Her musical background is Brazilian music which she performed for more than 14 years in Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. At the same time she was writing original compositions, fusing the rhythms of the Caribbean and Brazil. This in partnership with the Brazilian guitarist, composer and arranger Tadeu De Marco.

After travelling around the world Irka felt the need to know her own culture and return to her native country where she spent 10 years immersing her with its folk music, popular religion and Taino culture.

There she learned of different folk rhythms, Palos, Palos de San Juan, Mangulina, Carabine, Salve de Villa Mella, Salve de Bani, Salve a la Virgen, Cantos de Toros, Congos, Sarandunga: Morano, Bomba and Jacana, Gaga and Guloya and of the messianic movement of Liborio Mateo and his music for healing, as well as the aboriginal way of life in rural communities. These trips led to an audio file of the folk music of these musical expressions.

She began to compose songs based on these experiences; writing lyrics that speak of love, folklore, traditions and Taino culture. These new harmonies, melodies and interpretations of the songs lead the listener into dream and magical states. They are full of passion and mystery of the legends of these people--a people rooted in the legacy of their aborigines and African ancestors. In her lyrics she is a kind of a Griot ,a storyteller narrating events of the world, its people and herself. She performed with her band Irka con Bohuti: Esar Simo, double bass, Giovanni Guzman and Raul Sanchez, Kuki, el abuelo and Juami in percussion, Jenny and Chichita Núñez Núñez,vocals, Alexis Peña on guitar, and Kiko on the accordion.

Irka with Bohuti had a great impact on the Dominican music scene, generating much public attention in the cities of the Dominican Republic, with great emphasis on youth in search of identity, artists and scholars of social sciences. She played at festivals, nightclubs, seminars, as well as a performance for the current president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez.

She has performed in Jazz and World Music Festivals in Canada: Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Festival Cultures Canada, Ottawa, Hull Jazz & Blues Festival, Multi-Montreal World Music Festival. In Mexico: Festival de la Primavera, Teatro Benito Juarez, Mexico City, Festival of the Caribbean, Veracruz. In the Caribbean in: Festival of Fire, Santiago de Cuba, Carifesta VII, St Kitts, Opening for the Fugees in Port-au Prince, Haiti to name a few.

Irka produced and hosted the TV program "Music from Kiskeya" where folk musicians are invited to play and talk about their traditions. She founded Guabancex Wind and Water Society," with Fatima Portorreal, Tony de Moya, Jorge Estevez and Lynne Guitar; dedicated to spreading Taino culture throughout the arts and social sciences.
Since 2007 Irka has established her residence in New York City where she is performing her music with great success.

Her CD Anacaona saw the light in 2010.

Official Web Site: www.irkamateo.net