Giulia Millanta, Elena Diaz & Alex Ruiz present Cafe Concerto
Singer-songwriter, Giulia (Julia) Millanta, is a native-born Italian from Florence who now calls Austin, Texas home.
A creative and prolific artist, she has released seven solo albums, touring nationally throughout the USA and internationally. An accomplished guitarist, Giulia also plays ukulele and sings in four languages. She has been called smart, pensive and cool and credited with psychedelic grooveability whilst “baring her clairvoyant soul” to “deliver musical mojo.”
Giulia began her life in music as a child of eight years when taught to play guitar by her father she began to perform traditional folk songs. She continued to sing and began writing songs and making records. Performing at the Acoustic Guitar Meeting in Sarzana in the spring of 2010 her accomplished guitar style and songs earned her the “New Sounds Of Acoustic Music” award. This led to an endorsement by the renowned guitar makers Eko, choice of the most famous 60’s-80’s era singer-songwriters throughout Italy.
In April 2024, Millanta is poised to release her ninth solo album (her sixth in the US), Only Luna Knows, along with an Italian cookbook, "Dinner with Giulia- Flavors, Songs and Stories of a Florentine Troubadour".
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Elena Diaz is a musician and vocalist originally from Houston, Texas. Her voice has earned comparisons from Karen Carpenter to Rosa Passos and is known for singing in different languages.
Elena's musical journey began at a very young age when she became an alum of the prestigious Houston Children's Chorus. Over the years, Elena has had the privilege of performing in several iconic venues including, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Stude Concert Hall at Rice University, and the Grand 1894 Opera House. These experiences allowed her to work with acclaimed artists such as Maureen McGovern, Heather Headley, and Shirley Jones.
A testament to her versatility as an artist, Elena has had the privilege of opening for Alejandro Escovedo in 2014. Furthermore, she has shared the stage with Jon Herington of Steely Dan and Adam Scone, known for his work with Sharon Jones and The Sugarman 3.Elena's musical journey has taken her far beyond the borders of her hometown. In 2017, she moved to the South of France and began performing on the French Riviera and Europe where she delved deep into the world of Latin jazz and formed her band The FR Collective.
Elena's talents extend beyond performing. She has also made her mark as a producer and co-writer, garnering recognition for a song she wrote for a film nominated at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. In addition to her own original compositions, Elena released an arrangement of Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven.”
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Alex Ruiz is the lead singer for Del Castillo, Chingon & The Night Mothers.