Haven’t you heard? The club is back! Yes, night revelry is experiencing a major upswing following years of slouchy, minimalist pop and a cultural shift away from booming megaclubs – not to mention a prolonged pandemic blip. The zeitgeist-defining success of British pop sensation Charli xcx and her 2000s-inspired masterpiece Brat brought hedonism and nightlife vernacular to the forefront, exposing the masses to the thumping, hyper-glam antics underground stars have always embodied.
But nostalgia is one thing and innovation is another. Throughout 2024, enduring Latin American collectives like NAAFI in Mexico and Hiedrah in Argentina continued leading the sonic and discursive charge at home and on international dance floors. Colombia also entered the fray as a Latin Club powerhouse, with labels like TraTraTrax and Paria Records capturing South America’s thriving techno culture and celebrating sizable Latine entries into the dance music canon with spotlights of raptor house and guaracha. In fact, incorrigible Bogotá label MUAKK and its triumvirate of hardcore meme lords Aleroj, 2AT, and CRRDR took guaracha one step further, infusing it with gabber and uproarious samples from merengue, pop, and anime, dubbing their concoctions uwuaracha.
In Brazil, baile funk and tecnobrega have somehow gone even grittier, too. Last year, producers d.silvestre and DJ Ramón Suceso fuzzed out their mixes to usher the saturated funk bruxista wave. In 2024, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction, yielding the phenomenal LPQueridão from DJ Anderson do Paraiso, which played with minimalism and negative space. Reggaeton and dembow have also embraced rave, taking note from Tainy’s late 2023 entry “Colmillo,” and now heard on thumpers like NSQK and Alvaro Diaz’s “MUBI” and Ricchie and BananaClip’s “Morivivi.”
Finally, as politics across the continent become increasingly polarized, the dance floor is once again a vital space of communion among those who most directly battle oppression. Parties likePutivuelta in Colombia and Mamba Negra in Brazil have encoded the visibility and safety of queer and trans people into their DNA. Meanwhile, Women have moved to the creative front lines, not just as vocalists and stage vixens, but as DJs and producers (Julianna, Lupe, Mariana Montenegro, Badsista, DJ Guapis) and expert talent curators (MJ Nebreda, Six Sex).
Of course, this is all just the tip of the iceberg. For a better feel of Remezcla’s year in dance music, keep scrolling to check out some of our favorite releases. – Richard Villegas
1
Six Sex – “4 noviosS” (Prod. King Doudou)
It’s Six Sex’s world and we’re just raving in it. Back in February, Argentina’s queen of slut pop delivered the most fun record of the year with Satisfire, a throbbing collection of techno and guaracha tracks refracted through her gleefully horny and irreverent sensibilities. Dizzying producer credits include Tayhana and Merca Bae, but it was her collaboration with French studio wiz King Doudou on “4 novioss” that truly took the Internet by storm. Though a club thumper about running through boyfriends like a tissue box in allergy season would be enough to land the song on any year-end list, it was the music video of a spin class turned strobing bacchanal that pushed Six Sex over the top. Might as well ditch the Gatorade and pick up some poppers. – Richard Villegas
Credits
Produced by: King Doudou
Written by: Francisca Augustina Cuello & Hugo Passaquin
Video Directed by: Bruno Adamovsky
Record Label: Dale Play Records
2
MJ Nebreda, CRRDR - “Soy Sentimental”
Venzuelan-Peruvian artist MJ Nebreda gave into their emotions and their incredible tenacity for producing an eclectic and avant garde mixture of electronic and global sounds for “Soy Sentimental.” Miami-based, they enlisted frequent collaborator Colombian Latin Core producer CRRDR via WhatsApp to create the expeditious and intoxicating song. Its base is a deconstructed dembow layered with textures of Latin club, stateside house, and electronic impulses while the lyrics give into your inner romantic and being as expressive and liberated as possible to make your feelings for someone known. Akin to the common experience, the song is laced with rapid beat intersplices, frequent BPM changes, and varying vocal intonations, taking you on parallel ebb and flow moments of climax and release. From its sound to aesthetic to their own personal queer identity, the rising stars’ replete fluidity is on full display as they’ve reemerged in the Latine Dance scene in 2024 with an undeniable path to the forefront of the genre’s cutting-edge future. – Jeanette Diaz
Credits
Produced by: CRRDR & MJ Nebrada
Written by: Maria Jose Nebreda-Bello
Record Label: MJ Nebrada
3
SoFTT - “Eléctrico”
In the last year, SoFTT transitioned from an internet phenomenon to a live act that can kick-start some of the most fun parties anywhere in the world. Taking their own manic fusion of Eurodance and trance with Spanish lyrics as well as their crazy edits of classics by Shakira and Charli xcx, the duo made of Kablito and Trevor McFedries honed their act and took its music to the next level, sealed by the handful of songs they released during 2024. Of these, a clear highlight was “Eléctrico,” which took a base rhythm that sounded like a sugar-rushed version of Kylie’s “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” and piled up irresistible pop hook, cheesy synths, and even a bit of rapping, making the track pink-colored energy ball that could power all of Miami. “Eléctrico” demonstrated McFedries’s growing confidence behind the boards, letting their freak fly with sounds other producers would be ashamed to use but sounding genius in his hands, and Kablito dominating with charisma and melody, giving us a rave banger that will keep us going well into 2025 and beyond. — Marcos Hassan
Credits
Produced by: Kablito & Trevor McFedries
Written by: Karen Freire & Trevor McFedries
Record Label: SOFTTCORE
4
Girl Ultra - “rimel”
The beginning of the 2020s saw a return to form for many indie artists, bringing back the love for house and dance music. This year saw the natural embrace and evolution of “untz untz” music from one of these artists, Mexican songstress Girl Ultra. The evidence of her knack for crafting dour spaces within her music through electronic sounds oozed from “Escarlata,” a moody dance cut from 2019’s Nuevos Aires. This dark, atmospheric use of synths and basslines evolved with her follow-up EL SUR, culminating in the hypnotic “rimel.” The infectious track from her latest EP, Blush, progresses Girl Ultra’s love of blending sultry vocals with gloomy yet snappy drum loops. In its mere two-minute run time, “rimel” captures the essence of a house party gone wrong. The beat mimics the unrelenting force of a DJ, accompanied by the chaotic nature of the subtle yet confident synth chord to paint another vivid picture of the hedonistic life Girl Ultra is embracing. – Alan Baez
Credits
Produced by: Mariana de Miguel, Sam Katz, Kidziee, and Roman Lopez
Written by: Mariana de Miguel
Video Directed by: Girl Ultra
Record Label: Big Dada
5
Álex Anwandter - “Gaucho”
Álex Anwandter is a pioneer of the Latine electronic and dance music scene. At the same time, the Chilean icon has always proudly represented the LGBTQ+ community throughout his career. Back in May, Anwandter released his seventh album, Dime Precioso, in which he embraced elements of ‘90s-inspired house music. A stunning and fierce standout on the LP is “Gaucho.” In the sensual banger, Anwandter sang about his thirst for Argentine men. While talking about the song with Remezcla, he said, “I would say it’s about being horny in Argentina.” Enough said! Anwandter channeled his lust into an irresistible and liberating dance anthem for the ages. – Lucas Villa
Credits
Written by: Alex Anwandter
Video Directed by: Josefina Alen & Alex Anwandter
Record Label: Alex Anwandter Donoso / peermusic
6
NSQK, Álvaro Díaz - “MUBI”
Rising Mexican artist NSQK and Puerto Rican rapper Álvaro Díaz are long-time friends and collaborators who share a common interest and specialized experimental, genre-less style of music that can’t be replicated. In his latest album, ATP, NSQK plays the role of radio host featuring playful monologues that he utilizes to guide listeners through the project. Sonically, “MUBI” resides in a liminal space between dubstep and hard house. The bass on the track builds suspense and intensity while synths penetrate like lasers in the background as the two singers lyrically explore the possibilities of making sex tapes withthe women they’re involved with. Tension releases as the beat drops, and the automated sound of a woman’s voice echoing “arriba, abajo” ensures that every second of the track is filled with raunchy innuendo. “MUBI” is a sexy and playful track created by two meticulous artists who don’t fail to cook up something unique when they come together. – Rosy Alvarez
Credits
Produced by: NSQK
Written by: Jorge Álvaro Díaz, Rodrigo Torres De La Garza
Record Label: Honey
7
Ela Minus - “BROKEN”
With “BROKEN,” the second single from her upcoming sophomore album DIA, Ela Minus cracked a window to her inner self, flaws and all. While the track presents itself as a euphoric explosion of swirling synth layers, an upbeat techno beat, and poppy melodies, the song lyrics are where Gabriela Jimeno allows herself to meditate on the ways she feels broken as a person and how she’s been able to pull through regardless. It’s in this contrast where she shows us a reflection of humankind and its complexities, proving that a personal journey can also be a dot to which we are all connected to. In the end, there’s hope in the sound and the possibility of dancing your worries away that pulls us into this piece of music and makes us feel safe. This is the evolution of Ela Minus, and the album isn’t even out yet. – Cheky
Credits
Produced by: Ela Minus
Written by: Ela Minus & Katie O’Neill
Video Directed by: Ela Minus & Losmose
Record Label: Domino Record
8
Aleroj - “Caperuputa y el lobo culión”
Aleroj’s remix of Cuentos de los Hermanos Grind’s “Caperuputa y el lobo culión” is nothing short of an acid trip through a mix of genres that you might not think would well work together, let alone make the type of sound called “Latin core” – a label that Aleroj is proudly claiming to challenge stereotypes of what Latine dance music is. The Bogotá-based producer added his own touch to the heavy metal track, and the outcome is equal parts antagonistic and lively. Between the dembow beats and the distorted guitars, you might be confused between wanting to growl or move your hips, but you definitely won’t be left indifferent to Aleroj’s world of unique chaos. – Ana Clara Ribeiro
Credits
Produced by: Aleroj
Written by: Miguel Rojas
Record Label: Aleroj
9
Emilia - “La_Playlist.mpeg”
Argentinan pop powerhouse Emilia transported us back to the ‘90s this year. “La_Playlist.mpeg” embodies the turn of the millennium with an electro-pop upbeat track perfect for a sweaty, yet flirty, Dance Dance Revolution showdown. By meshing dance, synthpop, and a fast BPM, the Nogoyá-born artist offered a stimulating tune that encapsulates the aesthetic of her current Y2K era. To top it off, she makes it her own by adding her alluring, coquettish charisma that keeps you hooked to her music upon hitting play. With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder why this offering’s music video has over 24 million views on YouTube – she simply serves iconic looks, bops, and catchy lyrics, making it one of our favorite dance songs this year. – Jeanette Hernandez
Credits
Produced by: Big One
Written by: Daniel Ismael Real, Enzo Ezequiel Sauthier, and Maria Emilia Mernes
Record Label: Sony Music Latin
10
MÓRIA - “Angelito (Bachata Club Mix)”
“Darkchata” innovator MÓRIA first generated buzz with her 2023 release Sereno De La Noche, and her experimental approach to her craft (glitchy electronic melodies and nocturnal vibes take precedence in the Dominican artist’s universe) constantly cuts through the more traditional soundscapes within the world of bachata. While there’s still no word on the follow-up to Sereno De La Noche, loosie singles like “Angelito” have not disappointed us whatsoever. “Angelito” alternates between bouncy jersey club and a slower, more sensual tempo as wiry arpeggiated riffs and angular instrumental loops skitter across the surface, making it one of the most refreshingly original dance tracks in recent memory. — Nayeli Portillo
Credits
Produced by: Moria L Estrella, Bryan Millz, and Bassbreaker
Written by: Aventura / Mória Estrella (Edits)
Video Filmed/Directed by: Daniela Arbaje & MÓRIA
Record Label: VEROCASH Records
