Meet Maria del Pilar Montilla Byrne Emmanuelli Veve Ambrosiani, but don't call her that. She likes to go by Pili Montilla. Dislikes? Roses, sunflowers and the color pink—although she wouldn’t mind having a drink with Pink. By her own description, Pili is a lover of life, people (most of them at least), travel, adventure, dancing, laughing, good vibes and most importantly, has recently discovered her spirit animal is a swan.
She’s certain you want to know that.
Oh! And that she’s a scorpio. And that she knows the lyrics to every song by the The Killers as well as all the albums and canciones from legendary rock en español bands FOBIA and Soda Stereo.
And beyond being an avid music lover and music fest-goer, she gets to spend a day in the life of trending Latin musicians as creator, producer and host the Emmy-winning music show, Té Para Tres (Spanish for Tea for Three)
Originally from Puerto Rico, Pili's a household name as the go-to host in the bilingual entertainment world. Always immersed in the world of music, the now LA-based local has built a solid reputation as a music reporter and influencer in the fast growing Latin alternative music scene.
Pili Montilla might be Puerto Rican, but these days you can find her in Venice.
Eat, Drink, Shop
The Otheroom
Venice
My favorite beer and wine bar on the Westside. It has good music and the open windows are very inviting. It also helps that it’s on San Juan street, which reminds me of home.
Main Squeeze
Santa Monica
Their ingredients are super fresh and organic, which makes their juices super freshly and organically expensive, but they’re so yummy and nutritious.
High at the Hotel Erwin
Venice
Hands down the best place to watch the sunset over Venice Beach with a nice cocktail in hand. And if it gets too cold, they have comfy blankets to warm you up.
Gjelina
Venice
A staple of LA dining. The food is consistently amazing.
The Juicy Leaf
Venice
Need a memorable gift or want to treat yourself with a unique piece for your home? This is the shop to visit. The staff is so friendly and helpful.
At The Juicy Leaf in Venice, go wild with DIY succulent arrangements.
Latin Alt Acts to Watch
La Santa Cecilia - With a unique and colorful mix of rancheras, rock, blues and boleros, this Grammy-winning band truly exemplifies LA's latino culture. La Marisoul's heartfelt voice and contagious energy will have you hooked. I highly recommend seeing them live.
Maria del Pilar - Singer songwriter from Chile by way of Van Nuys, Maria del Pilar is a staple of the latin alternative, bilingual movement. I have so much respect for this amazing woman! She's a little bit of folk with a lot of punk!
Irene Díaz - This girl's voice is unreal! She's just a force to be reckoned with. Her lyrics are so moving and you can just hear her soul as she sings. A gem.
Subsuelo - A collective of local artists ranging from DJs, MCs, flamenco dancers, singers and photographers the Subsuelo crew sure knows how to throw a party. So if you want to dance, get down, dirty and sweaty look out for them. Guaranteed fun time.
Las Cafeteras - The are the perfect mix between fun and social action. Fusing spoken word with Son Jarocho, Zapateado and other sounds, this band from East LA is able to deliver a positive message of social change with dynamic rhythms.
Even if you don't have cash to live in the canals doesn't mean you can't stroll 'em.
Pili Speaks
Why did you decide to settle down in LA, and more specifically, West LA?
Pili Montilla: Los Angeles chose me. Coming from a small island in the Caribbean and being a Latina in the entertainment industry, I thought the logical next step for me would be Miami. Thank god it wasn't! Don’t get me wrong, I love Miami, but nothing beats LA. The level of consciousness, the opportunities, the creativity, the diversity, the health-conscious people, the weather and the easy access to nature all make me feel proud to call Los Angeles mi casa. I’m a tropical girl! So if I was giving that up to move so far away from Puerto Rico, I knew I had to be close to the water. Eight years later, I’m still on the westside.
The vibe in West LA is beachy, relaxed and warm. Basically it’s the stereotypical image of LA (you know ... the waves, the sun, the palm trees, the thongs).
Tell us about some hidden gems on the westside.
PM: As a true music lover, I think the Venice drum circle is a unique treasure. People from all over the world gather to create funky sounds and dance freely. It’s a joy to watch and be a part of! On another note, the Venice Canals are a hidden beauty. Most people don’t even know they exist (Yup- Venice is actually named after the world-known Italian city because of these man made canals.) It’s a relaxing, romantic outdoor walk and great for photo ops, no less. If you appreciate street art, check out the amazing murals all over Venice. My favorite is by Alexis Diaz from world-known muralist collective La Pandilla. Go check out his cool piece at The Roosterfish, (which will sadly be closing in May) on Abbot Kinney.
The Roosterfish is soon-to-close, but will forever remain a historical Venice landmark.
Take us through your ideal LA day from morning to night.
PM: Start off with a very challenging yoga sculpt class at Hot 8 Yoga in Santa Monica, followed by a rewarding and tasty “Matcha Ma Call It” smoothie at Main Squeeze on Main St. Then hit the beach or go for a scenic hike at Temescal Canyon for some vitamin D. Later, fuel up with a late lunch at Oscar's Cerveteca., followed by a nap. Finish off on the dance floor at an underground pop-up party in Venice, or you’ll always have a fun night at The Brig.
Share your insights on the LA alt music scene.
PM: Los Angeles is such a musical town. Name an artist or genre and it plays in LA, but what excites me most is the vibrant Latin vibe here. LA has served as a creative sound lab for latin alternative music. For example, did you know that the first bilingual alternative rock band was formed here in the early 2000s? They were called Los Abandoned and their lead singer, is a staple of the alternative LA scene. Then you have underground electro cumbia and salsa parties like Subsuelo at Eastside Luv where you’ll hear the most interesting fusion of rhythms.
What are your favorite places to experience live music in LA?
PM: The Hollywood Bowl is a magical place. Nothing compares to a night of live music under the stars with some vino! That’s also why I love concerts at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For a rougher edge, I like Los Globos in Silver Lake or La Cita in DTLA. A good place to discover new artists in a very intimate environment is The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood or School Night every Monday at Bardot. A lot of great bands also play at The Fonda, too. You’ll probably catch me there once a month—and if you do, please come say “¡Hola!” Last but not least is the monthly Daybreaker a morning, "dry" (no alcohol served) monthly party. People go in their PJ's or onesies at 6 a.m. to start off their day, dancing and sweating to some amazing music. The crowd is a blast and the energy is unreal!
Be sure to follow Pili on social to keep up with the LA music scene!
Stay in tune with Pili @PiliMontilla on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Makeup by Cynthia Rivas for MAC Cosmetics. Hair by Tomi Weaver for ICON Products.
