Camila Meza
Vocalist/Guitarist/Composer CAMILA MEZA Breaks New Ground with New Album, PORTAL available May 30, 2025.
Camila Meza is a groundbreaking artist celebrated as a guitarist, vocalist, and composer. With a signature sound that combines jazz with Latin American folklore and poetic songwriting, Meza has captivated audiences worldwide. The New York Times emphasizes her dual talent as a profound guitarist and a compelling singer. Her artistry, often described as an "appealing combination of lightness and depth" showcases her clear, expressive voice and sophisticated guitar playing—whether in intricate self-accompaniment or dazzling solos. "Her improvising, on electric or acoustic guitar, is serious business.”
Hailing from Santiago, Chile, Meza moved to New York City at the age of 23 to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where she studied under jazz luminaries such as Peter Bernstein and Gil Goldstein. Since her graduation in 2013, she has become a vital force in the international music scene, collaborating with notable artists like Pat Metheny, Paquito D’Rivera, Becca Stevens, and Fabian Almazan.
Her work has received widespread recognition, including NPR's praise for “taking jazz singing to another place” by seamlessly blending English, Spanish, jazz, and folklore. Meza has been a standout in Downbeat’s Critics Poll, earning top honors as Rising Star Female Vocalist (#1 in 2022) and Rising Star Guitarist (#3 in 2024).
As a bandleader, she has released five acclaimed albums, with Traces (2016) earning two Independent Music Awards and Ámbar (2019) winning Chile’s prestigious Pulsar Prize and receiving a Dutch Edison Awards nomination. Her performances have graced iconic stages such as Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, and she has appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts and Jazz Night in America.
In May 2025, Camila Meza will release her highly anticipated album Portal on Ground Up Music Label. Co-produced by pianist Shai Maestro, this project marks a new chapter in her career, featuring all-original compositions that further showcase her depth as an artist.