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 Sophie Castillo, La Yegros, and Omar Courtz with Dei V. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Sophie Castillo - “Asesina”
Based in the U.K. but raised by a Colombian mother and Cuban father, singer Sophie Castillo grew up surrounded by salsa, bachata, and reggaeton, and later gravitated towards artists like Lana Del Rey and Kali Uchis. Her debut EP Venus not only explores themes like romance and vulnerability but also gives us a greater look into the convergence of these influences through scintillating R&B soundscapes boosted by dreamy guitars and bachata-influenced instrumentals. Castillo’s “Asesina” starts off at a slow simmer with a lone and somber acoustic guitar riff before pivoting to blissful reggaeton as she coos about getting caught up in a love triangle (“Ay amor, como me duele/saber que tu me quieres pero lo quiero a el”). – Nayeli Portillo
La Yegros - “Secreto De Piedra”
New cumbia is alive and well thanks to artists like Argentina’s La Yegros, and one of the finest examples of the genre can be found on this track from her new album, Haz. “Secreto De Piedra” features all the quintessential elements of the style in a single place: pre-Hispanic rhythms, digital production, esoteric lyrics, and melodic vocals. A lot is going on in the song, yet it flows effortlessly, thanks to the amazing arrangement. It allows every element and sound its chance to shine through, making the emotion at the core become palpable to the listener. — Marcos Hassan
Stand Atlantic x PVRIS x Bruses – “GIRL$”
“Girls, girls, girls.” Australian pop punkers Stand Atlantic teamed up with Tijuana-born Bruses and American pop rock band PVRIS on their newest hard-hitting feminist and electrifying rock collaboration, “GIRL$.” With a rhythmic electric guitar intro, a hyper-pop-inspired soundscape, and a raging electronic upbeat, the artists deliver a furious anthem – and frankly, a big fuck you – to people who assume the right to comment or judge a woman’s body, sexual preferences, or actions. “I wrote it for anyone who’s ever felt squashed by the strange and subtle pressures society can place on young people based off old as shit paradigms,” Stand Atlantic’s vocalist, Bonnie, said about the livid track. The result? A cherry-on-top pop rock anthem to end Women’s History Month on a high note. – Jeanette Hernandez
Omar Courtz x Dei V - “DRIPPEO KBRON”
A highly anticipated reggaeton track from two rising Puerto Rican artists is exactly what playlists need this week. Omar Courtz and Dei V reunite on “DRIPPEO KBRON,” a bass-heavy track about having impeccable drip. “I know my fans have been asking and waiting for a while to hear an Ousi and El Flaivol track and we both thought this was the perfect time,” said Courtz about the collaboration. While the meaning of the song may appropriately lean on the superficial, the production by Bassy and its lyrics definitely do not. As we await Courtz’s debut studio album, we have a wide-ranging showcase of what to expect between “UNA NOTi,” “LUCES DE COLORES,” and “DRIPPEO KBRON.” — Chelsea Quezada
Dariell Cano, Alta Elegancia - “Me Quebraste”
Heartbreak always gets a little more soothing when you have the right soundtrack to go along with it. Luckily, we have rising stars in the world of alternative música mexicana who continue to join forces and bring us new tracks to process the pain like “Me Quebraste.” Dariell Cano, alongside Alta Elegancia, link up to reminisce on the downfall of a recent love gone awry. Set against the backdrop of a guitar-driven, indie sierreño ballad, the two acts take turns to croon their last words to a lover who has done them wrong as a way to move them out of their head and into the past. — Jeanette Diaz
Nina Suárez - “Te Amo”
Rising Argentine singer-songwriter Nina Suárez is no stranger to legendary legacies. The daughter of rock icons Rosario Bléfari and Fabio Suárez debuted last year with a propulsive garage record titled Algo Para Decirte, released via influential indie platense label, Discos LAPTRA. For her latest release — a dreamy double-single titled Verano en Capital — she’s tackling pop iconography with wistful, translated covers of The Beatles’s “Till There Was You” and the Frank and Nancy Sinatra duet “Something Stupid.” This latter reimagining captures Suárez’s acute knack for weaving melancholy and romance, transforming one of the pop canon’s most beloved love songs into a fervent, haunting declaration of devotion. – Richard Villegas
Reyna Tropical - “Aquí Te Cuido”
Malegría, Reyna Tropical’s long-awaited first album and the first full project after member Nectali Díaz’s passing, is finally here, and opening the tracklist is the soothing “Aquí Te Cuido.” Produced by Fabi Reyna and Nay Mapalo, the song shines with its minimalism, with Reyna finding a bed between the deep heartbeat of the 4/4 kick, sparse percussion, and her evocative guitar work to play with vocal layering and lyrics that promise herself the kind of protection a mother or grandmother would provide to a child. It’s a comfy nest where nobody can do us harm. – Cheky
MaryOla - “Todo es posible”
Nearly five years after the release of their terrific debut LP, Degenere, Puerto Rican rock band MaryOla is ready to drop their sophomore project this upcoming May. The album, Medio Mixto, will be a slight pivot from the moody alt-rock sound of their first venture, a fact reflected in last year’s single “Carril sin fin” and this week’s “Todo es posible.” Their new song explores the emotional whirlwind of giving yourself over to a person and realizing you’re not fully healed from scars that led you to sabotage previous relationships, but this time, deciding to fix those patterns. Its gentler sonic approach sells an optimistic vision for a healthier bond. — Juan J. Arroyo
Juventud Podrida - “Por El Dinero”
One of the most important names in South American punk, Panama’s Juventud Podrida remains a vital force, not only within their scene but as spokesmen for unrest anywhere in the world. Tracks like “Por El Dinero” indicate they still can express the message with some exhilarating three-chord bashers. Production values are no concern here, as guitars rage with absolute vitriol while drums provide a steady yet nervous beat. “Por El Dinero” deals with greed and capitalism’s flaws, and the vocals deliver the lyrics in style, screamed out loud without concern for a sore throat, barely containing the anger within. — Marcos Hassan
Harmless - “CYA”
Nacho Cano’s indie rock outfit Harmless is back after an eight-year-long pause. On “CYA,” the lead single from his new album Springs Eternal, the San Diego by-way-of Toluca, Mexico, artist leans into breezier, dream-pop textures via atmospheric choruses, breathy falsettos and reverb-drenched riffs that’ll resonate with fans of Yot Club and Eyedress. The single shows a reflective Cano reconnecting with himself on an emotional level following a series of life-altering injuries, which makes for some of the singer’s most introspective and self-assured material to date. – Nayeli Portillo
canal de miramontes & youyousolo - “brillo más”
canal de miramontes and youyousolo are back with another effervescent track titled “brillo más.” Centered around a heartbreak, vocalist Cecilia Villalba opens with the phrase, “Qué bueno que todo cambia,” choosing to be optimistic about the situation although it’s difficult to. An emotional confessional in the middle of the song ties it all together, along with the light, twinkling synths that anchor the electronic track. By the end of the track, she realizes and accepts that she shines more when she’s single, and the instrumental grows livelier as well, thanks to production by David Quiroz. As a duo, Villalba and Quiroz prove once again that their point of view is original. — Chelsea Quezada
Mami Sandunga, Chaboi - "Carambol"
Known for producing many Latine underground party anthems, Chaboi returns with a new single ready to set dance floors ablaze. Just in time for sunnier days and inevitable longer nights out, the innovative Mexican DJ collaborates once again with Puerto Rican MC Mami Sandunga for an exalting intersection where dembow and reggaeton meets the pulsing vibes of global club music. Between the Afro-Caribbean-inspired rhythmic roots reimagined through an electronic lens and Mami Sandunga’s energetic vocals that keep the party going, the powerhouse duo creates an undeniable party starter with “Carambola” that will leave you craving another bite. — Jeanette Diaz
Código FN - “Qué Dolor”
Is bachata tumbada the next music trend? A recent testament is Código FN’s “Qué Dolor,” which explores an experimental fusion of bachata and corridos tumbados that could be a promising new wave for música mexicana artists. “Qué Dolor” meshes norteño’s traditional components like guitar strings, accordion notes, and a hefty sousaphone with a swaying bachata-inspired sonic backdrop. Together, these rich elements complement the vocalist’s regretful croons about losing a lover over a drunken kiss. Beyond this track, what stands out about Código FN is their willingness to dive into new genres — which we’re excited to keep an eye out for. – Jeanette Hernandez
Matt Montero - “Musimundo”
As co-founders of Argentine label La Banda del V.I.P., Matt Montero and Agustín Ceretti are ushering in a new golden age of South American synthpop with thumping beats, camp aesthetics, and cult collaborators like Dani Umpi and Niki Rouge. Leading by irreverent example, Montero has unveiled “Musimundo,” the first taste of his strobing full-length debut, slated for release later this year. Written alongside Ceretti, the track finds inspiration in Spanish tontipop and electropop whimsy a-la-Miranda!, building soaring beat drops and twinkling synth stabs into an anthemic salute to dance floor soul mates. – Richard Villegas
Kaleema, Lila Tirando a Violeta, Sin Maldita - “Llanto Arena”
Argentine electronic music artist Kaleema takes a left turn in her signature dancefloor meditations and dives head-first into punchy techno experimentation on her new collaboration with Berlin-based producers Lila Tirando a Violeta and Sin Maldita. Named after an Oliverio Girondo poem and based on the Berlin pair’s track “Sabor Inmovil (Accela),” “Llanto Arena” is cloaked in mystery darkness, with chirping vocal samples swirling around a punishing beat and a melancholic acoustic piano that pops in like intrusive thoughts of existential dread in our head when we’re dancing our asses off. – Cheky
Gabby Black - “badtrip”
Ever since firing up his own studio ALAS in 2021, Puerto Rican jack-of-all-trades Gyanma has been using it not just to work on his own projects but also brings up local indie talents to new levels. Case in point Gabby Black, whose debut single “badtrip” drops this week. Produced entirely by el nene de Baya’ himself, the song is a fusion of alt-R&B with emo rock riffs — the kind of inventive mishmash that has defined the indie urbano scene on the island. Black’s lyrics have her crooning about a passionate relationship that flamed out as quickly as it started, leaving her lamenting and wondering about the what ifs that never will be. It’s a promising coming out for her, enticing curiosity about what comes next. — Juan J. Arroyo