Perla Batalla Named January “Best Vocalist Of The Month” With “If It Be Your Will”

Perla Batalla

Perla Batalla, a Grammy-nominated World music singer/songwriter based in Ojai, CA (near Santa Barbara), has won the January SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her rendition of “If It Be Your Will,” which was written by renowned singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. This song is featured on Batalla’s 10-song album Bird On The Wire: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen, which she released independently in 2005.

“If It Be Your Will” is a classic song by Cohen (from his 1985 Various Positions album), and Batalla’s version of this ballad is graceful and heartfelt. This recording provides a fine showcase for Batalla’s clear, expressive vocals, and she demonstrates her ability to create a fresh new vocal interpretation of this Cohen song. Batalla also expertly produced this recording (she produces all her albums).

Batalla was born in Los Angeles and raised in Santa Monica, where she was introduced to music by her parents. “My musical roots were based in Mexican music, because my father was a Mexican immigrant who was also a Mariachi singer, and my mother was from South America,” she explained. “My early life was surrounded by Mexican music.”

Later on, Batalla went to study at the renowned Lee Strasberg Actors Studio in Hollywood, and she began earning a living as a professional singer by playing at many clubs throughout Southern California. It was during this period that she auditioned for Cohen, which led to her becoming his backup singer and touring extensively with him.

Cohen encouraged Batalla to pursue a solo career, and she subsequently signed a recording deal with Discovery/Warner Bros. Records, which released her debut album, Perla Batalla in 1994. Following this album, Batalla decided to become an independent recording artist, and all of her subsequent albums have been released on her own label.

Perla Batalla

Batalla’s album discography includes Mestiza (1998), Heaven and Earth (2000), Discoteca Batalla (2002), Bird On The Wire: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (2005), and her most recent release, We Three Kings, which is a holiday-themed album that contains Christmas standards plus some non-traditional songs.

Currently, Batalla continues to tour and perform, both on her own and for tribute concerts and other collaborations. In addition, she is very excited about the Outreach social program that she’s involved in. “My mission is to really reach out to many children who have not been to a concert before [or exposed to much music],” explained Batalla. “Singing for thousands of kids really makes me happy. I sing to many children in Hispanic communities. I’m working a lot in New Mexico – I’m thinking of doing a documentary about the work I do.”