Starting in 2018, we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite releases of the week in a new 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.
Subscribe to our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music – we’ll be updating the playlist every week with fresh new music. Read more about our picks below. –Isabelia Herrera
1
Facy Sedated - “Love on Hold”
Guadajalara’s Facy Sedated kicked off the year with a romantic track to make you bounce – on the dance floor or in bed. The sample-heavy “Love on Hold” conjures R&B and funk to create a space well-suited for romance, with lush organ chords that lift you off the ground. –Cheky
2
Kali Uchis - "After the Storm" ft. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsy Collins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RosviOqt77c
Kali and funk legend Bootsy can’t get enough of each other. They also recorded two tracks for Bootsy’s Worldwide Funk EP. Listen to this song a time of need; “After the Storm” is a strength-builder. –Caitlin Donohue
3
Rosella - "Ella" (prod. C.Z. and Paul Marmota)
Rosella steps into the spotlight as a scarlet high priestess of light-touch reggaeton deconstruct. C.Z. and Marmota’s pensive wash of sound makes a mystic backdrop for the debut of the Mexican vocalist. –Caitlin Donohue
4
Lirico en la Casa - "Prendi" (feat. El Mayor Clasico)
Newcomer Lirico en La Casa steps closer to dembow royalty by tapping El Mayor Clásico for his latest single “Prendi.” Lirico’s boyish vocals plus Clasico’s raspy tone and fast delivery mesh together for this anthem against all the jealous panas out there. –Cheky
5
Uli K - “agoraphobic” (prod. Sami Baha + woesum)
https://soundcloud.com/ulixque/agoraphobic-prod-sami-baha-woesum?in=ulixque/sets/uli-k-08-01-2018-09-01-2018
Blood goth R&B pop from the eerie vocalist of Bala Club. Uli K has never sounded more conflicted about leaving his bedroom, but it’s chill. As this track proves, he doesn’t need to get out of the house to make forward-thinking sounds. –Caitlin Donohue
6
Natti Natasha - "Amantes De Una Noche" (ft. Bad Bunny)
We are here for this sparkly reggaeton collab that sees Natti Natasha and Bad Bunny joining forces for one super-sultry night. The Dominican singer brightens up El Conejo Malo’s deep baritone and helps reveal a lighter, poppier side of the trap golden boy. –Julyssa Lopez
7
Azul - "Esos Ojos Tristes"
Argentina’s Azul Schenquerman might be just 16 years old, but she already seems like an expert on how to capture the feeling of yearning and loneliness via a bedroom recording. –Marcos Hassan
8
D’Arthenay - "Amor Azul"
La Vida Bohème singer Henry D’Arthenay debuts his new solo project in his best Kid A clothes on “Amor Azul.” In contrast to the arena-sized grandeur of LVB, this electronic ballad gives us hope to love in a world that’s crumbling down. –Cheky
9
Lester Rey - "Ni Santa" (prod. SuveMusic)
Chicago-based artist Lester Rey teams up with producer SuveMusic for this woozy, winding piece of neo-perreo that urges men to see women as ““ni santa, ni puta, solo mujer” on the dance floor. The message is reminiscent of Ivy Queen’s masterful “Yo Quiero Bailar,” and it’s refreshing to see dudes embracing the sentiment—in a press release, they explain it’s because “we shouldn’t feel some type of way when the dembow drops.” –Julyssa Lopez