iLe: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch iLe play "Curandera", "Contra Todo" and "Sin Masticar" at the Tiny Desk.
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Aug. 2, 2019 | Felix Contreras -- When vocalist Ileana Cabra Joglar and her band visited the Tiny Desk, they'd just arrived from the front lines of the historic demonstrations taking place in Puerto Rico. Two days earlier, they were part of a crowd of tens of thousands who were on the streets calling for the resignation of embattled Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. (Rosselló recently stepped down, effective Friday.)
Right from the start, it was clear what was on iLe's mind in her song "Curandera" - "I am a healer / I don't need candles to illuminate / I bring purifying water to cleanse / Removing pains so they never return" - as congas and percussion shook the room with an Afro-Caribbean beat. The song is from the Calle 13 veteran's most recent album Almadura, which is filled with metaphors and allegories about the political, social and economic conditions in Puerto Rico. If there were any doubt as to her meaning, it was dispelled as she and the band transformed the passion and revolutionary spirit of the massive street demonstrations into a performance unlike many heard in our offices.
In the chorus of the slow-burning "Contra Todo," iLe sings about channeling inner strengths and frustrations to win battles and remake the world. Her lyrics are rich with history, capturing the spirit of the streets of San Juan even as she stood, eyes closed, behind the Tiny Desk. Her entire performance is a startling reflection of this moment in Puerto Rican history.
By the time iLe and her band launched into "Sin Masticar," they'd already captured the full power of protest, as their musical arrangements raged with the intensity of a crowd joined by a shared cause and pulse.
SET LIST
"Curandera"
"Contra Todo"
"Sin Masticar"
MUSICIANS
iLe: vocals; Ismael Cancel: drums, percussion; Bayoán Ríos: guitar, percussion; Adalberto Rosario: guitar, percussion: Nicolás Márquez: trombone, percussion; Jonathan Gonzalez: bass, percussion; Joey Oyola: trombone, percussion; Jeren Guzmán: congas
CREDITS
Producers: Felix Contreras, Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, James Willetts; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, CJ Riculan, Jeremiah Rhodes; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Paul Georgoulis; Photo: Olivia Falcigno/NPR

[@nprmusic]

Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? Unsigned musicians, enter the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest between Jan. 23 and Feb. 21. Learn more: npr.org/tinydeskcontest.

[@MINOWalaycho]

Ile es una de las mejores artistas latinoamericana! Hermosa, inteligente, con conciencia de su pueblo 😍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼✊🏼

[@moaracortazzo9186]

Me encanta y me emociona el poder de la poética, de la pasión, de la emoción que la lengua española es capaz de contener y expresar como ninguna otra lengua. Aunque my lengua madre sea el portugués, que también es una lengua latina, es el español el que más me toca el alma y mejor explica lo que siento. Siempre me pareció que el inglés, a su vez, es una lengua meramente técnica, como si fuera apenas el idioma de los manuales de instrucciones haha, mientras que el español es el idioma de la literatura apasionada e indignada de las revoluciones, políticas y personales. Viva toda América Latina!

[@pedrocortez197]

Suscribo.

[@robertogonzalez9752]

Que belleza de comentario.¡

[@pammelamendez6830]

un comentario muy grande y la musica es muy buena

[@nathaliamachadomoutinho4319]

sinto que todas os idiomas latinos me tocam dessa forma, também acho incrível o poder que alguns compositores e compositoras conseguem expressar em português. mesmo entendendo que a língua latina é a língua do colonizador, a ressignificação ativa que ela tomou pra si aqui na Latinoamérica é revolucionária. Viva a latinoamérica!

[@alexiszelaya9534]

Justamente vengo de escuchar José y María, un temazo en portugués

[@carolinedasilveira]

Me encanta tu voz desde Calle 13, Almadura está muy hermoso 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Brasil te espera 🇧🇷

[@SXINT]

• thank you NPR for bringing us yet another unique artist/artist who’s genre is under represented internationally 🙏 •

[@cooloutac]

@Alex Azzalini nobody doing songs like this though man. Blew my mind. Raw spirit. old and new at the same time. An artist's artist.

[@irubf]

0:00 Curandera 4:13 Contra todo 9:02 Sin masticar

[@Lelii321]

we need a CULTURA PROFÉTICA tiny desk performance 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@amlobabylon2250]

yes!! please!!!

[@savagemountainfilms3811]

FOR REAL!!!!!

[@monkeyBEATable]

playlist: Un Deseo La Espera Suelta los amarres

[@korinaopekar5608]

Yessssssss

[@jaquelineberumen9421]

Savage Mountain Films p

[@oscarjbautista8959]

Que gran presentacion Ile. Viva Puerto Rico, Una sola estrella, Libre.

[@pamela7991]

Soy BORICUA PUÑETA. ESTO SI REPRESENTA NUESTRA CULTURA. ❤

[@nathaliamachadomoutinho4319]

Me encanta la fuerza de latinoamerica!!!! Besos a mis hermanos y hermanas, desde Brasil.

[@gabrielacarolinagrullon7408]

Es que la energía que trasmiten todos ustedes es increíble! iLe, República Dominicana te espera con los brazos abiertos

[@sisterphyllis4753]

I love it. I can hear the vintage culture with African drumbeat influences. This orchestration of music makes you want to move your feet swiftly and sway of hips. It awakens every living part of you. When you hear musicians getting involve politically to make change for the people, it's awesome.

[@corilovely690]

I like that you said"Vintage"

[@castanhatropicana]

The African people were slaved in all American continent and the Antilles. The African culture are changed and living here.

[@danyecm]

el mensaje en sus letras es impresionante!!! message on her lyrics is amazing!!.... viva Puerto Rico, Viva Latinoamerica Unida... saludos desde Mexico

[@emmanuelclausellllavona350]

PUERTO RICO EN LA CASA!🇵🇷

[@jftorod]

Muy buena la banda, pero con esta vocalista quedaron muy mal

[@cooloutac]

@@jftorod you're nuts.

[@heysiri7767]

@@jftorod Como así?

[@roverg2009]

Ile es una más de esas geniales artistas femeninas que han salido en este último tiempo en latinoamérica: Natalia Lafourcade, Ximena Sariñana, Carla Morrison, Mon Laferte, Cami, Ile, Denisse Rosenthal, Ana Tijoux, Julieta Venegas. Sumando a Rosalía, queda un Dream Team de lujo.

[@andresmauriciozambranoloza1209]

Oye, Rosalía es española por tanto no es latinoamericana, más sí es hispana.

[@adrianemmanuel8104]

Te falto Santa Cecilia

[@arroyovania]

@@andresmauriciozambranoloza1209 esta con Rauw Alejandro... le damos nacionalidad jejeje Rosalía es latina así habla español si entra en esta categoría

[@Caleidoxcopio]

Ximena sariñana? Carla morrison? 🤣🤣🤣

[@50simona]

Ilé es mucho más profunda, con amor y compromiso social y talento. No es simplemente una cantante bonita que la industria produce. Tiene una fuerte y bella personalidad. Yo no la pondría en esa lista, está por encima de todas ellas su fuerza y su claridad y su trabajo creativo.

[@nyonyopraia]

I can feel the-march-to-the-street- protesting-something vibe

[@potato-sweet]

15 seconds in and her energy is FLOWING through me!!!

[@isbemarnaguanagua]

Qué chevere que existan cantantes como Ile que expresen el sentir de muchos, un sentir latinoamericano y que lo hagan siempre volviendo a la raíz. Es hermoso. 💗

[@Maddie9185]

Que talento tiene Ile. Un estilo único

[@ivettsierra-mw9dy]

me encanta saber que nuevas generaciones abrazan su folclore y cultura , de la forma que Ile lo hace .Pero ademas tocando de esta manera la actualidad ! Siempre se puede hacer algo diferente ! Siempre se puede decir algo interesante.un mensaje , una historia .Si no viene del arte ; de dónde vendrá? una protesta ,un clamor ,un llamado a despertar en un leguaje legible por la generación vigente que bueno que Tyny Desk abre su puerta a esto .

[@Ifyouarehappy1]

OMG You guys have no idea how much I've been waiting for this!!!! iLe is such a great artist, I still can't get over her last two albums

[@elianaolea9469]

Increiblemente bella su voz , su musica y la personalidad!! viva Latinoamerica!!

[@yuliethibanezmosquera217]

Nunca la había escuchado es increíble. Ame sus letras, gracias ❤️🌸

[@craigdwelling1902]

I wish I understand what she is singing, but the rhythms and melodies are amazing. BIG MOOD!

[@ileanamendez7583]

WoW! Loved every note. Thank you & Please return. VIVA 🇵🇷🌟

[@mindinthesand]

idk what's being said, but this is fire

[@Weefatgoblin]

@@LordHaveMercy you alright mate?

[@Chewybar90]

They’re songs of protest and rebellion against the government in her case against the Puerto Rican government. And the first one is about death and spiritism lol

[@PaulMab9]

Jesus A. Oh, good stuff. Sounds good. Puerto Rica know how to handle their shit.

[@svolveras]

The best artist you have ever brought!!! Orgullo Latino iLe!

[@cindybarbosagonzalez9691]

Por esto y mucho más quiero conocer Puerto Rico.

[@gab_ale]

Lyrics for Curandera: (Chorus) Yo soy la curandera y hoy te voy a sanar - 'I am the healer and today I will heal you' No necesito velas pa' poder alumbrar - 'I don't need candles to be able to shine a light' Tengo el agua pura y te vengo a limpiar - 'I have pure water and I come to clean you' Sacarte esos dolores pa' que no vuelvan más - 'Take away that pain so it doesn't come back' Vuelo hacia el futuro, el pasado y el presente - 'I fly to the future, past and present' Me voy balanceando entre la vida y la muerte - 'I balance myself between life and death' Vuelo hacia el futuro, el pasado y el presente - 'I fly to the future, past and present' Me voy balanceando entre la vida y la muerte - 'I balance myself between life and death' (1st Verse) Soy la medicina que a ti te purifica - 'I am the medicine that purifies you' Busco la simpleza cuando se te complica - 'I look for simplicity when there are complications' Yo te doy los ojos pa' que mires de cerquita - 'I give you my eyes so that you look closely' Y con mis unciones toíto se te quita - 'And with my anointing all goes away' Tengo en mi ramito la hierba que yo quiero - 'I have in my branch the herb that I want' La albahaca, la lavanda, el tabaco y el romero - 'Basil, lavender, tobacco and rosemary' Voy a poner las piedras y limpiarlas con el fuego - 'I'm going to put the stones and clean them with fire' Intimidar al sol espantándolo con huevo - 'Intimidate the sun by frightening it with egg' (Chorus) (2nd verse) Voy a sacar pa' fuera toda esa maldición - 'I'm going to get all that curse out' Encender el humo, escupir el alcohol - 'Light the smoke, spit the alcohol' Remojar las heridas en jugo de limón - 'Soak the wounds in lemon juice' Decirte tres palabras y hacerte una oración - 'Speak three words and make a prayer for you' Quiero prepararte un baño de flores - 'I want to prepare you a flower bath' Para que te calmen todos sus olores - 'To calm you with all their smells' Machacar las hojas pa' que te las tomes - 'Crush the leaves for you to drink them' Pedirle a la tierra todos sus verdores - 'Ask the earth for all its verdure' (Chorus 2X)

[@cooloutac]

thankyou!~

[@joecmelendez]

Te amo desde lo más armonioso que puede sentir un ser humano!!!

[@OoochocuatrooO]

Woke up this morning to " Contra Todo" Saludos from SouthCentral Los Angeles.

[@MoJu05]

Esta chica es muy muy talentosa!!!, la he venido siguiendo y me sorprende mucho!, ojalá sepan apreciar tu talento. Soy músico profesional y realmente aprecio tu trabajo. Bravo 👏🏼. Saludos desde Alemania

[@alexandragrace8164]

Thank you NPR for always introducing me to exciting musicians I've never had the opportunity to encounter! iLe is awesome. Had me dancing at my desk!

[@Barberserk]

Free Puerto Rico.

[@arroyovania]

Un tiny de Residente 😍😍😍

[@xanderrivera3117]

From 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷 iLe Durisimoooooo

[@LaBacota]

que belleza que brilles con tu luz propia Ile!!!!...que crezca tu voz con la fuerza de todas las ancestras...abrazos

[@pepejuan16]

Amoooo ❤❤❤❤❤ vengan para España a tocaaar!!!

[@adganamaysosa8815]

You represent us Beautifully.. gracias

[@davidryan7926]

Todo esto me hace acordar de Totó La Momposina... me encanta.

[@wyatthumphreys4046]

50% of the languages on this channel I can’t understand. 100% of the time I don’t mind one bit. Dope stuff

[@rodrigopalomino322]

50% of the time it works every time

[@antoniovelazquez993]

Who cares?

[@JerryT21]

🙏

[@biancasanches6097]

Me arrepiou inteira! Obrigada pela arte!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@vsounds.mexico3960]

Excelente música con mucha medicina , Saludos desde las montañas del Estado de Hidalgo , México 👐👐👌👌

[@karinamar2010]

La mas bella. Amo sus canciones, su voz, su estilo la amoooo toda!

[@ysanchez7292]

this is Puerto Rico ,this chica is Soo beautiful in everything !! What she represents , her music ,her humbleness, We need Puerto Rican Women to come back and speak Spanish not Spanglish , music in Spanish Otra vez ...A trued identity of women of Puerto Rico... a sense of culture back to the island..

[@Peteroc860]

She represents a movement

[@claudialopez4081]

All women are different, all of us have different roots and countries where we grew up, so that made us,spanglish is part of those women too, ILe story is just different.

[@kelq1297]

And let us not forget that Spanish is also the language of the colonizers. Killed our Tainos and brought slaves to our land.

[@thinblacknoodles]

@@kelq1297 FACTS

[@Dbbrainer]

@@kelq1297 We are the descendants of those Spanish that conquered Boriken. That is something that we have to admit and take responsibility from. I actually came out to be 81% spanish, 10% native and 9% sub saharan african. My Y dna is Sephardic Jewish and my maternal dna is Igneris, the ORIGINAL inhabitants of the island which the Tainos decimated (but kept the women). Unlike Anglos, the Spanish had pro miscenegation laws (as long as the native woman converted; the males we killed them, just like the tainos did with the Igneris). So no, we were the colonizers, not the Spanish. Spain as a concept did not exist. We arrived to what we later called Puerto Rico from different ethnic groups which were themselves conquered peoples (Castille conquered us) such as Extremeños, Canarios, Andaluces. Puerto Rico is NOT Boriken. We are a spanish speaking people and we have proudly preserved our maternal tongue despite anglo saxon invasion.

[@santosybrujos]

viva puerto rico libre

[@Jota_VA]

Brillas por ti misma, tres grandes artistas en sus distintos estilos emergieron desde calle 13.

[@constanza-gente2845]

cual es el otro?

[@BguidoA]

Constanza - Gente residente y visitante, sus hermanos integrantes del grupo calle 13.

[@valtolabs6194]

iLe, Eduardo, y René sin contar los músicos.

[@JaimeHernandez-nz9ud]

Fabulosa banda, potencia de esa voz única y poética de sus letras en el corazón del imperio que se resquebraja... ¡Libertad y respeto para todos los oprimidos del mundo!

[@calypsovaldez]

Escuchando su música me da tanto sentimiento. Soy tan y tan orgullosa de mis raíces y este music que esta influenciado por la bomba la plena y todo me toca el corazón mano 🇵🇷❤️

[@johnaponte415]

We also need an NPR with Draco Rosa 🇵🇷

[@rociodegracia5327]

me encanta... queremos ver sin tener que mirar.... esclarecedor. bella, iLe!

[@aliciamercado5316]

Contra todo translation of the 1st and 2nd verse I am my own war shield, everything I have endured I am the mountain range's strength; the root of planted dreams. I have real power pumpung through my veins. Today I get rid of fear. Patience takes vengeance. I am invaded territory; stolen nature I am improper thought, A silenced voice's cry I am the pain that doesn't feel, The forgotten memory. I am resistant material with skinned rage

[@gab_ale]

(Chorus) Con el coraje de frente - 'With rage in front of me' Voy a ganar la batalla - 'I will win the battle' Hecha de viento y de playa - 'Made of wind and beach' Soy la ola que va a romper - 'I am the wave that will break' Quieren verme caer - 'They want to see me fall' Pero daré bien la talla - 'But I will measure up' Atravesar la muralla - 'Go through the wall' Voy contra todo para defender - 'I'll go against everything to defend'

[@thinblacknoodles]

Thanks 💛 powerful lyrics

[@juanca25252]

Aggghh .. Que bella que eres. De adentro pa fuera eres Bella!! Gracias !!

[@chrisbullock6477]

BOMBA Music....wow its been a while since I heard this music..

[@fatimanefertiti7826]

Truly felt this performance and much respect love and positive energy towards the victory!!

[@rdeloss]

NPR bring on some dembow artist yo.... de la Republica Dominicana

[@ERICVELASQUEZ79]

ILE (PG-13) and her band did an awesome job. I love her songs !!!! I was lucky enough to see her and Calle-13 years ago in Austin !! :)

[@lurobles7499]

Wow esto tiene saborrrrr!!!! ORGULLO BORICUA💯💯💯💪💪💪🔥🔥🔥🙏🙏🙏💯💚

[@jordanperez3979]

Hey NPR. I have been hoping to one day see another band from Puerto Rico on here one day. Cultura Profética. Más reggae en español! Los Cafres, Laguna Pai, LaTifa, Alika, Quique Neira!! So many more, make it happen please!!!

[@usergvhhyu1223]

Good to see the talented peoples of PR playing Bomba!

[@gerardoaguileragalarza1022]

Lo meejor del mundoooo. Gracias. Viva Puerto Rico. Y el mundo.

[@slayingsavages]

Complete Chills!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!

[@l.aabeja]

NO TE CREOOOOO, que genial que estés en este formato iLe.

[@GloriaCorrea]

yo soy la curandera!! Gracias! que belleza de música!!

[@HouseofStarres]

Curandera!!!!! Yaaaaaaaaasssss the healer

[@christianemmanueldiaz6734]

Lo que amo a esta mujer y a su música. 💜

[@pilargonzalez8442]

Hermosa y tan diversa por Dioses!!! 🙂 Musica que debe sonar por todo el mundo, para que de sol y animo ❤

[@manuelrodriguezmendez531]

Puerto Rico Libre!!! Puñeta!!!!

[@ana_capicua]

Que oído tiene Ile, y que ritmo también. De grande quiero ser como ella.

[@paokir1]

I was just thinking how awesome would be if NPR get iLe to play...

[@aliciamercado5316]

😭 why was I not notified earlier?!😣 Love Ile Que orgullo de mujer 💓

[@amlobabylon2250]

Me encanta la vibra que transmiten. Musica muy guay, la cantante tiene una voz unica y la banda por supuesto excelente, tocaron de madre!!!!!!! ;) El mensaje de las canciones aporta mucho. keep it up!!!

[@uncledaybkk]

Me encanta esto...much love from Virginia!

[@Mahmamaya]

Yeah I’m a FAN! No clue what was said but this was fire!

[@JuanAcosta1410]

Lo bueno, Ile en Tiny Desk. Lo malo, muy corto.

[@g.paub01]

Divina Ile... que bueno que ya se esté dando a conocer

[@roswel7845]

Both songs were awesome. Her voice is amazing

[@rafaelgaldo84]

iLe é inspiradora! Obrigado pelo presente!!

[@samanthafabila3550]

WOW! you guys really made my morning after this! amazing iLe

[@omarpolo8548]

Este tiny desk tiene muy pocas vistas. iLe tiene una voz mágica.

[@emiliano9828]

Fuerza puerto rico!! Gracias ile!!!

[@bren0015]

locoooooooooo, solo sos una genia, una genia que no para de haccer cosas increibles, gracias

[@WulDjSet]

Hermoso Ile.

[@salvadorma3682]

Simplemente no puedo con esto, me gusta demaciado lo que hace junto a sus músicos. Increíble, gracias tiny desk, graciad ILE🌺

[@rappobre]

Increible!! , saludos desde España :)

[@barbarafuenzalida326]

ME ENCANTAS UN MONTÓN ILE, GRACIAS POR TU MÚSICA

[@calicosky9863]

wow this is better than the studio version

[@cooloutac]

I like all her live versions so much better then the album versions lol.

[@sthfn]

lindaaaa 🇧🇷 banda incrível

[@bforbarber9438]

TRIÁNGULO !!!! But glad to see them here

[@delfinalenzi3077]

Oleeeee Ile!!

[@corilovely690]

I need those orange earrings 🧡

[@ysanchez7292]

Cori lovely just be yourself , always never someone else..

[@KeyMasterSound]

Protesting with a groove! I love it!

[@milenemedina9130]

es posible que los 12 minutos que dura el tiny desk me la haya pasado erizada?

[@mariaparrilla5182]

Milene, me pasò exactamente lo mismo.

[@squeaksbuffeteria564]

🤤 goosebumped in first the 10 seconds...

[@theartesana]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Yes, mujer de la tierra bendita! 🙏🏽

[@mandalapelucia]

Esto es un NPR de velda velda!!

[@yourturn777]

Love the Drums. However, i have never listened to music thats not in my language. Lyrics are important to me. That includes opera, & Queen Ronstadt's Beautiful tunes. ✌💚💪🎶i support this band, & their message, delivered in my way of communicating. ✊PR

[@julescr83]

Genia, la vi en vivo en el Festival Cordillera y fue maravillosa! Te esperamos en Costa Rica!

[@javisobepi]

Viva Puerto Rico! 😄😄😄

[@danielat5136]

una voz y un corazon gigante!! eres grande mujer!