Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ani Cordero first emerged in the early 2000s fronting Cordero, the namesake Latin-infused indie rock outfit of which she was initially the singer and drummer. The child of Puerto Rican immigrants, Ani grew up in Atlanta with frequent visits to her parents' native San Juan. After a few false starts including a move to Tucson, Arizona, she eventually settled in New York, where a consistent lineup up for Cordero was formed. The group first signed with Amy Ray's Daemon Records imprint, releasing their bilingual debut in 2002. After appearing on a 2005 Bloodshot Records compilation, the Chicago label signed Cordero and released En Este Momento the following year. That same year, Ani joined Pistolera, an all-female Latin indie band fronted by Mexican-American Sandra Lilia Velásquez. With Ani on drums, they would go on to release three critically acclaimed records. Meanwhile, her own band returned in 2008 with their Bloodshot follow-up, De Donde Eres. A frequent collaborator, she has appeared and recorded with numerous acts including Calexico, Giant Sand, and Man or Astro-man?, and she even toured as the drummer for Latin psych legends Os Mutantes. Ani's commitment to her Latin heritage has remained a strong component of her music, and in 2014 she made her solo debut with the critically lauded Recordar, a set of songs by Latin American writers from from the nueva canción movement. Her solo follow-up, 2017's Querido Mundo, featured new original protest and love songs inspired by themes of political turmoil, feminism, and immigration. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi