19 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Jass Reyes to Daymé Arocena & iLe

11.08.2024 at 00:14

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 Jass Reyes, Daymé Arocena with iLe, and Vikina with Soundboyz. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.

Jass Reyes - “KOTOTAMA”

Former Playa Limbo vocalist Jass Reyes revealed her newest offering “KOTOTAMA.” Produced by Angel Vergara, the new song embraces house pop, funk, and synths, with lyrics that explore the vocalist’s need for something new. The song is not only a breath of fresh air but also gives an ode to the Japanese belief that “words and names possess a spirit or essence that gives them energy or mystical powers,” as shown through the text at the end of the music video. Together, it makes for a song mantra about manifesting new opportunities. And with 2025 around the corner, we’re all about it. – Jeanette Hernandez

Daymé Arocena, iLe - “Por Tí”

Daymé Arocena is finally getting her flowers, recently earning a Latin Grammy nomination for Song of The Year for her collaboration with Vicente García on “A Fuego Lento” from her most recent album, Alkemi. But as she reaches for the trophy later this month, the Afro-Cuban soul star is revisiting another LP highlight titled “Por Tí,” stripping back the original’s bouncy jazz and hip-hop grooves in favor of enveloping bolero. To assist on the task, she’s enlisted Boricua chanteuse iLe, who lends a depth of melancholy to an already devastating tale of getting lost in someone else’s gravitational pull and ultimately finding the wherewithal to love yourself even more in the end. – Richard Villegas

Vikina & SoundBoyz - “Descontrol”

“Descontrol” is an eclectic mix of deep house and techno beats layered with horns found in traditional folkloric Latine music. Cuban-Ecudorian singer Vikina teamed up with DJ Soundboyz on a mix that examines messy emotion. The single is part of Vikina’s debut album QUESTIONS, which reflects on a time in the singer’s life when she experienced much self-doubt, uncertainty, and questioning of her inner and outer world. As the song title implies, there’s freedom in letting your feelings hit the way they’re meant to, experimenting, and making mistakes. Vikina and Soundboyz encompass this feeling with the intensely melodic opening of the track. The singer’s voice echoes in the back singing “sube,” while drums and horns escalate with her before dropping into the hook, encouraging listeners to lose control. The Miami native is no stranger to the electronic club scenes the city is known for — her goal was to create music that allows listeners to self-examine and even cope with heavier emotions on the dancefloor. – Rosy Alvarez

Francisca Valenzuela - “Rompecorazones”

Francisca Valenzuela links up with fellow Chilean artist Francisco Victoria to bring us “Rompecorazones,” her latest single. Produced and co-written by Victoria, the song gives piano drama and ‘70s-leaning rock stylings to tell a story of a friendship turned sour, showing that heartbreak doesn’t only come from romantic relationships. Valenzuela lashes out after being betrayed by her friend, reaching her peak in the arena-sized chorus where she cries, “Rompecorazones/ Me partiste en dos.” But Valenzuela’s revenge is simple: kill them with kindness. – Cheky

GeezLy, Brray - "GVNG”

GeezLy, the Bronx-based rising rap star, joins forces with Puerto Rican urban artist Brray for this latest single, “GVNG.” The track uses the two artists’ unique flows as its grounding force, creating something entirely new and different. “GVNG” tells the story of the duo’s origins, celebrating the loyalty, resilience, and strength required to move up in their careers. The musical influences of the track are clear, combining the multicultural sound of the Bronx as its beat with the attention-to-detail storytelling that characterizes Puerto Rican lyricism — it’s a breath of fresh air among the many urban rap collab singles coming out right now. – Sofia Viera

aLex vs aLex - “nadie lo saBe (feat. Pedazo de Carne con Ojo)”

New York-based artist aLex vs aLex, aka Sofia Insua, taps in rising Philly artist Pedazo de Carne con Ojo for an ambitious and vividly abrasive reimagining of her single, “nadie lo saBe.” Insua is a composer — a young one at that — throwing out the means of tradition and embracing a youthful dedication to exploring sounds from all angles. Her latest remix is one of few in her catalog but demonstrates a real ear for quaint and lively textures. The latest interpretation of “nadie lo saBe” amalgamates Insua’s love of jazzy drum samples and sweet synths. The remix takes the most charming elements of the original and completely turns the energy on its head, blending the realms of jazz and electronic music while maintaining the sincerity of an already delightful-sounding song. – Alan Baez

Belafonte Sensacional, Julieta Venegas - “Suaves Son Los Días”

Although Mexico City’s Belafonte Sensacional are well known for their riotous live shows — known by the endearing term “destroys” — there’s a tender side to this band that has yielded some of their best songs, and “Suaves Son Los Días” is one of them. This is a folky song that captures melancholy and transforms it into a gorgeous elegy for a lost one. Julieta Venegas shows up and adds gravitas and beauty while gentle percussion and vaguely-norteño guitars give way to a chorus so catchy and heartfelt you’ll have no choice but to surrender to it. “Suaves Son Los Días” is a sad song that can uplift you into ecstasy. — Marcos Hassan

MAGNA - "Lo Que Dura La Canción (feat. Cuco)"

Following the release of this summer’s TODO PUEDE SUCEDER, MAGNA is back with a moody earworm featuring Cuco. “Duro lo que dura una canción/Me dejaste en el oscuro/Y en el recuerdo suyos… Como pensé que algo tan bueno pa ti no fue nada,” the Colombian singer hums against a backdrop of airy synths and soft acoustic guitars, ruminating on the aftermath of a short-lived but deeply intense romance. “Lo Que Dura La Canción” is a mashup of wavy dream pop and retro electronica atmospheres where MAGNA wrestles with unrequited love without being ridden with bitterness or caught up in a cycle of self-loathing. – Nayeli Portillo

SNENiE - “No Es Un Secreto”

Dominican-born, Mexico City-based singer-songwriter SNENiE shares her new single “No Es Secreto,” which makes us feel those flourishing first moments of falling in love. Captured is a dreamy alternative soul-pop melody wrapped in the artist’s caressingly sweet and soothing voice as she navigates wanting to share your feelings of admiration towards a budding crush. There’s a youthful glow and warmth that finds us all at the beginning of love’s earliest stages, and the single perfectly encloses both the dynamics of both the nervous and exciting energy that come with it in an entrancingly honeyed listening experience. – Jeanette Diaz

LaDí - “FU2N (feat. Fanta Rosario, Søul)”

With her signature spectral voice and sensuous demeanor, Puerto Rican siren LaDí has set herself apart in the Puerto Rico indie scene by being a unique proposition. After dropping two EPs, this week she released her first full-length album, SOLITA EN SU MUNDO. Her previous projects were self-produced, but here she teams up with Søul and Andres Melz, who fully understand the assignment and don’t make her stray from her sound — haunting yet sultry. In “FU2N,” she collabs with rising Art Label Studios rapper Fanta Rosario, whose own recent FISHER PRICE, Vol. 2 is a perfect introduction to his irreverent and drawly style. The pairing might seem left-field, but it works like sweet & sour. — Juan J. Arroyo

Kevin AMF - “Loki”

Kevin AMF released his first album Richland, featuring the focus track “Loki.” With “Loki,” the Culiacán-born star self-declares himself as the King of Dembow, with risqué lyrics about partying, girls, and drugs – despite only being 17. With a throbbing dembow beat and his scattered, high-pitched raps, the young Mexican star gives the listener whiplash as we try to keep up with the unconventional mix. However, that’s also why his songs go viral — his fans like to keep up with his eccentric and versatile offerings, never knowing what to expect next. – Jeanette Hernandez

Paul Higgs - “Otra Vez de Nuevo”

Uruguayan raconteur Paul Higgs has been a staple of indie scenes on both sides of El Río de la Plata, cutting his teeth in his native Montevideo before making the leap to Buenos Aires in 2019. Movement and constant uprooting can be a lonely ordeal, and “Otra Vez de Nuevo,” one of the centerpieces of his new album El Misterio de Paul Higgs, is a playful meditation on the twists and turns that every artsy nomad must face along the way. Weaving candombé drums, ’60s tropicalia guitars, and a gregarious vocal delivery that jumps between images of his favorite Montevideo haunts and Buenos Aires protests, the result is a wanderlust fantasy full of effervescent heart. – Richard Villegas

Dr. Ryo - “GOLD (feat. Kevin Roldan, Valka, OZworld)”

The latest single from Japanese producer and artist Ryosuke Sakai, aka Dr.Ryo, is a cross-cultural fusion of Colonial European myth, reggaeton riddim, and rap. Colombian hitmaker Kevin Roldan, rising Colombian indie pop singer Valka, and Japanese rapper OZworld come together to flex their gilded worlds full of jewels, success, and loved ones. The vision behind “Gold” was to create a track where artists from different sides of the globe can symbolically describe what gold means to them. To harmonize the fusion of both cultures, Dr.Ryo constructed the track using reggaeton percussions and traditional Japanese instruments. Strums from the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument, and the shakuhachi, an end-blown flute made from bamboo, accompany the bass drums throughout the track and complement the bouncy lyrical flows of all three artists. The idea was sparked by both region’s association with the precious metal, as Japan was formerly nicknamed “Golden Country Zipangu” and the tale of “El Dorado, the Golden Kingdom,” which, as it’s known today, is an embellished European tale that is loosely based on real Indigenous Colombian anecdotes. – Rosy Alvarez

Boogarins - “Corpo Asa”

Brazilian quartet Boogarins just wrapped up their recent North American tour, and they’re celebrating with yet another preview from their upcoming new album Bacuri, set to drop later this month. “Corpo Asa” is Boogarins at their dreamiest, conjuring their usual strain of psych-rock with a splash of soul on the vocals to make us float. Singer Dinho Almeida fantasizes about living with a loved one under the same roof, be it a partner, relative, or dear friend, as a transformative experience. While he sings about it as his way to leave home, he actually ends up finding it in that special someone. – Cheky

Jeyyff - “No Quiero Nada (feat. Gigolo & La Exce)”

Jeyyff’s newest single “No Quiero Nada” is an ode to the classic one-night-stand reggaeton songs we all grew up on. In collaboration with Gigolo & La Exce, the artist blends modern trap rhythms with reggaeton beats and lyrics. Each singer recounts their similar heartbroken-but-sensual stories: they want to move on from toxic exes, keep their independence, guard their feelings, and keep things casual in sex. – Sofia Viera

Kinski Gallo - “Ruta del Sol”

Blasting from the past with a bold new sound is Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter Kinski Gallo. Gallo is no stranger to writing rich lyrics over tantalizing melodies, but his new EP Under the Empress Moon, sees him blending melodic hooks over thumping drum loops for a dynamic reinvention of an older style. Gallo incorporates his musical upbringing and influences in the form of “Paisatronica,” a new kind of genre he coined inspired by his father, a mariachi singer who introduced him to writing and performing. The project’s opener “Ruta del Sol” paints the image of Gallo’s latest EP by melding traditional Latine-inspired rhythms with his love for modern dance music, resulting in a spirited fusion of different electronic soundscapes. It demonstrates Gallo’s love of his musical roots while embracing change through a colorful, modern sound. – Alan Baez

Vaya Futuro - “Otredad”

Judging by their recent output, Vaya Futuro has made a conscious effort to go straight to the point and rock harder than ever before. “Otredad” shows the full extent of their new mission, starting with a slowcore verse punctuated by sweet vocals. Later on, they’re off to the races, with guitars going from shimmering arpeggios to downtuned riffing and, of course, going full shoegaze for extra emotional pull, giving us alt-rock winks in its own style. With “Otredad,” Vaya Futuro finds inspiration in the ‘90s and delivers one of their most melodic moments on record so far. — Marcos Hassan

GRTSCH - “Nena Fina”

GRTSCH is coming to bring Mexican electro-alternative to its technological future, and “Nena Fina” is just a taste of what’s to come. From the first alluring synth sounds to the introduction of heavy bass, the track develops into a hypnotic hybrid explosion of reggaeton, dembow, and Afrobeats infused hyper-pop. As the beats build and drop throughout, she narrates a tale as old as time of the girls who lose themselves within a relationship to the point of isolation, only to be scorned by the one who was once the center of their world. At the end, the song is made for a celebration of all the real nenas finas – the girls who are always there for you despite the mistakes you may make along the way. Because real bad bitches always have each other’s backs, and GRTSCH is here to provide a soundtrack to dance to until that message sinks back in. – Jeanette Diaz

The Cat Lady - “Rorschachs”

Hailing from Santo Domingo, the Dominican rock duo The Cat Lady is currently in the middle of a renaissance. Based in Colombia, the band is revving up for the release of their second LP, which will present a “new phase” in their sound and approach. The first single of that release is “Rorschachs” — named after the famous inkblot interpretation test — which the band playfully refers to as a “bacharengue punk.” The tag comes into clear view in the song’s second half, when its influences coalesce into a riotous instrumental whirlwind of bachata and merengue riffs over punk drums. Coupled with the introspective and vulnerable lyrics, the song lives up to its namesake, open to the listener’s interpretation. — Juan J. Arroyo

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