| Eljuri – Cecilia Villar Eljuri, born in Ecuador and raised in New York City – is among the most boldly outspoken Latin artists and social activists in the world today, dedicating her work and her active touring schedule to enlisting new voter registration and encouraging awareness, personal empowerment, and political action in these turbulent times. Her latest album ASÍ ES EL MUNDO has garnered strong radio support for a string of singles across North America and beyond, achieving sustained top positions on both the World and Latin NACC charts and on Europe’s Transglobal Music Chart. Combining her musical artistry with a keen sense of social justice and a deep commitment to human rights and the environment, her songs give voice to an urgent need for significant reform, both in America and in the world at large. Today — as wars rage in Ukraine and Iran, ICE raids and violence kill innocent citizens, and tax-paying families are separated and deported — two “deep cuts” from Eljuri’s album stand out for their powerfully relevant topicality. These are the songs that we need right now! “No one is truly free until we can all live without the fear of being torn apart by a raid or a bomb. Our leaders are faltering, but we know the truth: this is the time to stop the machinery of war and reclaim our shared humanity,” says Eljuri. En Busca de la Paz (In Search of Peace) is a bilingual reggae rebel cry for peace and healing, urging the world to unite and rebuild. Eljuri has recorded many songs with reggae icons Sly & Robbie; in fact, Dermot Hussey, the esteemed musicologist, broadcaster, and fixture in Jamaican music, called her songs “roots reggae.” On this track, Eljuri’s passionate vocal delivery and masterful, fiery guitar fuse soulful expression with the sharp, rhythmic percussion of her bandmates — drummer Alex Alexander and bassist Winston Roye — profoundly declaring deep outrage at the world’s ongoing conflicts and the agonies they inflict. The brand-new video for En Busca de la Pazhighlights the urgency of these times: https://youtu.be/bYsQArXoVuo Similarly, the album’s title track Así es el Mundo (This is the Way of the World) offers a troubling portrayal of a world in turmoil, where families are torn asunder, marginalized communities suffer, and people are violently abducted, uncertain of their futures. The song, a Brazilian bossa nova vibe featuring acclaimed guest percussionist Cyro Baptista, calls out the injustices of separation and displacement with its repeated plea for change – “We need to put an end to this!” – emphatically demanding compassion and action, particularly for the sake of blameless children suffering in the chaos. The late beloved festival founder Ismael Ahmed, a true pioneer for cross-cultural outreach, invited Eljuri to bring her music and message to Detroit’s Concert of Colors which was aired as a PBS TV special and stands as a milestone of the ongoing momentum in Eljuri’s career. Watch her perform Así es el Mundo here: https://youtu.be/nxboaXiPps8 Listen to these “deep cuts” – the songs that we need right now! En Busca de la Paz Así es el Mundo |
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