A Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen who encouraged her to embark on a solo career. Perla released her debut album “Perla Batalla” on the Warner/Discovery label in 1994. The critics loved it, calling her singing “sublime” and her talent “stunning”. Perla,released her second album, “Mestiza” in1998 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 Amazon.com. “Heaven and Earth” followed in 2000, along with a nod to Perla as Amazon’s Emerging Artist of the Year. Perla’s eagerly awaited follow-up to the “Mestiza” song cycle was an innovative undertaking of contagious rhythm and pure joy. Named for her father’s record store, the “Discoteca Batalla” project came next; a compilation of original compositions interspersed with traditional Spanish language classics. “Discoteca Batalla” has appeared on “best of” lists throughout the country. More recently, she recorded an entire album of Leonard Cohen songs; “Bird on the Wire”, which includes many friends such as; David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos), Bill Gable, Vinnie Coliauta, Greg Leisz, amongst other fine musicians. “What I did on my Summer Vacation by Perla Batalla” is a collection of songs recorded after journeying to Buenos Aires to meet her mother's side of the family for the first time.
Currently, Perla tours extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin
America, and will be releasing a new album of Traditional American and Latin American Christmas songs sung in Spanish. She is busy with Paloma, a foundation she is creating to bring music and inspiration to youth in underserved communities.