Lila Downs comes from a diverse past. With a Mixtecan mother and Scottish father, she grew up partly in the mountains of Oaxaca, a sovereign state of Mexico, and Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. It is from this assorted upbringing that she draws her inspiration. The recent Oscar nomination for her contribution to the acclaimed movie Frida, shot Downs to stardom and she quickly gained worldwide recognition for her distinct live performances and genre-crossing music. Eric Parnis talked with Downs about her musical career and the difficulties in trying to live within two very dissimilar traditions.

You've spent your life growing up and living in both Mexico and the United States. How have you managed living between the two different cultures? How have you incorporated these experiences into your music?
I've been fortunate not to have to climb over a fence or build a tunnel to travel between the US and Mexico. It’s not easy having to assimilate cultures as different as the Midwestern US and the Native American cultures in southern Mexico, but being exposed to such diverse cultures hopefully broadens one's perspective as well.

What role do you think your music plays for the Mexican community within the United States?
Many people in the Mexican community in the US are also looking for their roots, and they often relate to our music as a way to reconnect to those roots. Many people from my home state of Oaxaca view the music as a way to be proud of something from their home state. Many Oaxacan are working in the fields and kitchens of the US, often as illegal immigrants.

You've toured extensively in Mexico, South America, the US and Europe thus far. Where is your favourite place to play/tour? How do different crowds react to your musical performance?
I've had great and interesting experiences everywhere we've toured. Latin crowds tend to be more effusive from start to finish, and Northern peoples tend to warm up a little more slowly and then ask for a lot more...

What was your most memorable performance?
The Festival of World Sacred Music with the Dalai Lama at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

How important was music in your upbringing? Was there anyone in your family that encouraged or inspired you to play as you were growing up?
My mother was a singer, and my father, who was a visual artist and all around bohemian supported my musical endeavours. He had a very eclectic music collection as well. I began singing ranchera music at age five.

What is your fondest musical memory?
First hearing Thelonious Monk.

What was your motivation behind your most recent album, La Cantina? Did the end result turn out like you had originally intended?
I felt that I could finally interpret many traditional songs in the ranchera tradition that have a lot to do with suffering and longing after having gone through some difficult things of my own. I wanted to make a tribute to that.

You were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2002 for Burn It Blue on the soundtrack to Frida. How surprised were you at the news? How did your family react?
It was very exciting, and a little surreal to enter the world of Hollywood for a minute. The song was composed by Elliot Goldenthal and Julie Taymor, the director of the film. It was wonderful working with them and of course singing with Caetano Veloso in duet.

What's next for Lila Downs?
We're working on a new CD with more songs in English, with some folk and rock influences.

What can audiences expect from your first tour on Australian shores?
We'll be interpreting songs from La Cantina and our other CDs as well as some of our newer material. Also expect a very diverse musical experience.

Any final words?
Thanks for your interest, and see you at the shows!

Lila Downs Australian Tour March 2007:

9-11 Adelaide @ WOMADelaide

14 Wednesday: Melbourne @ the Forum Theatre

15 Thursday: Sydney @ The Metro