Discoteca Batalla

About the Artist
We have precious few moments of true musical discovery in our lives, but when that one song or singer lodges in the heart it is a treasure found and to be kept forever.

A rare few artists command such a response; women like Amalia Rodrigues, Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline or Aretha Franklin, perhaps, whose emotional power is equal to their magnificent voices. We merely describe their talents in adjectives that can never match the thrill of hearing them sing.

Hearing Perla Batalla's voice for the first time is an epiphany. One may go to hear the songs, but you end up feeling the joy and the pathos in the music like never before. There is a tone, a depth of emotion and a sublime expressiveness along with her transcendent voice that makes the experience unforgettable. On one hand there is that powerful vocal instrument, but on the other is her intelligence and instincts. This combination in Perla makes her singing a true gift.

The seemingly effortless ability to make her music live and breathe is no accident of birth. Nor was it arrived at without much trial and tribulation. It is the product of practice, much experience, a love for singing and the good fortune of being born into a close family that valued the power of song. She was born in Los Angeles, California, to a father immersed in music; a Mexican singer and radio personality who also owned a bustling record store called Discoteca Batalla. At the store, literally at her Mother's knee, Perla was exposed to an education of non-stop music that cut across genres and languages. As a kid she heard everything from Javier Solis and Lucha Reyes to Muddy Waters and John Coltrane.

Her far-ranging influences are reflected in the eclectic choices of songs she writes, arranges and performs today, from traditional Latino melodies to bluesy ballads with a contemporary twist. Yet, it is that voice that brings each song to a new light.

Perla's musical education began in the record store but took on formality as she joined the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute on scholarship and eventually garnered roles in television and feature films doing vocals. Eventually she began touring and singing backup vocals with the legendary Leonard Cohen.

In an enlightening five-year period of musical self-discovery, with Leonard's encouragement, Perla began to compose, arrange and write lyrics to her own compositions. She lived in Mexico and San Francisco, continuing to perform and honing her craft, singing everything from Gershwin at the Vine Street Grill to Mexican lullabies at LunaPark. She sang with k.d. lang, the Gypsy Kings, Was (not was), Iggy Pop and others.

Still, she wanted to perform her own music and set out on a solo career with her first album Perla Batalla on Discovery-Warner in I993. Not surprisingly, the critics loved it, calling her singing "sublime" and her talent "stunning." She has continued performing at clubs, at festivals, at concert halls and all the while gaining believers in her stylish and sophisticated singing.

Her newest CD release "Mestiza, co-written with David Batteau, is an inspired pilgrimage retracing mystic paths leading to the composite of myths, colors and cultures known as Mexico. The stops along the way evoke images of an ancient journey...

There's a girl in stone
Trying to make her peace
With a buried mirror
Far across the sea
Where the wind blows backwards
Where everything goes backwards
Oh, oh, Iberia (from "Iberia")
Mestiza celebrates a powerful civilization born from the explosive marriage of separate worlds. A resplendent, vibrant culture nourished by mysticism, imagery, magic and myth.

Perla's road to becoming an artist has been highlighted by delving into her cultural roots where rich soil awaited. The homage to her Latin background has opened up an entire world of music and has been an inspiration for some of her finest work. Early on, she merely sang beautifully, now she brings increased power and understanding to the so

Tracks:

Cuando Sale la Luna
La Llorona
Mexico de mi Alma
Las Mananitas
Cine de Llantos
Que te ha Dado Esa Mujer
Reloj
Sentimientos
Cucurrucucu Paloma
Guantanamera
La Barca de Oro

Album Description

World-class vocalist Perla Batalla's eagerly awaited follow-up to her acclaimed "Mestiza" song cycle is an innovative undertaking of contagious rhythm and pure joy. Named for her parents Latin American record shop, "Discoteca Batalla" is a compilation of original compositions interspersed with traditional Spanish language classics arranged to reflect a rich bicultural personal and musical heritage.

Customer Reviews:

Another Incredible Perla Album.......2002-10-23

This is just another example of Perla Batalla's absolutely incredible voice, not to mention the outstanding music and lyrics. She and the very talented band bring an excitement to music that is truly rare, and the treat is to have it on a cd to enjoy whenever I want. I could tell you it is fantastic and special and beautiful and meaningful and that it is pure joy to listen to, but you really should find out for yourself.

These roots are made of gold.......2002-10-08

Perla Batalla takes the rich traditions of her Mexican roots and has spun pure gold on this album. While much of the material is original it is the pristine treatments of sweet standards that take this disc right to the top of musical achievements for this year. That this singer has not won a grammy or latin grammy is an indictment of the corrupt, teen pandering system that can overlook one of this planet's very best singers.
Let us begin with the voice: Perla Batalla's voice is the Chateau Lafite Rothchild wine, the Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, the Mercedes-Benz' Maybach automobile of vocal instruments. She can reach the back row of the balcony without raising her heart beat and she can bring real tears with ballads so sweet they make your heart ache. The purity and power of Perla's pipes is rare and wonderful to behold. Secondly, there is the choice of marvelous material which gives freedom to the perfect vocalist to cover the gamut of emotion. You can hear a fine voice on American Idol but you can only put love into lyrics like Perla by travelling a long musical journey filled with setbacks, surprises, good friends, family and a deep abiding love for singing.
"Cuando Sale La Luna" has an meringue in its romantic soul and "La Llorona" finally tells the Mexican folk tale of the sorrowful woman with style and compassion. "Mexico de mi Alma," is a powerful,contemporary anthem to the mother country and the silken "Cucurrucucu Paloma" has long been owned by Ms. Batalla. Yet, these gems are not the highest of the heights on the disc. Little "Mananitas," the simple birthday song is so beautiful as to take your breath away. Only such a lovely rendition could make me happy on yet one more of mine own. My own personal favorite "La Barca de Oro" is destined to strum many a heart string. This ballad, so tender, so loving is performed to utter perfection here. If you can listen to this exquisite performance without a lump in your throat you better check for a pulse. I have honestly set my CD player to program number eleven six times running just to luxuriate in the tones like a hot bath of emotion.
There is more, much more with a little chile on it at "Discoteca Batalla." "Reloj," Sentimientos" and "Cine de Llantos" all shine but the much played "Guantanamera" is made new and poignant in these trying times by this sparkling arrangement. Ms. Batalla says in the notes that this album is a labor of love, a love for her family, her Spanish language and music. She has done them all proud. What we have here is deeply satisfying, a work that should achieve deserved longevity among a great variety of listeners. It is a group of songs that should find listeners in cafe's in Silverlake, in apartment buildings in Pico Union, in grand hotels in Montecito, in kitchens in Ojai and patios in Oxnard. It should be heard in New York City, in New Orleans, in Mexico City, in Barcelona, and it will be heard in Glassell Park many, many times. The dedication to quality and obvious love and respect for the material shines through every song. Even though my Spanish is strictly drawn from growing up in Los Angeles I feel the emotion even though sometimes the words are unclear. It is a language I love, respect and recognize as the best set to music in the world. I liken my affection but poor understanding to some favorite lines in the film "Shawshank Redemption": "I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singin' about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I like to think they were singin' about something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words and makes your heart ache because of it." Indeed, when Perla sings material as wonderful as this it is beyond the power of words. This album ranks with the great Los Lobos folklorico album "Del Este De Los Angeles," Juan Luis Guerra's "Bachata Rosa," and Vicente Fernandez' "La Muerte De Un Gallero" as my favorite Spanish language albums ever.