This is our weekly compilation of bite-sized reviews of newly released songs by our talented music writers. Discover new favorites, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases, and much more. Who knows, you might walk out of this with a new fave or two. Some of the featured artists include Immasoul, Xenia Rubinos, and El Individuo. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Immasoul - “Wifey Material”
Monogamous love isn’t dead. Following the release of her collaboration “TNT,” Immasoul is back with a new R&B-dipped single called “Wifey Material.” The new song comprises bedroom soul, gentle lyrics about what could be a sweet romance, and a touch of piano chords and drums that carry the song through its two-minute and 43-second playtime. To accompany the track, the artist released a simplistic black and white video that features her and her presumed partner with a spotlight on them, showing how requited monogamy can go a long way if it’s the real deal. – Jeanette Hernandez
Xenia Rubinos, La Brega - “Preciosa”
For the second season of the acclaimed podcast La Brega, producers have tapped a cavalcade of Boricua talent, including RaiNao, Balún, and IFÉ, to reinterpret classics from the Puerto Rican musical repertoire as they journey through the island’s rich musical history. Brooklyn diva Xenia Rubinos brings her unique style of minimalist R&B to “Preciosa,” a bolero standard written as a love letter to Borinquen popularized years earlier by salsa legend Marc Anthony. Self-produced by Rubinos, she infuses angelic vocals with stirring diasporic longing, cushioned by an austere bass line and shimmering synths that echo Caribbean resilience and resistance. – Richard Villegas
El Individuo, Ghanaian Stallion - “Flow Mortal Kombat”
Cuban rapper El Individuo partnered up with Afro-German producer Ghanian Stallion for a fatality of a track titled “Flow Mortal Kombat.” The song’s tarraxo-inspired beat is razor sharp, and so are El Individuo’s lyrics and delivery, as he masterfully throws combos to those artists whose careers are centered on likes and plays instead of their craft. This is El Individuo in warrior mode, fighting for his dreams and goals. – Cheky
J Noa - “No Me Pueden Parar”
The Dominican Republic’s very own J Noa is back with an exciting and empowering anthem. Produced by Brasa (Bad Bunny, CNCO) and Nico Clínico, “No Me Pueden Parar” is about dreaming big without limits, especially in male-dominated industries. The subtle rock melody is rightfully assertive, pairing well with the message in the lyrics. The Gen Z powerhouse even kicks it up a notch at one point with an impressive fast-paced flow. Put this track on the next time you need to hype yourself up, and you won’t be disappointed. – Chelsea Quezada
Lil Benjas - “No Quiero Perder”
Monterrey’s Jorge Eduardo Morales Rodríguez, aka Lil Benjas, finds his niche within agile, breakbeat-like EDM on “No Quiero Perder.” Taking a break from the brittle hi-hats and murky 808s found on 2021’s Dispersión, Rodríguez sprinkles lovesick lyricism into rave-starting, supercharged hooks to dose out an alt-pop jam. Despite its brisk, dancefloor-ready beat, “No Quiero Perder” sheds light on the singer’s unwavering fear of losing the one he loves. – Nayeli Portillo
Ane Diaz - "Pueblos Tristes"
Somewhere between bolero, bossa nova, and something you might not have heard before resides “Pueblos Tristes,” a song that tackles complicated feelings into a sound that melts as it touches your ears. Ane Diaz croons a sad song with lyrics boasting vivid imagery, letting her voice hang the air like warm breezes blowing from the ocean. The music packs surprises as guitars, percussion, saxophone, and electronics give a unique feeling that can be described as melancholic ennui. “Pueblos Tristes” demands very little from the listener, yet emotionally, it pays off big time. — Marcos Hassan
Ayleen Valentine - “epitaph” / “i can’t stop dreaming of you”
Last month, Ayleen Valentine released double singles “anesthetized” and “stars,” both of which spoke to fear of abandonment in solemn and piercing ways. This week she drops two other songs, “epitaph” and “i can’t stop dreaming of you,” which continue the throughline she’s been exploring so far. The follow-ups have Ayleen meditating on the post-loss feelings of solitude that encroach the spirit and invite disconsolate reflection. Her voice floats above the despair like a leaf on a cold breeze, as the music carries the emotion with a plaintive melody that still stays true to her rock background. — Juan J. Arroyo
Gepe feat. Red Fingers - “Yenny, Las Cruces”
To celebrate World Water Day (Mar. 22), the Chilean singer-songwriter released “Yenny, Las Cruces,” a track about a Chilean seaweed collector that empowers other women to protect their profound, elemental resource. On the surface, the Red Fingers-produced track alludes an acoustic-driven melody infused with a feel-good synth and electronic beat. Towards the song’s end, the Chileno’s croons are accompanied by what sounds like marine noises that echo underwater ambiance—an excellent and thoughtful touch to celebrate the annual United Nations observance day that raises awareness to combat the water and sanitation crisis. – Jeanette Hernandez
Clubz - “Cortes Modernos”
The evolution of Mexican retro-pop mavericks Clubz continues with a smooth grooving new single, “Cortes Modernos.” Following a string of singles that saw the beloved Monterrey duo plunge into Paul McCartney-esque ‘70s rock, this new cut smooths things over with glossy R&B harmonies and electro-bass lines. Sexy, seductive crooning pairs exquisitely with an aching heart, and few can craft a heart-hugging banger like Clubz. – Richard Villegas
La Pequeña Revancha - “El Visitante”
La Pequeña Revancha has been micro-dosing its musical output for several years and has just treated us with a new single, the synthpop ballad “El Visitante.” Assisted by Carlos Eduardo Reyes on production, the Venezuelan project sounds darkly introspective, with a sprawling arrangement that bursts with hope by the final chorus. Here, Claudia Lizardo struggles to recognize someone she thought she used to know, only to come to the realization that you never know a person entirely. – Cheky
Alé Araya - “Midnight Gospel”
“Midnight Gospel” is the final single from Alé Araya’s debut EP in visions, also out today. It’s a romantic journey that feels like a hyperrealistic dream. The Chilean-American singer seamlessly pulls together her musical background in jazz and modern Latine pop influences to create a unique beat. “Midnight Gospel” is written and produced by Araya herself and it features a verse from Joseph Chilliams. After earning writing credits with the likes of Alice Glass, Saba, and Merlyn of hip-hop supergroup BROCKHAMPTON, Araya is unveiling a musical aptitude that will leave people wanting more. – Chelsea Quezada
Yael Danon - "90 Days”
Yael Danon channels the aching ambiguity around a best-friends-to-lovers story into the sentimental piano-driven pop ballad, “90 Days.” Set to a cinematic montage filmed on the busy streets of London, Danon recounts what she describes as “90 day trial period” with her beau and assesses the likelihood of heartbreak through the form of a confessional narrative. The single comes off the Panamanian singer’s debut album Diary Girl, featuring Latin Grammy-winning collaborators, like engineer Joel Iglesias and Bad Bunny-vetted songwriter, singer, and producer Tommy Torres. – Nayeli Portillo
Entidad Animada - "Costa Dorada"
Ambient music can often be described as a wash of sounds that will play gracefully in the background. In the hands of Argentina’s Marcos Díaz, the genre is a rich melodic stew that can make any passive listener excited to delve deeper into the music. “Costa Dorada” offers gentle yet memorable melodies as synths offer sensory stimulation to evoke different images in the listener’s mind; it’s one part soundtrack to a personal movie and one part imaginary concert at a historical location. Entidad Animada honors its name by bringing invisible entities to life wherever this sound is played. — Marcos Hassan
Taiana - “Orange” / “Rebelión” / “Girasol de Van Gogh” (AK·PELLA Sessions)
With her self-styled “urban groove” sound, Puerto Rican indie singer-songwriter Taiana headlines the second of a planned series of performance sessions by budding visual magazine AK·PELLA. Taiana has been a recent regular in the San Juan live music circuit, gaining attention because of her soulful torch songs that also carry an edge. Here she regales listeners with a trifecta of tracks produced by Matteo Burr of San Juan Sound that show off her range and stirring voice. Her neo-soul/R&B musical influences, which she details in a Q&A coda, come through clearly and instantly make her into a novice talent to keep an eye on. — Juan J. Arroyo