Every week, we highlight some of our favorite releases in a handy list. Although we try to cover as much new music as possible, there are so many stellar releases to talk about. Consider this our genre-diverse guide to songs we have on repeat.
Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
1
Los Wálters - "Fragancia"
On Noche Buena, Puerto Rican synth pop darlings Los Wálters delighted fans with an early Christmas gift in the form of a new single titled “Fragancia.” The breezy jam is all about olfactory memory and how a lover’s scent can trigger a flood of emotions and nostalgia, fondly reminiscing on what was and fantasizing wildly about what could have been. – Richard Villegas
2
Inner Wave - "Lullaby"
It’s an apt week to listen to a lullaby, no? And so, a shoutout to Inner Wave, who delivered a softly seething indie break-up ode on Christmas Day. On “Lullaby,” they give us not what we wanted (holidaze pablum), but what we needed (tactics for dealing with the nauseatingly ambiguous heartache that 2018 left us under the tree). – Caitlin Donohue
3
Patio Solar - "Fusibles"
Feel-good surf punk vibes adorn the newest single from Chile’s Patio Solar, who return with a song about how opposites attract. The exquisite guitar work will have you hooked, but, as we have come to expect, it’s the melodic direction that drives the point home. Happiness can be found where you least expect it. –Marcos Hassan
4
NÍDIA - "Nasty"
Pro tip: follow Nídia’s SoundCloud and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy stream of musical goodies, like her new track “Nasty.” The three-minute tune is made for us to slow-grind into 2019. The tarraxo rhythm gets dirtier and dirtier until we find ourselves in a nasty situation we can’t seem, nor want, to get out of. –Cheky
5
"Calypso Negro" - Imaabs
And you wonder why they call this Chilean producer El Profesor? Imaabs unleashed an EP this week that serves, he says, as a series of “encrypted experiences” that he worked on during his passes through his hometown of Santiago, Mexico City, and Brussels. “Calypso Negro” is a series of brittle explosions, endowed with a backlash static that implies a certain heady level of academic uncertainty vis-à-vis the future. –Caitlin Donohue
6
Malos Vecinos – “Nico”
What starts as a lo-fi slow burner from Mexicali quintet Malos Vecinos, “Nico” soon escalates to full-on power pop with tinges of psychedelia and angelic vocals by singer Yadai de la Cruz. The Mexican newcomers released their debut EP at the top of the year, and are now closing 2018 with their finest song to date. 2019 better watch out. – Richard Villegas
7
Nurrydog - "La Razón" (Nurrydog Bootleg)
Monterrey-based producer Nurrydog released a new mix pack on Christmas Day titled ILLEGAL Bootlegs Edits & Remixes Vol. 1, where he’s chopped and screwed 20 mainstream and underground tracks and turned them into club-ready bangers. One of the pack’s standouts is a bootleg of “La Razón,” a dose of classic salsa by Pittsburgh group Noel Quintana and The Latin Crew, which has been given the global bass treatment while retaining every ounce of Caribbean swagger. –Richard Villegas
8
Sasori - "Cigarettes" (ft. Mishaal)
Beats like the one that propels “Cigarettes” are the kinds of musical moments that stop you in your tracks and immediately make you pay attention. Based around vocals and a guitar sample, the emotional impact of this composition can be immense if the mood is right. –Marcos Hassan
9
Mueveloreina - "Banga" (ft. Bejo)
Valencia-based duo Mueveloreina is one eclectic pair, and with their new collaboration with Canary Islands rapper Bejo, they continue to go the experimental route. “Banga” is a beachy trap-adjacent number where slowing things down is the key to seduction. If that works as well as it does on this song, you might want to take notes. –Cheky
10
Hez - "Problemas"
This track from Panama punk lifers Hez is everything a hardcore punk record should be in this day and age. “Problemas” is a simple song propelled by metallic guitars and vocals drenched in echoes. You’ll find yourself moshing along to the tune of deception. –Marcos Hassan