20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Mussa Medusa to The Two Lips

Mussa Medusa has made a name for herself over the past few years as a constant presence in the ballroom and electronic scenes of Puerto Rico, alternating as artist and DJ for numerous venues and events. This week, she drops her newest single, “Metropolis,” and continues cementing her style for followers and those discovering her now. Mussa—who has prior collaborations with MJ Nebreda and others under her belt—leans into the thrilling perreo/electronic fusions of the past as inspiration for the track, combining it with a Paris and San Juan-shot music video by Ana Paula Teixeira that visualizes the kind of confident energy they hope to inspire in all baddies watching. — Juan J. Arroyo

The Two Lips are finally back with their first single of the year. In “brb,” the rising bilingual Mexican-Filipina bestie duo channels their dreamiest pop, narrating a story about yearning for a loved one. “‘brb’ is our take on yacht rock but dream popified!!” they shared in a press statement. “This past year we did a lot of traveling, more than we ever have in our lives so we wrote this song from the point of view of the loved ones we leave behind and the conversations we have when we are away.” With a rhythmic bass, smooth electric guitar chords, indie pop synths, and the duo’s soothing Spanglish vocals, the new track encapsulates the feeling of FOMO, contrasted with an intimate and alluring melody that makes you feel close, yet so far away. It’s the type of song to put on replay while waiting to see your long-distance loved one again. – Jeanette Hernandez

Holding at its core the blunt fact that “nothing will ever be, as it was the first time,” Nelson presents “Empapados.” As his second single as a solo artist, it marks a stage in his career where he’s presenting himself at his most vulnerable while remaining creatively empowered and ambitious. Employing electronic sounds that at times feel like a glitch within a beautiful dream, filtered background voices that conjure the image of digital chanting sirens, and powerful percussions that act as a guiding axis throughout the track, “Empapados” feels like a stroll through an 8bit forest and works as a late-night hug to oneself. Opposite to the tranquil beauty and seriousness of the themes and delivery, Nelson’s vaporwave-influenced aesthetic, fresh perspective, and personal style keep the project feeling innovative, irreverent, and filled with conceptual surprises from an ambitious and creative mind we cannot wait to explore even further. Coin inserted!– La Morra Lisa

“TÓXICO” is where everything clicks. In this standout track from the album Puro Chanela, Chanela Clicka crafts a bold, emotionally charged sound that feels both timeless and forward-looking. Featuring powerhouse voices like Carín León, Adriel Favela, and José del Curro, the song explores the pull of a toxic love with raw intensity. Flamenco-inspired guitars weave through modern beats, creating a hypnotic contrast that mirrors the song’s emotional tension. It’s not just fusion, it’s a seamless dialogue between cultures, where Spain’s deep-rooted musical traditions meet the pulse of contemporary Latine sounds. The production feels intentional and sharp, allowing each artist to bring their own energy while staying true to a unified vision. “TÓXICO” defines the project, offering a sound that’s captivating and impossible to ignore. – Natasha Melina Argudo

Despite its landlocked location, Cali is often regarded as the capital of Colombia’s Pacific Coast, with the rising marimba group De Mar y Río embodying a melting pot of sounds and traditions from neighboring towns like Timbiquí, Guapi, and more. On the ensemble’s new single, “Irene,” the first taste of their sophomore album Cantaré, they unspool the cheeky tale of a man who goes off to watch a soccer match and returns home two days later, only to find his wife has locked him out. Written by the revered cantadora Elena Hinestroza Vente, the song is both a nod to the persistence of men vying for romantic affections and a celebration of the dignity of women who won’t be played for fools. It’s also a very fun sing-along. — Richard Villegas

On their newest track, Mexican alt rock upstarts El Pony Express demonstrate a rare example of sounding like no one else but themselves. Conjuring the image of the most notorious criminal romantic couple in history, “Bonnie y Clyde” grooves to a strong, danceable rhythm. Having said that, the vocals are the real star of the show. Paola de Jesús Manriquez Leyva emotes with a distinctive and powerful voice, harmonizing with a male voice while still commanding the spotlight for herself. Transversing genres while maintaining an identity is not an easy thing to accomplish, yet El Pony Express pulls it off effortlessly, with charisma to spare. — Marcos Hassan

The always fun Gabby B turns up the heat with “No Te Canse,” a sultry anthem that showcases her effortless command of Spanish, English, and Portuguese within a single hypnotic track. Making great use of a belly dance-inspired beat infused with international club energy, the Brazilian-born pop artist creates a magnetic and immersive sonic concoction that directly reflects her essence. Her seamless linguistic shifts feel less like a gimmick and more like a natural extension of her multicultural identity, pulling listeners from different corners of the world into the same rhythm. Playful, sensual, and irresistibly danceable, “No Te Canse” not only builds anticipation for her upcoming Funklândia project but also cements Gabby B’s place as a boundary-pushing voice in global pop. – Júlia Henn

In her first single of the month, a morsel of a larger project to come later this year, New York’s Mijita presents a Kafka-type of love. Mijita has always been a center. A center of attention. A meeting point of different influences. A cultural hub for different regional styles and sounds that traverse through the five boroughs to meet up for an eclectic meeting. Whether it be cloudy trap touched or early Y2K-inspired pop, her sound has always carried an alternative identity and a lot of character built from the community around her. Her latest track, “Bug in My Milk,” picks up where last year’s “Lola” left off, departing from her typical pop/ rap area of expertise for more diverse inspirations. “Bug in My Milk” borrows some Kafka-inspired surrealism, sprinkled with grunge sensibilities for something far more intimate and focused. It borrows Stereolab-coded synths and ‘90s-styled drums for an incredible performance that shines a light on Mijita’s vocals in another light, providing an incredible left turn for her range of music. – Alan Baez

Emerging Mexican avant art popvocateurs Gloory Hole usher in their anticipated new album Que Se Jodan Si No Pueden Aceptar Una Broma with a concept era that leans fully into their signature blend of cultural critique and confrontation. For this new chapter, the duo transforms their absurdist instincts into a full-blown rebrand as a satirical religious cult. They offer a glimpse into this irreverent world with focus track “Cadenas,” a song teetering on the edge of moral binaries through melodic guitars distorted beneath driving new-wave-esque basslines and glossy synth textures. Lyrically, frontwoman Gloria Russi traces the story of someone revived from near death only to feel burdened by the need to justify their continued existence, narrating with anxious urgency before a mid-song sermon ushers listeners into the duo’s new spiritual gang. Dark humor and existential overcompensation blur together as the project proves adept at lightening life’s heaviest subjects with satirical bite and musical edge, with this particular scripture suggesting that survival itself can become just another set of chains. —Jeanette Diaz

After cutting her teeth connecting with audiences in live settings around Mexico for several years, the singer-songwriter is ready to deliver her debut EP later this year, and the first taste we get is the heartwarming single “Libre.” In line with the introspective angle that threads the whole EP, “Libre” is a moving exploration of grief and its non-linearity, as it was the first song she wrote after her father’s passing. Backed only by a gently picked acoustic guitar and a beautiful string arrangement, she pours her emotions out, consciously deciding to move on with her life even if pain and fear are still in her heart. – Cheky

FE7O and Mr Sonic continue their successful collaboration streak with “Montana,” the latest single off their upcoming joint EP. Where their previous track, last year’s “Que Jodia Tristeza,” emerged from a place of heartbreak and disillusionment, “Montana” instead leans into celebrating the triumph of getting through a low point in life with renewed purpose. The Grammy-winning producer nestles the song in a moody trap beat that keeps the message sober while still letting FE7O’s vocals glide with swag and confidence. The Puerto Rican indie crooner has been turning heads for a while now, and he continues to build anticipation for what comes next. — Juan J. Arroyo

Julio Caesar is getting intimate with his new tearjerker. The Mexican singer’s new single “Punchbowl” explores the downfall of what was once a beautiful relationship. With his engaging croons, melancholic guitar chords, and unique rhythm overall, the rising artist delivers one of his most emotional tracks (and visuals) to date, reflecting on the harsh truth that’s hard to romanticize even from an artistic POV. The new track also aligns with Julio Caesar’s artistic growth, going from Ivan Cornejo’s opener to headlining his own theater shows. With his heart-wrenching, yet hypnotizing vocals and vulnerable storytelling, Julio Caesar has become one of música mexicana’s most exciting acts to watch in 2026. – Jeanette Hernandez

A gloomy and melancholic synth opens up “Pegadito,” the single that kicks off Sofia Monroy’s new project. Through a clean, sober, and elegant atmosphere, where a lonely guitar, along with her soft and sorrowful voice, she tells the story of a relationship doomed: a “tree that was born askew” and what could have happened if it “straightened up” in time. As the track progresses, Monroy is gradually joined by more percussion and contained background voices until the realization starts to set in on her and the listener that we can go through this grief and confusion while having a blast. That’s when an entire band—winds, piano, and all—turns the atmosphere around into a bolero style explosion where she feels conflicted about dancing close to someone while thinking of the one who got away, but dancing nonetheless. Contrasting with the sound, the minimalist visualizer features an exhausted Monroy resting on top of a yoga ball after a ballet rehearsal, and the entirety of the journey is told as she drinks water, closes her eyes, and fondly remembers. An artist with a clear and fresh vision who will surely keep on growing, at the rhythm that she has, like the tallest, healthiest tree of them all. – La Morra Lisa

“Problemas de Conversación” captures a deeply personal moment in Ana Torroja’s artistic journey, one that feels intimate, reflective, and quietly powerful. What began as a forgotten dream from the 1980s to create an album entirely written by herself now comes to life in this track with striking honesty and emotional clarity. Alongside Esteman, the song unfolds like a conversation left unresolved, blending vulnerability with subtle tension. Its sound leans into soft, modern pop textures while maintaining the warmth and depth that have always defined Torroja’s voice. There’s a sense of openness here, as if long-closed doors are finally being explored without fear. “Problemas de Conversación” feels like a turning point where past intentions, present emotions, and creative freedom meet. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful artistic breakthroughs happen when you least expect them, and when you’re finally ready to listen to yourself. – Natasha Melina Argudo

Trailblazing Cuban electronic imprint Guampara Music is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a new EP titled Infinitus, loaded with new tracks from label head DJ Jigüe and the rising chanteuse, Nanny. Though the mini record includes remixes and instrumentals of the previously released Afro-house bop “Espectacular,” the euphoric “Infinitus” is all new, harnessing the spirit of dance floor transcendence that fuels club classics. Weaving Nanny’s soaring vocals with DJ Jigüe’s electrified Afro-Cuban percussion, and mambo keys nodding to the vast pantheon of diaspora legends, the result is futuristic yet familiar—a welcome slice of dance music comfort. — Richard Villegas

Although Mabe Fratti has proven to be a stellar artist in her own right, here, she demonstrates that she can also be a strong and creative collaborator. For her latest, she has teamed up with avant-garde guitar minimalist Bill Orcutt, and on “El Inicio Es Cuestión De Suerte,” you can really hear their chemistry. The song is a meditative ballad in which Fratti sings with warm, subdued emotion, letting the air hang on her every word while Orcutt’s guitar provides a steady arpeggio that feels like a light drizzle in early spring. Within this track, Fratti and Orcutt conjure melancholy without excessive drama, uniting emotion with experimental music with finesse. — Marcos Hassan

“Velocidade” by Santos Bravos is a vibrant, high-energy track that thrives on a blend of traditional Brazilian genres, such as samba and funk, and the electro-pop typically expected from boy groups. What makes the song especially compelling is its commitment to being sung almost entirely in Portuguese, a choice that celebrates Brazilian identity in a way that feels genuine and refreshing. The interplay between the members’ vocals adds texture and personality to the track, making each moment feel alive while the language itself becomes a bridge for Brazilian listeners to instantly connect with the music. Fun, engaging, and culturally grounded, “Velocidade” stands out as a track that embraces another facet of the Latine experience while still delivering pop excellence. – Júlia Henn

Subtle in its ferocity, yet tenacious with its mellow-dramatic identity, the latest track from Mexicali-based performer Yng Naz explores a darker, more ambitious tone within the corrido tumbado space. He’s reserved, yet confident; reflective mainly. Through ambitious production rooted in his Sonoran upbringing, “Jordan” continues Naz’s venture of redefining his textured, bold flavor of reflective, regional música mexicana. “Jordan” revels in its traditional usage of sour, aggressive strings, yet with more low-key, “subtle” elements that pique your interest from the background. The result is a spaced-out guitar with a distorted sound that matches the ruminative lyrics that follow. “Jordan” is Naz’s first solo track of the year, a solid departure from the creative identity of ELEGANSTAR, showcasing more nuanced songwriting and an itch to keep playing with the formula. – Alan Baez

Southern Californian indie band Cactus Ponchos drift into a haze of existential reflection on their latest release “Moth,” a hazy indie vibe suspended between surf-washed melodic swells and restless garage grit. Floating, fuzzed guitars blur into looping patterns, while battering percussion and deep post-punk basslines pull the listener further in. The lo-fi, distorted vocal delivery fully turns the track into an internal monologue that captures an identity mid-transition. Themes of isolation and memories slipping alongside time, shape the track’s fragile clarity that feels like waking up on numbed-out mornings before you’re ready to face what’s changed. A play on its title, the song has a magnetic pull toward a dangerous game of Russian roulette, chasing flickers of resolution that may or may not burn, and the hesitancy to find out. It’s a fitting soundtrack for the moments spent in the uneasy space between what’s already faded and what still feels just out of reach, and the need to let that stuck energy out. — Jeanette Dia

Queens artist duendita just announced the release of their forthcoming new album existential thottie, out April 29 on 10k Global, her first body of work entirely self-produced, and she shared a personal quickie titled “super sad!” to give us a first hint of what’s coming. In just under two minutes, “super sad!” feels like we can peek into duendita’s inner dialogue as they dissociate in the middle of the club. With an understated beat and stunning live harp flourishes, duendita shares how just the sound of their significant other’s voice can bring her out of the sadness she’s experiencing in this lonely dancefloor, and the vocal harmonies are so heartfelt, they transport them right there with them. – Cheky