Biography

Everything she always wanted to know but was afraid to ask she found in the vibration of a guitar string and a great song. Out of a thicket of words and experiences, she searches for the essence of our truths. Her guiding principles are that love is the only thing that matters; life just makes more sense when it’s set to music; art saves lives; and there’s nothing better for the inside of a person than the outside of a horse.

Her own crooked path began in Rockville, Maryland in close proximity to the Mason-Dixon line, where she developed an affinity for the soulful core of American traditional music, from folk to country, bluegrass to blues, all of which have come to influence Ilene’s songwriting. Slowly but surely, she discovered the transformative power of creative expression, first as a painter and photographer and ultimately through songwriting. Ilene has developed a deep respect for the role of the artist in our culture to bring us all closer to the most authentic life possible.

When not making music, Ilene can usually be found feeding her spirit knee deep in nature either hiking the hills and woodlands of Marin County or riding a really good horse.

Ilene’s new release, “Quiet The Storm” as well as her debut, “First Sound” (2002) give voice to the passions, grief, and joys of the human condition. With recurring themes of love, loss, and redemption, Ilene’s songs and crystalline voice evoke mystery and deep sense of spirit. As a performer, Ilene has enchanted audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area (where she currently resides) and beyond with tours to Arizona, Southern California, and the Midwest.