Eljuri
Often hailed as "Carlita" - due to her virtuosic guitar prowess conjuring prime Carlos Santana - Cecilia Villar Eljuri is a NYC-based, Ecuador born singer/songwriter of Lebanese and Spanish descent.
Her original music mixes elements of rock, reggae, and world rhythms with soaring guitar and impassioned, socially relevant lyrics. One of the bravest and most outspoken Latin immigrant voices in the U.S. today, the self described “artivist” blends her musical artistry with a deep commitment to social justice and activism for human rights and the environment.
Over the course of her career, Eljuri has refined her distinctive sound—melodic, guitar-driven anthems and rebel cries, in both Spanish and English, that demand political change. Her musical influences include the traditional Ecuadorian pasillos and boleros written by her mother, an accomplished pianist and composer, the cha-cha and Afro-Cuban music played and danced to by her Spanish father, the punk and rock she absorbed while sneaking into NYC clubs with her siblings, and the reggae she learned from artists passing through the city’s legendary music halls.
“Songwriting is my pulse. I write to bear witness to the world as it is, and to channel the voices I meet while moving through it. I don’t write from the sidelines — I write from what shakes me, what lifts me, and what echoes in my soul.” – CVE
The power Eljuri generates onstage is extraordinary, answering the need for strong female role models. Recognized as one of the world's top Latin guitarists, Eljuri and her powerhouse trio (drummer Alex Alexander and bassist Winston Royce) have been captivating international audiences at festivals and performing art centers for over a decade.
Eljuri has received Billboard, John Lennon, UK, and International Songwriting awards, has been a Music to Life juried artist, and serves as a mentor for SoundThinking—a program for urban high school students in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and CUNY. She was also one of the original organizers of the historic and massively successful NYC Women’s Marches.
Her sixth studio album, Asi es el Mundo (This Is the Way of the World), was released in August 2025 on Manovill Records, with distribution through Six Degrees Music. Within its first month, the bold bilingual release reached #1 on both the World Music and Latin Music NACC (North American College and Community Radio) charts, #10 on the World Music Charts Europe, and #25 on the international Transglobal Music Chart. Sustained radio airplay has continued around North America, with some programmers playing several cuts deep from the album.
Eljuri’s critically acclaimed records consistently appear in the top ten on indie, college, worldbeat, and Latin radio worldwide. She has been featured on NPR, PRI, Pacifica Radio, PBS, Voice of America, NBC Latino, La Jornada, Revista Kuadro, and the Women in Rock documentary.
A longtime musical ambassador for civil rights and the environment, Eljuri initiated her Concerts for Democracy tours to inspire social activism among young audiences in partnership with national voting organization HeadCount, enlisting significant new voter registration in multiple cities.
She launched AVSA (Amplifying Voices for Social Activism) and created the Eljuri Activism Toolkit to inspire social reform, providing actionable focal points and resources for efforts toward environmental policy, women’s rights, gun control, political reform, and human rights.
At the 2026 Folk Alliance International conference in New Orleans, Eljuri was a juried official showcase artist, playing for a packed house. She also exhibited the Toolkit with Headcount and shared a key speaking panel with fellow artist Ani DiFranco -- Harmonizing for Change: Organizing for Impact - Lessons from the Field -- focusing on how to build inclusive, safe, and uplifting movements with lasting impact.
In these challenging times, Eljuri is a bold voice who is unafraid to speak truth and who dedicates her musical platform to activism, serving as a highly committed, torch-bearing catalyst for positive change and social justice in this troubled world.
Eljuri proudly endorses Gibson Guitars, D’Angelico Guitars, JH Audio Custom In-Ear Monitors, Mono Cases, Moody Guitar Straps and S.I.T. Strings.
“Cecilia Villar Eljuri is a triple threat: She's an accomplished songwriter, a great vocalist, and one hell of a guitar player.”
–NPR MUSIC
“The indefatigable guitar genius and powerhouse singer has released her best album yet with ‘Así es el Mundo’.”
–Indie Pulse Magazine
