RIP lhasa de sela

Some very sad news this morning. Mexican American singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela died at her home in Montreal late on Friday night, age 37, after a 21-month battle with breast cancer. The severity of her illness had prevented her from carrying out a planned international tour last autumn in support of her critically acclaimed self-titled album, and forced her to abandon plans to record an album of the songs of Chilean political activists Victor Jara and Violeta Parra.

Born in Big Indian, New York, Lhasa spent her childhood travelling with her parents and sisters in a school bus they’d converted into a home, and it was this nomadic existence that gave her the scope and freedom to develop her remarkable voice and songcraft. The success of her debut album La Llorona in 1998 secured her a slot on the Lilith Fair tour, through which many more discovered her powerful music. She went on to record two further albums – 2003’s The Living Road and 2009’s Lhasa – with worldwide sales of all three records exceeding a million copies.

In a statement, Lhasa’s manager David-Etienne Savoie said: “It is difficult to describe her unique voice and stage presence, which earned her iconic status in many countries throughout the world, but some journalists have described it as passionate, sensual, untameable, tender, profound, troubling, enchanting, hypnotic, hushed, powerful, intense, a voice for all time. Lhasa had a unique way of communicating with her public. She dared to open her heart on stage, allowing her audience to experience an intimate connection and communion with her. She profoundly affected and inspired many people throughout the cities and countries she visited.”

‘Rising’

Written by: Alan Pedder

Tags: lhasa de sela

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