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 Sofía Valdés with DannyLux, Grupo Marca Registrada with Deorro, and MJ Nebreda with CRRDR. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Sofía Valdés - “Lento (feat. DannyLux)”
Singer and songwriter Sofia Valdes crafts sleek acoustic melodies with stream of consciousness style lyrics reminiscent of contemporary acts like Arlo Parks and Clairo. While last month’s “How’s That Working Out” featuring Cuco showed the Panamanian dabbling in a more effervescent, feel-good funk-pop sound, “Lento” picks up where Valdés’s 2023 Silvia EP left off. On “Lento,” Valdés returns to those breezy folk overtones and enlists beloved alt-sierreño singer-songwriter DannyLux for a hazy and dreamy ballad fit for closing out the dog days of summer. – Nayeli Portillo
MJ Nebreda, CRRDR - “Soy Sentimental”
Born from the trenches of an informal yet productive exchange of WhatsApp messages comes the sensational, electric monster “Soy Sentimental,” from longtime collaborators MJ Nebreda and CRRDR. Despite only having a few mixtapes under her belt, Nebreda’s vibrant, colorful, bounce-infused sound out of Miami has garnered her collaborations with Dance heavy hitters Logic1000 and RaiNao, as well as a spot performing at EDC Mexico 2024. She shows no signs of slowing down with her latest entry, “Soy Sentimental,” another dynamic demonstration of bounce and melding of Latine influences. The single arrived only a few months after Nebrada’s recent EP with Danny Daze and carries the same synthetic daydream-inducing sounds listeners can get lost in. “Soy Sentimental” may come off as another eccentric club mix but it confidently showcases the producer/ singer’s versatility in production style and song composition. With assistance from Colombian producer CRRDR, there’s a dynamic flow to the track. Starting with a typical reggaeton drum, it quickly evolves into something that can’t easily be defined by labels. It’s ambitious as it is eclectic, incorporating a series of beat switches and layers that keep the track exciting from beginning to end. It stimulates something a lot more dreamy, crafting a soundscape that can never really be ethereally reached. – Alan Baez
Grupo Marca Registrada, Deorro - "En El Audi”
Grupo Marca Registrada’s romantic croons just got Deorro’s EDM treatment. By highlighting thick brass instruments and a groovy bassline, “En El Audi” incorporates two distinctive elements that categorize the artists’ signature genres. Using a slower tempo, Deorro shines a light on Grupo Marca Registrada’s Fidel Castro’s vocals, which have been heard in the rave scene following his hit collaboration “ELOVRGA”’s success. Dabbling with more EDM, the música mexicana artist is expanding his audience and proving that regional Mexican artists can collaborate all over the market without boundaries. – Jeanette Hernandez
ANGEL22 - "GOSTOSA"
What an honor it is to write about ANGEL22. The girl group formed by four Latinas from different Latin American countries has become a synonym for powerful beats and empowered femininity. Their latest single, “Gostosa,” finds its roots in Brazilian Portuguese, where the word is largely used to describe what the apex of a hot woman is. For ANGEL22, though, “Gostosa” is that and much more. “It represents feminine energy at its fullest expression, going beyond physical appearance. It’s something magnetic that allows us to attract what we desire into our lives, like love,” the group said in a statement. The song itself is a delight to listen to, easily commanding the listener to let go and give themselves over to the music by expertly using the strong beats and mesmerizing vocals the group is already known for. “Gostosa” is bound to make any woman – or man, even – feel like the hottest person in the room. – Júlia Henn
Judeline - “Zarcillos de Plata”
Still reaping the fruits from her previous single “INRI,” Judeline switches things up and now brings us a stunning ballad called “Zarcillos de Plata.” The Spanish-Venezuelan artist, who opened for J Balvin’s summer tour, gets raw and intimate backed by an acoustic guitar, opening up about a complicated relationship that runs on blind love. Layers of elements build up as the song progresses, intensifying the emotion and ultimately leaving us close to tears. – Cheky
Henao - “IDGAF”
Henao doesn’t hold back in her newest single, “IDGAF,” telling us how she really feels about her ex, sin pelos en la lengua. After the successful launch of “Element” and “Devil Z” this summer, she now pivots from celebrating the ecstasy of love to knocking those who abuse the feeling. The rising Colombian-American pop siren has been having a productive year, sharing her brand of Spanglish electropop with listeners eager to cosign her sentiments. As she makes it clear, it’s not about being bitter, it’s about how not giving a fuck frees you to glow more than you ever did before. — Juan J. Arroyo
Marinero - “Taquero”
San Francisco’s own Marinero returns with the latest single, “Taquero,” a track that answers the question: What pairs best with a little salsa? Highlighting one of the most unsung heroes to many, “Taquero” is a revered dance and ode to the community figure who keeps our hearts and stomachs full. The tongue-in-cheek lyricism is carried by a fiery salsa rhythm kept by the flavors of protruding horns, sprightly keys, and high-spirited percussion that will instantly have you in a dancing trance. Simply a perfect spin for a fun way to get a few extra steps in as you make your next taco fix visit. — Jeanette Diaz
Tarta Relena - “Si veriash a la rana”
Tarta Relena’s latest song is far from new, but in their hands, they turn it into a timeless piece of music. “Si veriash a la rana” is an Sephardic song with lyrics in the old Spanish-Jewish language ladino, with the Barcelona duo’s blend of voices giving it an otherworldly quality thanks to the emotional pull of their supernatural harmonies. The almost drum n’ bass beat could well be something a DJ could drop and have the crowd go nuts, bringing the song to the present effortlessly. “Si veriash a la rana” is as much about pure sonic ecstasy as well as rhythmic release. — Marcos Hassan
Marito Ramírez - “Me Kiere No Me Kiere”
Ciudad Juarez pop brat Marito Ramírez is back with a new single titled “Me Kiere No Me Kiere,” a feisty indictment of indecisive paramours set to a hedonistic house beat. Twinkling synths and throbbing bass lines transform Ramírez’s romantic frustrations into dance floor catharsis, trading ambivalence for empowered independence. With aesthetics rooted in K-pop, anime, and all-gender beauty influencers, the accompanying music video is a serve as well, melding the eye-rolling high school snark of Mean Girls with the fierce choreo of idols like BLACKPINK. – Richard Villegas
Majo Aguilar - “Aun Así Te Vas”
Singer Majo Aguilar takes Belanova’s “Aun Así Te Vas” and gives it a stunning, mariachi-heavy twist. The cover comes as a preview of her forthcoming album Mariachi Tumbado, the follow-up to last year’s Mariachi y Tequila EP. Aguilar’s soaring vocals beside blaring trumpets and a somber string ensemble shifts the Mexican electropop early-aughts hit into moodier and more melancholic territory. The final product is an earworm that is sure to win the hearts of even the most diehard Belanova fans. – Nayeli Portillo
BUDAYA - "La Niebla"
“La Niebla,” by Mexican electronic duo BUDAYA, is a dreamy synthpop track about the mist that covers our mind due to our collective addiction to cell phones, the internet, and our digital world. Composed of Maya Piña and Tulio Almaraz, BUDAYA is known for its seamless blend of genres (tech house, synth pop, electro pop, and trip hop) with a laid-back Latin flair. “‘La Niebla’ proposes to achieve something positive in this reality, to become a beacon of light in the darkness, to turn off the screen in order to see our own light, and shine it to illuminate others. Shine your light, clear this fog,” they said in a statement. – Sofia Viera
SOLUNA, DANDARA & risko - “Esa Morena”
“Esa Morena” is the latest from Buenos Aires-born, Lisbon-based singer-songwriter SOLUNA. It’s a cool, heavy-hitting track that whisks the essence of the night with moody tempos and a culmination of Latine pop with visible R&B influences from the vocal inflections to the Spanish guitar lurking in the background. This is the singer’s first single since March’s “Zona Zip” and strays away from the formula. “Esa Morena” sees SOLUNA returning to a much more tender space with a softer yet equally abrasive style of music. It sees the singer returning to basics, conceptually and physically reconnecting to her roots in her hometown of Bueno Aires. Though it’s a change-up from her usual approach to songwriting, SOLUNA executes this R&B angle flawlessly. While shining in a new light, she also calls on fellow Bueno Aires artist Dandara to assist with the track, seamlessly blending the two’s chemistry into a track that’s addictive and suitable for any late-night move. – Alan Baez
Big Soto, Cosmic kid - "LA NOCHE ENTERA"
Venezuelan rapper and singer-songwriter Big Soto released his newest earworm, “La Noche Entera,” featuring Argentinean artist Cosmic Kid. In the song, the duo takes us out on a night in Caracas. With a sensual R&B-infected trap beat that features melodic piano keys and their auto-tuned flows, the two artists describe being head over heels for someone special. Towards the end of the song, the BPM increases, giving listeners surprising vibrating acoustic guitar licks, keeping Big Soto’s fans on their toes as they await his upcoming album SOTORIUS. – Jeanette Hernandez
Fariana - “Mi Amiga es una P”
Colombian star Fariana hits all the right notes with her latest album, UNDERWATER, which feels like a trip to the hottest club in town. The eighth song in the album, “Mi Amiga es una P,” is a great example of what makes the reggaeton singer such a star. First of all, it’s a very fun tune that lists out the qualities of a friend, with just the right amount of humor to make us wonder if that’s really a friendship and not a rivalry. It feels slightly reminiscent of Saweetie’s “Best Friend.” What sets this song apart is how concerned it is with giving a melodic and strong rhythm to such “girl’s night out” lyrics. “Mi Amiga es una P” should feature in everyone’s party playlist from now on, be it to pump up their friend’s self-esteem or their own. – Júlia Henn
Las Dianas - “Perdiendo el Tiempo”
After sharing three songs from their forthcoming Carlos Díaz-produced album Ya Decidiré Mañana, coming out in October, Spain’s Las Dianas slow down the BPMs and amp up the nostalgia with “Perdiendo El Tiempo.” In their signature candid songwriting style, they make a cold reflection on their tendency to procrastinate every aspect of their lives, to the point of asking themselves, “¿Será que yo nací para perder el tiempo?” It’s instantly relatable, and you’ll surely be chanting this ‘90s throwback jam in no time. – Cheky
DARUMAS - “Francotirador”
To celebrate their first Latin Grammy nomination, DARUMAS has released a new single, “Francotirador.” Sniper in English, “Francotirador” is a funky, groovy, and catchy tune about being the one who takes the shot and being “bulletproof” against those trying to tear them down. DARUMAS is a three-member pop-funk group made up of Aldana, a bassist from Argentina; Ceci, Cuban vocalist and guitarist from Miami; and Vedala, the lead vocalist from Haiti and Chile. “Francotirador” is their first single since their debut studio album release back in May — but definitely not the last! – Sofia Viera
Taiana - “MAÑOSA”
The wait is nearly over for the release of Taiana’s debut project, NENADFUEGO, and this week, she drops the next single of her ambitious Latine neo-soul experiment. Once again, in collaboration with San Juan Sound, “MAÑOSA” continues the sonic throughline she started with “Orange,” this time injecting it with a bit more attitude. The Camila Rosario Mongil-directed music video leans into that energy, portraying Taiana as a literal succubus and giving a new spin on the Puerto Rican myth of the hungry chupacabra. Her album will feature tracks in both Spanish and English, showing off the impressive breadth of her range in a sorely untapped genre for LatAm listeners. — Juan J. Arroyo
Rogê - "100% Samba"
One of Brazil’s more modern iconic voices, especially with the resurgence of MPB, Rogê is following up on his revered debut album Curyman by seguing us into Curyman II, out this fall. Leading us into the new era is the single “100% Samba.” As the title reflects, it may be one of his more direct interpretations of the genre – remaining rooted in structured counts and incorporating typical instrumentation like an array of percussion, shakers, and the iconic cuíca. However, the venture into sanguine lyricism brings a universal feeling to his music that easily transcends borders. Now relocated to Los Angeles, his more recent productions are proving that his samba-centric soul is capable of bringing a bit of Brazilian sunshine wherever he goes while pushing the frontiers of what traditional samba sounds like, who has access to it, and the myriad of ways it can be consumed. — Jeanette Diaz
Carlos Dafé, Adrian Younge - “Amor Enfeitiçado”
In his latest venture, producer Adrian Younge brings Brazil’s samba-soul legend Carlos Dafé to the mix for something really special. Although Dafé is best known for his crooning singing style, featuring him on a modern, groove-oriented jazz song like “Amor Enfeitiçado” makes for a perfect fit. Dafé’s vocals blend perfectly with the drums and gliding bassline, while horns add plenty of cool ornaments to the mix. The result is a song that is passionate and affective with as much retro soul as it approaches spiritual jazz levels of majesty. It’s an addition to the rich tradition of Brazilian music that continues to this day. — Marcos Hassan
Lilly Yan - “Un Ratito Más”
You know that feeling at the end of a date when you’re about to go separate ways, but then a last-minute invitation to come upstairs for a nightcap changes the course of the evening? Well, on her new song “Un Ratito Más,” Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Lilly Yan has synthesized the adrenaline rush of a night on the brink of scoring a home run. Lurching ‘80s bass lines and slinky sophistipop synths create a lush backdrop for the Hondureña’s lush vocals, delivered with all the sensual, soulful gusto of a bilingual Chaka Khan. – Richard Villegas