Lourdes Pérez

Lourdes Pérez is a prolific contemporary recording artist, songwriter, composer, poet, vocalist and guitarist from San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. She is one of few female decimistas (writers of décima, a specialized form of poetry) and is often called upon to compose tributes to other artists, human rights leaders and elders. Acclaimed for her “ability to transcend language…with her achingly beautiful voice” Lourdes wields a startling combination of power and fragility. Her soulful music – often conjuring comparisons to the world music genres of cante jondo, morna and fado – was born from her jíbara (Puerto Rican mountain) roots and raised on the socially conscious genre of Spanish/pan-Latin American music, nueva canción. Together with Annette D’Armata, her partner and artistic collaborator since 1991, Lourdes has always incorporated her lesbian identity as part of her work and presence in communities as a way of dismantling social barriers.