“She writes tight, concise songs, sings them distinctively… and plays a razor-sharp guitar… the energy she generates can be positively breathtaking. Cecilia Villar Eljuri is not an artist to be ignored.” –SONGLINES MAGAZINE
Ecuador-born, NYC-bred Cecilia Villar Eljuri is an award-winning Latina singer-songwriter and guitarist whose original music powerfully fuses elements of rock, reggae, and world rhythms with soaring guitar and impactful lyrical content. An “artivist,” she combines her musical artistry with her keen sense of social justice and deep commitment to activism for human rights and the environment. Her distinctive sound fuses influences including traditional Ecuadoran pasillos and boleros, Afro-Cuban sounds, reggae, and the rock she heard in NYC nightclubs.
Her sixth album, 'Así es el Mundo' is a bold bilingual rebel cry released by Manovill Records with Six Degrees Music Distribution. In the first month it simultaneously reached #1 on World Music and #1 Latin Music album of the North American College and Community Radio Charts, #10 on the World Music Charts Europe (WMCE) and #25 on the Transglobal Music Chart!
“My greatest passion is songwriting. I feel empowered to testify about life today in our world, and I consider myself a conduit to the voices of those I encounter when I travel and tour internationally. My music mirrors the things that resonate in my soul.” –Cecilia Villar Eljuri
Many communities crave strong female role models today, and the power Eljuri generates onstage is undeniable. One of the top Latin guitarists in the world, she has been the recipient of Billboard, John Lennon, UK and International songwriting awards, been a “Music to Life” juried artist, and is a mentor for “SoundThinking” – a program for urban high school students, a partnership of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and CUNY (the City University of New York). She was also among the original organizers of the massively successful Women’s March on NYC.
A longtime musical ambassador for civil rights and the environment, Eljuri has founded AVSA – Amplifying Voices for Social Action – a non-partisan series of events combining concerts with media outreach and digital marketing to inspire action on social issues. Its interactive “toolkit” guides activism in women’s rights, climate change, human rights/social justice, gun control/public safety, and civic engagement. https://bio.to/EljuriActivismToolkit
She has been featured on PRI, NPR, Pacifica Radio, PBS, Voice of America, NBC Latino, La Jornada, Revista Kuadro, and the Women Of Rock oral history project.
Eljuri proudly endorses Gibson Guitars, D’Angelico Guitars, JH Audio Custom In-Ear Monitors, Mono Cases, Moody Guitar Straps and S.I.T. Strings.
“Cecilia Villar Eljuri is a triple threat: She's an accomplished songwriter, a great vocalist, and one hell of a guitar player.” –NPR MUSIC
For more information about Eljuri, visit: www.eljurimusic.com
CONTACT: Alexandra Gatje, Manovill Records, +1.917.744.9464, alex@eljurimusic.com
