Silvana Estrada (born April 15, 1997) is a Mexican musician and songwriter. She has released three albums, including two with collaboration from musician Charlie Hunter. Additionally, she has worked with artists like Natalia Lafourcade, Caloncho, Alex Cuba, and Guitarricadelafuente, among others.

Early life

Estrada was born in

Coatepec, Veracruz The municipality of Coatepec () is found in the central region of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Its north latitude is 19° 27′, west longitude is 96° 58′, altitude of , and surface of . It represents the 0.338% of the current state. The ...

in Mexico, her parents were both

luthier A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers of ...

s, she began playing music at a young age, later performing in different bars from her hometown. At 16, she was accepted into a jazz program at the

Universidad Veracruzana Universidad Veracruzana ( Spanish for ''University of Veracruz'') is a public autonomous university located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Established in 1944, the university is one of the most important in the southeast region of México. ...

Xalapa, Veracruz Xalapa or Jalapa (, ), officially Xalapa-Enríquez (), is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which i ...

. While she was still studying, she started to write songs playing a Venezuelan cuatro from her father after not being able to connect with the piano while composing, currently she still uses the cuatro as one of the main instruments in her music.

Career

While attending a jazz seminar where she performed some of her compositions, she met American musician Charlie Hunter who proposed her to work with him, they recorded the album ''Lo Sagrado'' at a cabin of Estrada's parents in Coatepec, the album was released in 2017 and later re-released in 2020. In 2018, Estrada worked in a second album with Hunter titled ''Charlie Hunter/Carter McLean Featuring Silvana Estrada'', the album was recorded in the United States and also features American drummer Carter McLean. Also in 2018, Estrada released the four-song EP ''Primeras Canciones''. During 2019, she embarked on a Mexican tour and performed with artists like Natalia Lafourcade, Mon Laferte, and

Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Percevault (; born November 24, 1970) is an American-born Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer who sings pop-rock-indie in Spanish. She went on to join several bands including Mexican ska band Tijuana No!. Ve ...

. In 2020, she was signed to American label Glassnote Records, becoming the first Latin American artist signed to the label. On January 21, 2022, she released '' Marchita'', her first solo album and third album overall. The album was produced by Gustavo Guerrero and received critical acclaim upon release. To promote the album, she embarked on a solo tour through the United States. Estrada shared the 2022

Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist The Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists, nationall ...

with

Angela Alvarez Angela Álvarez (born June 13, 1927) is a Cuban-born American singer and the oldest Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist winner ever. She shared the 2022 award with Silvana Estrada at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards The 23rd Annual La ...

at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards

Influences

Estrada has cited American jazz singers

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

and Sarah Vaughan as influences when she started being interested with music. Furthermore, her vocal delivery and style has been influenced by Latin American folk singers like

Chavela Vargas Isabel Vargas Lizano (17 April 1919 – 5 August 2012), better known as Chavela Vargas (), was a Mexican singer. She was especially known for her rendition of Mexican rancheras, but she is also recognized for her contribution to other genres of ...

Mercedes Sosa Haydée Mercedes Sosa (; 9 July 1935
at BrainyHistory.com – 4 October 2009), sometimes known as ' ...

and

Toña la Negra Antonia del Carmen Peregrino Álvarez (2 November 1912 – 19 November 1982), known by her stage name Toña la Negra (Toña the Black Woman), was a Mexican singer and actress of partial Haitian ancestry, known for her interpretation of boleros and ...

Discography

Solo studio albums

* '' Marchita'' (2022)

Collaborative albums

* ''Lo Sagrado'' with Charlie Hunter (2017) * ''Charlie Hunter/Carter McLean Featuring Silvana Estrada'' with Charlie Hunter and Carter McLean (2018)

EPs

* ''Primeras Canciones'' (2018) * ''Abrazo'' (2022)

Awards and nominations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Estrada, Silvana Mexican musicians Glassnote Records artists 1997 births Living people Women in Latin music Latin Grammy Award winners Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist