This is a weekly compilation of bite-sized song & EP reviews from our music writers. Discover new favs, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases & more. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Diego Raposo, Sango, mediopicky, Esty - "Work That $hit"
Over the past 10 years, Sango has made a name for himself as a dexterous producer who revamped baile funk and broadened different global routes to this genre. He has gained a number of fans throughout this journey, and it’s mostly certain that Diego Raposo is among them. Alongside Sango, the upcoming Dominican producer managed to team up with his country fellows mediopicky and Esty in the upbeat tamborzão of “Work That $hit.” From Seattle to Santo Domingo, and rollerskating the streets of LA with Esty, the Spanglish song with Aminé-vibes works both as a morning booster or a summer dancefloor track. -Felipe Maia
Nite Jewel - “To Feel It”
Few people are as capable of transforming pain and loss into a beautiful piece of sonic art. Luckily, Ramona Gonzalez is one of them. As Nite Jewel, Gonzalez expresses those sentiments in a measured yet cathartic way, channeling turn-of-the-millennium R&B into her usual minimalistic setup to bring us a flawless track. “To Feel It” allows Gonzalez to take control of her pain and transforms it into a technicolored act of liberation. -Marcos Hassan
RaiNao - "Me Fui"
Empowerment and individuality have always been important themes for RaiNao, which is evident in her older tracks. Under that veneer, though, has been a sentimentality that doesn’t shy away from love if it appears before her, such as she expresses in “Celular” and “Online.” In her newest single “Me Fui,” she bridges the two, touching upon both a failed romance and the process of shedding herself of that baggage and not pausing her life for anyone. The song and video culminate in a badass coda of rock frenzy that makes one eager to hear more from her in that world. -Juan Arroyo
Rush Davis + Kingdom feat. Rochelle Jordan “Anyway”
The Fade To Mind crew remains an unchallenged musical time-traveling unit, mastering the past of dancefloor pop to mutate it into a near-futuristic genre. On “Anyway,” Rush Davis and Kingdom—with the assistance of Rochelle Jordan—take the basics of the Timbaland school of beats and hooks as well as 2-step UK garage to give us a certified banger. The lyrics might deal with unfaithfulness and redemption, yet nothing derails the message of dancing into a joyous mess. -Marcos Hassan
Tommy Blanco x HF x Luens - "Funeral"
The melding of reggaetón with electronic music is nowhere near new, but it’s taken on a second wind recently with names like Rauw Alejandro experimenting more and more. But some of the biggest gambles are being taken on the indie level, with artists such as Tommy Blanco flirting with the line between both genres to unique results. In “Funeral,” he teams up with HF Diez and Luens, crafting a track that takes brave swings with its production and songwriting, while still being dope enough to enjoy “rulay.” The accompanying music video straddles avant-garde cinema and performance art while tossing in cheeky nods to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” -Juan Arroyo
Ivana - "Si Nos Volvemos a Encontrar"
Monterrey newcomer Ivana has unveiled a delectable slice of dewy-eyed guitar pop titled “Si Nos Volvemos a Encontrar,” infusing the gauzy heartbreak ditty with minimalist drums and atmospheric production. The accompanying music video echoes Ivana’s search for peace within bitter goodbyes, summoning a gang of ride-or-dies for a cathartic road trip into the desert. -Richard Villegas
Sgt. Papers - "Sandwich de Monda"
Snarling Hermosillo punks Sgt. Papers have pushed the pedal to the metal with every new release from their forthcoming LP, and their brand new single “Sandwich de Monda” is keeping the gas at full throttle. Clocking in at under two minutes, the track is a bouncy wailer about making the best out of shitty times; accompanied by a campy spy thriller-inspired music video directed by buzzy Mexican film house, Neuderts. –Richard Villegas
Tárcis - "Todo Mundo Ama o Sol"
Blossoming from a recent wave of Rio’s hip-hop, Tarcis is a rapper with sharp production skills and an even sharper pen that rhymes over harsh grime beats or classy jazzy samples. In “Todo Mundo Ama o Sol,” he revisits the classic Roy Ayers gem—”Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” as in Tarcis’ song title—and reshapes it into a charming G-funk, boom-bap bed. It’s a love song written under the sunglasses lenses of a Rio’s suburban young artist: coated in a warm nostalgia and yet celebrating the yellow-glowing future that lies ahead of the MC and his beloved, his sunshine. -Felipe Maia