ILE (singer)

ILE
Birth name	Ileana Cabra Joglar
Born	April 28, 1989 Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Genres	Boleros, World Music, urban
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, lyricist
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2004–present
Associated acts	Calle 13

Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar^[1] (April 28, 1989), better known as «ILE», is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, and vocalist who for 10 years was the sole female singer of the Puerto Rican band Calle 13, performing along with her brothers René Pérez Joglar ("Residente") and Eduardo Cabra Joglar ("Visitante"). She is currently working on the production of her first solo album.^[2]

Biography

Background and artistic beginnings

ILE 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. Since a very young age, Ileana 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 in private parties and family gatherings.

Once in Josefita Monserrate de Sellés elementary school, she joined the School Choir and the Handbell Choir headed by Evangeline Oliver. Also, she began to study piano at the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory. Ileana inherited her voice from her mother and her grandmother, Flor Amelia de Gracia Barreiro (teacher and composer) At age 16, as a second year high school student, her brother Rene 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 his brother Eduardo. She began to take private singing lessons with renowned Puerto Rican soprano Hilda Ramos and then additional vocal studies with Cuban singer Gema Corredera, member of the group Gema y Pavel.

Calle 13

Early years

From that point on, she began to collaborate as vocalist for the new musical project created by her famous brothers. Without any expectations of success, “La Aguacatona” caught the attention of White Lion Records, opening the door to what was to become a musical sensation. 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.

She began with traveling on tour with the group during junior year in 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.

Latin Grammy Awards performances

One of her most memorable performances took place when she was 18 and 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 belting out a powerful solo a cappella.^[3]

On 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.^[4]

Solo career

First Steps

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” Ileana had an impressive performance singing “La Pared”^[5] 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.

Collaborations

In 2010 she was invited by Kevin Johansen 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.^[6]

In 2012, she was chosen by famous boxing champion Miguel Cotto to sing the Puerto Rican 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 mentioned in an interview: "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".^[7]

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.

ILE

In August 2015, Ileana announced to the world that she was changing her artistic name to ILE and was working on her first solo album. The recording, which is currently in progress, is being produced by ILE and Ismael Cancel. Also, it will include various important local and international collaborators which promises a unique and interesting musical proposal.^[8]

References

1. "Ileana Cabra, Calle 13 Sister, Announces Solo Project: Singer To Release New Album".
2. "ILE's official website".
3. "Video Interpretación Calle 13/Orishas-Pal Morte". Youtube.com.
4. Greatereaux, Alexandra. "Calle 13 Sweep Breaks Records at the Latin GRAMMYs".
5. "Ileana Cabra sings "La Pared"".
6. "Kevin Johansen + The Nada + Liniers - Vivo en Buenos Aires".
7. Roberts, Randall. "Grammys 2015: Transcript of Bob Dylan's MusiCares Person of Year speech". Retrieved 13 October 2015.
8. Simón, Yara. "As Calle 13 Takes a Break, Ileana Cabra aka PG-13 Will Be Releasing Her First Solo Album".

External links

• ILE official website