents' record shop of the same name, "Discoteca Batalla" is a compilation of new compositions interspersed with pristine treatments of traditional Spanish language classics arranged to reflect Perla's rich bi-cultural personal and musical heritage. Perla has taken the timeless songs heard growing up and molded their rhythmic and melodic forms to create a stunning cross-pollination of trend and tradition. Since its release, "Discoteca Batalla" has consistently appeared on "best of" lists throughout the country. In 2004 Perla was invited by The Kennedy Center to perform songs from the album as artist in residence.
Perla's 2005 tribute to Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
entitled "Bird on the Wire" features a Who's Who list of celebrated and world class musicians, including DavidHidalgo (of Los Lobos), Bill Gable, Vinnie Coliauta and Greg Leisz, to name a few. The album has been embraced with open arms by the Cohen loving public at large and critics alike. As "Sing Out" magazine's Michael Tearson
Michael Tearson
Michael Tearson is an American pioneer underground DJ, concert and special appearance host, author and actor.-Biography:Michael Tearson was born in 1948, Baltimore, Maryland. Attended The Park School, Brooklandville, Maryland. His father had attended the University of Pennsylvania and his mother...
wrote: "Beautifully conceived and executed, Bird on the Wire is a rewarding listening experience I find myself returning to frequently. It is every bit the equal of Jennifer Warnes' classic Cohen tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat. For those uninitiated to the glories of the songs of Leonard Cohen this is a wonderful introduction. For the rest of us it is simply heavenly". In celebration of its release, Perla produced a sold-out concert at UCLA's Royce Hall with special guests Michael Mc Donald, Jackson Browne, Bill Frisell, Don Was, Marta Gonzalez, Howard Tate, Javier Colis and Julie Christensen.
As a well-respected interpreter of Leonard Cohen's music, Batalla has found herself co-starring in Cohen inspired concert series throughout North America, Australia and Europe in venues as diverse as The Sydney Opera House, The Brighton Dome, and Spain's 12th century Lorcan castle, "Fortress of the Sun". In 2006, Perla's concert film appearances in Hal Wilner's "I'm Your Man" featured her in a cast that included Rufus
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
and Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
, The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...
, Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
, Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
, Antony
Antony
Antony is an English language variant of Anthony. It can refer to:People* Mark Antony, Roman politician and general* Antony Flew, a contemporary British philosopher* Antony Gormley, a contemporary British sculptor...
, Teddy and Linda Thompson
Linda Thompson
Linda Diane Thompson is an American actress, lyricist and beauty pageant winner who rose to international fame as Elvis Presley's long time girlfriend after he separated from his wife.-Pageants:...
and Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
. Spain's 2007 concert and film "Acordes con Leonard Cohen" had Perla sharing the stage in Barcelona with Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
, Javier Colis, Ducende and Toti Soler.
2008 has brought more film work for Perla; this time on the other side of the camera as well, arranging and musical directing a comedic segment for Will Ferrell's "Stepbrothers". She is also back on the road (highlights include an impromptu performance with the legendary Quincy Troupe at the Border Book Festival in New Mexico) and has again returned to the studio, currently completing post production on her 6th CD, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation, by Perla Batalla" and preparing for the first European release of "Bird on the Wire, The songs of Leonard Cohen" by the Spanish record label, Discmedi.
Discography
- Perla Batalla (1993)
- Mestiza (1999)
- Heaven and Earth (2000)
- Discoteca Batalla (2002)
- What I Did On My Summer Vacation, by Perla Batalla (2005)
- Bird On The Wire: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (2005)
Appearances
- World Festival of Sacred Music - the Americas, Los Angeles (2000)
- Selected Artists: World Festival of Sacred Music - Los Angeles (2002)
- The Napa Valley Opera House - Napa, CA (2003)
- Univ of Hawaii, Manoa, HI (2003)
- Prospect Park - Brooklyn, NY (2003)
- Philadelphia Museum of Art (2003)
- The Getty Center - L.A., CA (2003)
- The Knitting Factory - NYC (2004)
- Joe's Pub - NYC (2004)
- Satalla - NYC (2004)
- The Brighton Dome - Brighton England (2004)
- The Kennedy Center - Washington, D.C. (2004)
- UCLA, Royce Hall - Los Angeles (2004)
- Riverside Municipal AuditoriumRiverside Municipal AuditoriumRiverside Municipal Auditorium and Soldiers' Memorial Hall is an entertainment venue in Riverside, California, United States, dedicated in 1929. It is owned by the City of Riverside, but is privately managed....
- (w/Los Lobos) (2004) - Big Top Chautauqua - Bayfield Wisconsin (2004)
- The Hothouse - Chicago, Illinois (2004)
- The Sydney Opera House - Sydney Australia (2006)
- L.A. County Museum of Art (2006)
- Leonard Cohen: I'm Your ManLeonard Cohen: I'm Your ManLeonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is a 2005 film by Lian Lunson about the life and career of Leonard Cohen. It is based on a January 2005 tribute show at the Sydney Opera House titled "Came So Far for Beauty", which was produced by Hal Willner...
OST (2006)