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 Buscabulla, Lismar, and Daniel, Me Estás Matando with Elsa y Elmar. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Buscabulla - “11:11”
After a four-year hiatus, Buscabulla is finally back. The Caribbean synthpop juggernauts released “11:11,” a playful, synth-forward, electro-pop self-produced tune melodically inspired by the energy from their live concerts. With bending see-sawing synthesizers, tip-toeing sounds, and rhythmic xylophone-sounding chords on top of Raquel Berrios’ mesmerizing vocals, the duo delivers the signature sound they’re recognized for. “11:11” is the first taste of their upcoming era – an era they describe as a “fresh, very pointed chapter” for the pair. – Jeanette Hernandez
Daniel, Me Estás Matando - “Yo Nunca Te Mentí (feat. Elsa y Elmar)”
This week, bolero-glam innovators Daniel, Me Estas Matando dropped their highly-anticipated duet with Colombian songstress Elsa y Elmar. The artists reunited their harmonious vocals for the first time since Elsa y Elmar’s 2020 single “Grecia.” “Yo Nunca Te Mentí” sees a suave, silver-tongued protagonist that makes sly relationship moves: “Yo nunca te mentí/Más bien, no preguntaste.” Keeping the traditional slow bolero tempo, the duo, featuring Daniel Zepeda and Iván de la Rioja, modernize the romantic genre with intriguing synthesizer flourishes. — Chelsea Quezada
Mabe Fratti - “Quieras o No”
Mabe Fratti is dropping her eagerly awaited new album, Sentir Que No Sabes, and this single is yet another proof of her range. On “Quieras O No,” Mabe transforms her cello into a bass to play an elastic, doomy, and playful riff. Fittingly, the first half of the lyrics are repeated like a mantra until they are replaced by robot-like vocoder voices, morphing again into a baroque pop melody that’s ornamented and complex yet catchy as hell. With this new single, Mabe again proves her talent for taking avant-garde ideas and turning them into warm and hummable emotional rides. — Marcos Hassan
Lismar - "Mi Primer Concierto"
Lismar is having an astounding year. Barely a month ago, she dropped — not one — but two songs with über-popular Argentinian producer Bizarrap, including an entry in his Bzrap Music Sessions series, which has already accumulated over 10 million streams on multiple platforms. This plus hit singles like “Modo Avión” has positioned the Dominican artist as a rising artist to reckon with, and her new track “Mi Primer Concierto” continues that momentum. Her lyrics reflect the moment, as she raps about fulfilling a destiny predicted years ago when (as heard in the opening audio) as a child, she celebrated “her first concert.” It’s been uphill since then, and now, the sky’s the limit. — Juan J. Arroyo
Foxes on the Run - “Prey of Fate (feat. CARAVAGGIO)”
Marking a new era for the Brazilian indie band, Foxes on the Run dropped their latest EP, Preys of Fate. Their title track is a standout that packs on the distinct sounds and nostalgia for 2000’s alternative indie that took over radio airwaves. Sharp guitar riffs, catchy clap-along melodies, and cool crooning vocals make the single easily blendable to a throwback aughts playlist that falls between The Bravery and Hot Hot Heat tracks. It’s punchy, it’s fun, and it showcases that while the indie rock lineage is always transforming, it is still alive and thriving. – Jeanette Diaz
Joaquin and The Glowliners - “I Remember”
San Antonio, TX, based band Joaquin and The Glowliners keep the city’s often overlooked connection to Chicano soul music alive. On their latest single, “I Remember,” frontman Joaquin Merte reminisces about young love and the reality of loss amid lone late-night walks. Sky-high falsettos and a romantic, harmony-driven feel give “I Remember” a distinct vintage sheen as Merte sings in seamless Spanglish, “Just friends knowing deep in our hearts nos queremos, baby,” putting a contemporary spin on this truly timeless sound. – Nayeli Portillo
Fiebre - “Ámame Bien”
Ecuadorian art-pop chanteuse Fiebre is back with a brand new single titled “Ámame Bien,” the first taste of her forthcoming Sr. Chen-produced LP, following up the slinky perreo and R&B vibes of 2021’s Petróleo. The brash track melds baile funk and deconstructed club as Fiebre demands to be loved with intensity and tenderness, angling for a partner who can keep up with her mercurial heart. It’s a simple, powerful message about putting your heart where your mouth is and accepting no less than what you deserve. – Richard Villegas
Valeria Jasso - “Un Largo Viaje”
From Merida, Yucatan, in Mexico, singer-songwriter Valeria Jasso follows her February single “Poquitito de Té” with a breezy jam to help us slow down in a world of chaos. “Un Largo Viaje” is a charming bossa-pop song that showcases Jasso’s beautiful croon. As she reflects on her own experiences, she becomes a guide that reminds us to live in the present when we feel like things become too hard to handle. It’s a summer breeze we can breathe in to help us stay grounded in our journey through life. — Cheky
DAAZ, Los Esquivel, Freekids - "Renata"
With an epic electric guitar and drum opening, DAAZ, Los Esquivel, and Freekids introduce “Renata.” The new electro-pop banger features a thick, retro groovy synth line and hip-hop elements that make the song a breath of fresh air. On the song, each emerging vocalist adds their own personality, riding on Freekids’ boy-band vibe that ultimately brings it all together. Though the lyrics are about convincing a love interest to spend the weekend at a beach house, the song’s production and the way the producer melds these different artists into one cohesive, feel-good track is the real standout. – Jeanette Hernandez
Brellaunte - “Outside”
Promising Seattle-based pop and R&B artist Brellaunte has rebranded from her alter ego, Breezy Casanova, giving her chill, early aughts-inspired tracks a clean slate. “Outside” accentuates the Afro-Latina’s dulcet tones, doubling up on it when she harmonizes with herself throughout. You can hear her musical and vocal influences on “Outside,” among them being Mariah Carey and Kehlani. It’s a summer track fit for a bold person that knows what they want, and ideally, it’s all fun and nothing serious. — Chelsea Quezada
Espanto - “El Último Rumor”
Logroño, Spain’s ultimate indie pop duo Espanto is back with a song that deserves a place in their proverbial greatest hits compilation. On “El Último Rumor,” Espanto rides this chirpy, uptempo tune that splits the difference between art rock deadpan vocals and actual melodies, making it a song you can easily follow along and love instantly. Lyrically, the duo envisions the latest rumor as a winged creature — a bird? A bee? Something scarier?— and they match this energy by giving the track a slightly paranoid edge. Like the best Espanto songs, it’s fun yet a little dark in the details, making “El Último Rumor” a must-listen. — Marcos Hassan
Andrea Cruz - “Caída”
Change can come from addition but also from letting go. When you divorce yourself from certain beliefs, relationships, and more, you can be in a very powerful transformative stage. This is what Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz touches on in her newest single, “Caída,” off her upcoming fourth studio album. The message comes through in her poetic lyrics, buoyed by her melodious contemporary folk sound and the evocative Raymond O’Brien-directed music video. She sings to the listener and to herself, ruminating on the necessity of shedding and letting go of what bogs you down, and, hopefully, revealing someone who can grasp the world with a new perspective. — Juan J. Arroyo
Vita Set - “El Clan”
Sharing a third preview of their upcoming album Zona Cero, Argentinian indie outfit Vita Set has released its latest single, “El Clan.” The track finds itself somewhere in the intersection of eclectic pop and electric rock, which is strongly carried by dancing guitar melodies and lead singer Ignacio Urbiztondo’s coarse but comfortingly charming vocals. Setting thematically into an album around the collapse of civilization, the single offers a more optimistic perspective than the prior releases. The lyrics navigate the resistance against what can feel like inevitable destruction of personal and global ecosystems and the search for ways to subverse the trend of becoming another desensitized soul in an increasingly cold world. – Jeanette Diaz
Marito Ramirez - “Ya no te kiero más” (Roliva Remix)
When Marito Ramirez first unveiled their bratty post-punk bop “Ya no te kiero más,” it was a breath of delightfully queer air out of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, complete with coquettish aesthetics and pastel plushies. Now the baby-faced singer is getting a boost from fellow norteño Roliva, who remixed the track into a devilish slice of dance-punk released through Sinaloan electronic label Nativo. This latest twist plunges the song’s guitars and cacophonous drums to nigh-industrial depths, making it a perfect addition to Pride playlists for revelers more comfortable on the darker end of the rainbow color spectrum. – Richard Villegas
Supersilverhaze - “El Gran Reinicio”
Mexico’s Supersilverhaze transformed from a stoner rock trio to Patricio Gonzalez’s wider-ranging solo project, and the first product of this reboot is his new Santiago Mijares-produced album, El Gran Reinicio. Sitting first on the tracklist is the title song, an instrumental wonder that conjures ‘70s rock’s mystery and rubs it with the right amount of dub for trippy effects, soaring to the stars when the last minute kicks in with a Ziggy Stardust moment that makes up a spectacular introduction to this new era. — Cheky