Ilona is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. Her beginnings in music were through presentations on the public transport bus service in Bogotá when she was 15 years old, and her surprised audience gave her money. Ilona played with her guitar on public places and eventually established a band with a bassist and a drummer with whom he performed regularly in bars in the city. At 24, Ilona released her first studio album entitled Desde Mi Ventana ("From My Window"), produced by Cachorro López, gaining momentum, and receiving a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. Her debut album sold 15,000 units in Colombia earning the singer a Gold album certification. Ilona caught the attention of Argentine musician León Gieco and agreed to do a duet with her on the song "En La Zona". English boy band Blue also recorded with Ilona the song "One Love".