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Product Description Ileana, new to the Los Angeles area, writes music as layered and beautiful as the New Mexico desert she hails from with combinations of pop and folk. Recognition by the New Mexico Music Industry Awards for 'Best Musical Production-Adult Contemporary' for the song 'Barely' from her CD 'Counting Stars as They Fall' has only added to the inertia that this singer/songwriter brings with her from a successful career in the southwestern United States. With a voice described as 'electrically charged velvet,' she blends pop and folk to create music that has already garnered a large fan base in the Southwest. She continues that trend in Los Angeles by performing songs that emphasize the dichotomy of the human condition- the battles between intelligence and emotions and of the choices we make in embracing or rejecting the circumstances of our lives. She flows seamlessly from songs of hope to those of loss leaving the audience feeling as though the message was just for them. It was this strength in songwriting and performance which led her to be selected as the Albuquerque periodical Weekly Alibi's 'Best Female Vocalist,' 'Best Songwriter' and 'Musician of the Year.' H e r B a c k g r o u n d Ileana explored these emotions as a student of psychology and earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico. It was during this time that Ileana began to understand her passion for music and her need to express emotions through songwriting. Along this path she enjoyed a wide range of experiences; from lifeguard to waitress, crisis hotline to psychic hotline, each time glimpsing the diversity in people, each time returning her to her music. H e r H i's t o r y She began her professional career singing lead vocals with the band Ulterior Motive. That band broke up following a move to Austin, TX, just before they released their second LP titled '8minutes and 30 seconds.' Ileana then expanded her musical background by fronting the group Passion/Aggression with D. Whitten. This hard core venture released a two song demo in April (1997) comprised with Whitten's 'I Had Another Nightmare' and 'Cassandra Speaks,' both of which enjoyed radio airtime. She continued to develop her solo set and began playing coffeehouses and other small venues to a rapidly growing audience. Encouraged by her bolstering fan base she recorded a four-song demo in September (1998.) She assembled a talented group of musicians to record her first solo full length release 'Miles To Go' which was released in September (1999.) She continued to perform in intimate coffeehouse and bookstore settings as a solo acoustic artist while promoting her band and energetic stage show in bars and larger venues. 'Miles to Go' received radio airplay in local request shows and Ileana was asked numerous times to perform on local radio programs and music festivals. She took her acoustic show on the road to the Southwestern states of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and California and the band hit the road to New Mexico cities and Texas. Each venue brought more fans to her music. Her audience includes fans from across the country and as far away as Italy and England. The release of her much anticipated new CD 'Counting Stars As They Fall' reaches toward the songwriting potential first hinted at in 'Miles To Go'. Ileana's storytelling captures the imagination of the listener and then frees it to explore avenues undreamed of. 'Counting Stars As They Fall' is a kaleidoscope of emotion with songs like 'Before You Knew' which captures the panic and joy of a budding relationship and 'Barely' which is reminiscence at the realization that a relationship is over. As mentioned previously, 'Barely' has already received recognition from the New Mexico Music Industry Awards by being named the 'Best Musical Production' in the Adult Contemporary category. 'I Would,' another song from this CD, was nominated as a finalist in the 'Best Song' category. This attention reflects what fans have already discovered- Ileana is quite an impressive artist. The success of this release prompted her to relocate to Los Angeles, California to expose a new audience to her music. To celebrate her impending relocation, she released 'Playing Solo' in December (2001,) a 12 song live acoustic CD titled 'Playing Solo'; a compilation of performances from a variety of acoustic venues in her hometown of Albuquerque. H e r M u's i c The release of her much anticipated CD 'Counting Stars As They Fall' (2001) reaches toward the songwriting potential first hinted at in 'Miles To Go'. Ileana's storytelling captures the imagination of the listener and then frees it to explore avenues undreamed of. 'Counting Stars As They Fall' is a kaleidoscope of emotion with songs like 'Before You Knew' which captures the panic and joy of a budding relationship and 'Barely' which is reminiscence at the realization that a relationship is over. As mentioned previously, 'Barely' has already received recognition from the New Mexico Music Industry Awards by being named the 'Best Musical Production' in the Adult Contemporary category. 'I Would,' another song from this CD, was nominated as a finalist in the 'Best Song' category. Ileana was fortunate enough to work with the very talented and supportive musicians Lewis Shields, Gil Sanchez and Chris Hutton on this project. This attention reflects what fans have already discovered- Ileana is quite an impressive artist. Review Local singer/songwriter Ileana Garcia isn't trying to become a New Mexican Jewel. That's not why the 25 year old musician doesn't use her surname professionally. The real reason is much simpler. "It's mostly because my last name is so long," she explained recently. "It seemed easier saying it quickly at shows." With the release of her own self-titled disc, Ileana said she hopes to take her music on the road, both in acoustic and electric configurations. She is now working with a band consisting of local musicians Gil Sanchez on bass, Paul Robinson on drums and Lewis Shields on lead guitar. -Kenn Rodriguez -- Albuquerque Journal, 10/10/99Perseverance can come in all sizes. While the guitar obscures much of her diminutive frame, Ileana creates a full, pleasant environment wherever she plays her winsome and melodious songs. With the recent release of her debut solo effort, Miles To Go, Ileana completed a goal she set for herself three years ago. The twelve-track collection reflects the ups and downs of Ileana's sensual lyricism. Drawing both directly and indirectly from personal experiences, she describes the descent of crumbling relationships in songs like "Capricorn" and "Self Sacrifice", but she pulls up with sweet enthusiasm in "Serendipity." Her solitary emotional songs occasionally cause fans to assume the worst has happened to the singer/songwriter. "I've been asked who all of these guys were who did me wrong and I think 'Nobody did me wrong,'" Ileana says. "A lot of my songs are about people, but they aren't just ex-boyfriends." -Aaron Worley -- Crosswinds Weekly, 10/28/99While walking to the SUB I heard a powerful voice that drowned out the conversational chatter and traffic noise. "What the hell is that?" I asked myself. "Is someone singing in Arabic?" I couldn't make out the lyrics then I realized the PA system wasn't working. Ileana was playing her guitar in the sun, singing her heart out. The crowd she drew sat away from her - in the shade. When someone finally plugged in her amp the power of her voice knocked me on my butt. Ileana, a UNM psychology graduate, draws her music from a range of experiences. After graduating, she realized that she had a passion for music and the desire to express her emotions through song. -Mike Davis -- New Mexico Daily Lobo, 9/14/99 About the Artist Ileana PO Box 91804 Albuquerque NM, 87199-1804 [email protected] The Artist - Ileana is a bit of a surprise. When she steps on stage you think youre getting a cute little girl with some frilly lyrics. But when she starts to sing you realize her five-foot frame and contagious smile have fooled you. Her strength as a singer, musician, and composer instantly contrasts with her soft stature and her voice casts aside any thoughts of weakness as she gracefully flows from a passionate farewell to an angry retort or a whispered lullaby. Ileana enjoys the contradiction, just as she enjoys the diversity that her voice and lyrics profess. Human beings are amazing creatures. They persevere through the most incredible circumstances and yet are fragile enough to be crushed by a cruel look or harsh word. I am constantly awed by our depths and I enjoy exploring expressions of those feelings. Her Background - Ileana explored these emotions as a student of psychology and earned a Bachelors degree from the University of New Mexico. It was during this time that Ileana began to understand her passion for music and her need to express emotions through songwriting. Along this path she enjoyed a broad range of experiences; from lifeguard to waitress, crisis hotline to psychic hotline, each time glimpsing the diversity in people, each time returning her to her true path: music. Her History - She began her professional career singing lead vocals with the band Ulterior Motive. Ileanas powerful voice and thoughtful lyrics drove the Ulterior Motive debut, Glorious (1994.) Local radio stations supported this release with airplay and a showcase at Edgefest. This alternative rock group recorded a follow up LP in August of 1996 titled 8 minutes and 30 seconds but they disbanded before it was officially released. Ileana then expanded her musical background by fronting the group Passion/Aggression with D. Whitten. This hard core venture released a two song demo in April (1997) comprised with Whittens I Had Another Nightmare and Cassandra Speaks, both of which enjoyed radio airtime. During this time, she continued to develop her set and began playing coffeehouses and other small venues to a rapidly growing audience. Encouraged by her bolstering fan base she recorded a four-song demo that included two of her most requested songs: Self Sacrifice and ! Walk With Me. Her Music - The time spent as a solo artist allowed Ileana to develop her skills as a songwriter. Her songs range from heartbreaking ballads to tense confusion and anger with some happy everyday driving songs mixed in. Each song is its own story that captures all of the emotions associated. The tale then comes to life when she adds her voice to the picture, supplying shades of color and texture to an already rich scene. These shades and shadows fill in the entire story so that each one is a complete history of the moment, a stolen look at what might be inside. These songs are the focus of her solo debut release Miles To Go. Whats Next - Ileana worked with some of the finest musicians in Albuquerque on her full length CD release Miles To Go. Joining her on bass guitar is Gil Sanchez. Gil has been a steady fixture on the music scene and brings in a rocking bass rhythm as well as contributing lead guitar on occasion. Paul Robinsons drum work provides the framework that brings all of the parts together. He sets the rhythm with his tight technique and experience as a working musician in Kansas. Released in September, it gives the listener a treat with beautifully crafted songs, touching lyrics and full harmonies. This release is just a glimpse of what is to come with this artist. Recently, Ileana has been fortunate enough to bring Lewis Shields in to play lead guitar. Lewis brings with him a broad range of musical experience and an almost ethereal guitar style. They have come together to play larger venues, such as bars and concerts. As she develops her artistic voice, expect to hear more of those stories that delve into the complexities of the human heart. She continues to perform as a solo acoustic artist in coffee houses while promoting the full band sound in larger venues. Both settings allow her to fulfill her love of music while enchanting the crowds with her sirens song. Band members: Ileana Garcia - Vocals, Guitar Gil Sanchez - Bass Guitar Paul Robinson - Drums See more