20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From CRRDR to Julio Caesar

09.19.25 at 00:26

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 CRRDR, Julio Caesar, and GioBulla. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.

CRRDR - “Spanglish”

Few sonic waves capture our chaotic and brainrotted cultural present like Latincore, more of an ethos than a concrete genre, warping the omnivorous musical tastes of Latin America with blasts of glitchy Internet irreverence. With his forthcoming album, Latincore Legend, Colombian producer CRRDR asserts his place atop the metaverse pyramid, Tokyo-drifting through salsa, dembow, and gabber with the agility of the cartoon roadrunner sampled for his emblematic DJ tag. His throbbing new single “Spanglish” pokes fun at the inexactitude of language and geography in the digital age, melting the imaginary lines that divide a chronically online zeitgeist. “Save the dolls / kill the bros / kiss my balls / scare the hoes,” he shoots in rapid-fire sequence, aligning socio-political messaging with the facility of meme broadcasting. CRRDR punctuates the tirade with a snarky invitation to “Levelin’ up and dance Latincore / Entiende la vibra, it’s easy cabrón,” as booming Jersey drums mutate into reggaeton, proving that true culo-shaking holds little concern for language barriers. — Richard Villegas

Julio Caesar - "Vete De Una Vez"

Nothing delivers a cathartic heartbreak experience quite like a sierreño ballad. Julio Caesar knows this well and taps into the power of goodbye on his latest release, “Vete De Una Vez.” Offering a final single ahead of his debut EP, the young emerging artist transforms betrayal and heartbreak into resolute clarity through an array of melancholic guitar and string-driven melodies. Through a grainy, black and white visual counterpart, the singer navigates misty mountainsides in solitude as he processes the hurt caused by a now past lover. Affirming he won’t forget, but choosing to finally release what no longer fits, this final offering pre-project release provides the quietly powerful reminder that some closures don’t come from the other person; they come from the stillness we choose for ourselves. — Jeanette Diaz

GioBulla - “Poquito”

Exuding a rich confidence and subtly extravagant display of style, the latest track from Dominican singer GioBulla continues his streak of impassioned singles, sparked by enchanted and soulful melodies. “Poquito” as a track can best be displayed by the video of Future saying “sensational.” From its low-key instrumental to precise songwriting, the track carries a flair that defines Bulla’s new wave of “tri-blend” Latine R&B. “Poquito” borrows bolero rhythms while maintaining an undeniably bachata style as its foundation. It’s an exploration of the space between searching for a new love and dreading the potential failure of a crashed relationship, dedicating words of fear over things crumbling apart, but still centering on true yearning. The delivery may be subtle, but the lyricism and vocal delivery ooze with a distinct passion and nonchalant yet never unfocused delivery. – Alan Baez

La Sonora Dinamita - “Los Solteros”

Living up to the reputation that comes with being undeniably iconic throughout generations, La Sonora Dinamita presents its new single “Los Solteros” off the upcoming album Cumbia Sin Fronteras. In this party anthem, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Juan Solo joins in to praise the independence that comes with being single and able to party until the early morning without having to report back to anyone. The sound is joyful, the pairing feels organic, and that effortless chemistry, combined with the masterful execution of both rhythm and classic cumbia instrumentation, gives “Los Solteros” the potential to become a timeless classic, which for a legendary group like La Sonora Dinamita, wouldn’t be a first. – La Morra Lisa

Fabio Capri - “Primer Amor”

Sometimes you never fully bounce back from a fallout with your first love, or at least that’s what Fabio Capri poses in his latest single “Primer Amor.” “Lento/El tiempo se vuelve lento/Cuando te miro a los ojos, todo cambia de blanco y negro a color,” he croons over bright guitars and a chugging bass and daydreams about rekindling a lost spark. The singer-songwriter gives us what is arguably his most vulnerable and bittersweet torch song to date as he reflects on going “all in” for love despite the impending doom of a breakup looming overhead. – Nayeli Portillo

Vanita Leo - “Primer Lugar”

Vanita Leo is among the new wave of women artists leading today’s música mexicana scene. With nostalgic synths, a refreshing grupera vibe, and spellbinding vocals, “Primer Lugar” is one of those endearing songs to listen to when you’re feeling lovesick. The song is the focus single of Vanita’s news EP Cumbiamente, which captures her experiences of love and relationships as a Mexican-American growing up in Texas. Not only that, but Cumbiamente dabbles in different genres such as bolero, cumbia, and beyond, letting it be known that she’s a Spanglish musical chameleon to reckon with. – Jeanette Hernandez

Madi Diaz - “Heavy Metal”

Singer-songwriter Madi Diaz uses the phrase “heavy metal” in her music to capture emotional weight instead of mean-ass distorted guitars. In this case, Diaz confronts herself for having enough courage to keep going, no matter the obstacles, becoming an ode to her own resilience. With her sparse guitar arrangement and vulnerable vocals, it feels like courage is not enough to keep going. She likens her to her mother and tells us how her heart is hard and soft at the same time. The result is a soulful track that offers hope even in dark times, and is a testament to her songwriting talents that help her connect with the listener in a primordial way. — Marcos Hassan

Miranda del Sol - “keep it to yourself”

“En guerra avisada no muere gente,” or “forewarned is forearmed,” is a well-known phrase that tries to manage expectations and lower the risk of conflict. Well, you can’t say Miranda del Sol didn’t warn you. This week, she drops her debut EP when you were asleep (vol. 1), and her focus single aims to introduce you to all her whirlwind passion and talent. Previous singles like “so in looove” showed a softer side, but with “keep it to yourself” she intends to let you know her heart isn’t unguarded either, and her fervor for love can go both ways too. — Juan J. Arroyo

Helado Negro - “More”

Helado Negro announced his signing to UK imprint Big Dada and the release of a brand-new five-track EP titled The Last Sound On Earth (out Nov. 7) by sharing its first single, opening track “More.” Roberto Carlos Lange’s voice is drenched in delay effects, taking the repetitions to the verge of chaos and rendering the lyrics almost unintelligible, which adds to his concept of echo as a blending of abstraction and reality, as he’s trying to make sense of how to navigate the confusion of today’s world. Sharp synths also bounce to the rhythm of the funky beat urging us to move, and we’re left feeling the love shine through even brighter in uncertain times. — Cheky

Tonyyymon - “Boa Noite SP”

Differentiating himself from most that decide to approach the subject of the night life in São Paulo, rapper Tonyyymon isn’t critical or negative about it in his new release, “Boa Noite SP.” Instead, he celebrates the unfiltered joy that can be found in random encounters and the bottom of several bottles. With quick and sharp rhymes, the Brazilian artist sings praise to the sensations provided by the physical and emotional experiences that one can be met with during a night out in the biggest city of the Americas. The use of house music along with beats associated with Brazilian funk provide “Boa Noite SP” with an uplifting sound that transforms the threatening nature of the dark into a world filled with unbridled potential for fun. – Júlia Henn

aLex vs aLex, S.3.R. - “centro aLt”

Maybe it’s our collective social media-induced ADHD, or perhaps we’ve all just become more curious, but music has entered an exciting age of hybridity where fewer artists feel confined to a single genre lane. On “centro aLt,” Guatemalan alt-R&B sprite aLex vs aLex kicks her atmospheric cooing into high gear with glitchy electronic production and slow-grinding perreo drums. But the song reaches new heights with a riveting assist from S.3.R, the recently-minted solo project from Divino Niño co-founder Camilo Medina, who injects the track with vallenato accordion samples and drowsy, sexy vocals. The pair strives for collage rather than a clear image, suggesting that on a sweaty dance floor all tunes, colors, and — if you’re lucky — people can blur together. — Richard Villegas

Ben Carillo - “Centroamericana”

Guatemalan-born, LA-based artist Ben Carrillo returns with “Centroamericana,” a reggaeton love letter that doubles as a cultural tribute that brings an often overlooked population into the spotlight and the heart of the conversation. Inspired by a real-life spark that couldn’t escape his mind, the track plays like a rhythmic celebration of Central American identity as it unravels the infatuation. More than just a flirtation, the single is a melodic dedication to the muses of the region, and a reminder of who deserves to be celebrated more often, and more loudly. Carrillo achieves this by blending a pulsing reggaeton beat with breezy West Coast flair to craft a dancefloor bop that uplifts and radiates pure adoration for the queens of “Centroamericana,” while also propping the door open for an intimately shared close dance or two. — Jeanette Diaz

Silvana Estrada - "Good Night Good Luck"

Building on an already impressive showcase of intimate singles, the latest from Mexican songstress Silvana Estrada presents an unwavering presentation of heartbreak, brought to life with vivid lyrics and theatrical elements. “Good Night Good Luck” provides a final tease of an insight into what fans can expect from her upcoming project Vendrán Suaves Lluvias. A sonically beautiful arrangement of subtle textures, the track displays Estrada’s attention to detail, utilizing every second for an overarching narrative. Every instrumental element is distinctively woven into the fabric of the instrumental with heavy intention, resulting in an incredible crescendo that embodies heartbreak in every stage, including the morbid acceptance that all have to inevitably endure. – Alan Baez

Mariah Angeliq - “Que Perra Me Veo”

Straight from her upcoming six-track EP Princesa de la Noche, Miami-born star Mariah Angeliq presents “Que Perra Me Veo,” an all-around darker and sharper proposal than her typical work without compromising her sonic identity. Enveloped in a production that feels of the highest quality via an entrancing reggaeton beat, Mariah confidently sings and raps about knowing how good she looks, being willing to “do bad things,” and how much fun she wants to have — but “buying condoms at the corner stand” first; a responsible Diva. Unapologetically feminine and owning each part of herself in this fresh iteration of her work, it is clear she is confident about knowing how to play and win in the game, especially when you perform and look as perra as she does. – La Morra Lisa

iLe - "Si Te Contara"

Leave it to iLe to breathe new life into a classic like Ismael Rivera’s “Si Te Contara.” The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s rendition of this song, originally arranged by Trinidadian composer and musician Felix Reina, melds dreamy instrumentals with rich and warm vocals to give it an extra nostalgic sheen. The single marks the launch of iLe’s forthcoming boleros-centered album entitled Como las canto yo, due next month. – Nayeli Portillo

La Cassandra - “By Your Side”

La Cassandra is back with a new music video for “By Your Side,” as a post-tour thank-you gift for her fans. The sultry R&B single showcases the Dominican-American singer-songwriter’s breathy vocals, transporting you to the early aughts, complete with a spoken segment that captures her deep emotion. “‘By Your Side’ healed a part of me, my inner child,” she said about the new song. “Writing this song, I came face to face with my childhood, a part of me I had tried to sweep under the rug for so long. It’s a hug to every person feeling like the weight of the world is on their shoulders.” This new track also marks the singer’s first English song to date, giving us a glimpse of what she’s capable of in the Anglo market. – Jeanette Hernandez

Hidrogenesse - “A La Muerte”

Based on a poem by Alvaro Pombo, the great Spanish absurdist pop duo go full existentialist on this new single. Over soulful keyboard riffs and catchy melodies, Carlos and Genis bring hard truths and playful music, this time concerning everything we won’t be able to do once we die. Musically, they bring electronic hope, relying on a midtempo drum machine and spare synths, while the vocals are plain yet honest, aided by their signature use of vocoder. With “A La Muerte,” Hidrogenesse reminds us to seize the moment and sing along with joy on every opportunity. — Marcos Hassan

AMARÍA LABOY, Chell - “Nada, solo mentiras”

AMARÍA’s countdown to the release of his newest EP, eres TÚ, no soy YO, continues with his newest single, “Nada, solo mentiras.” Here, he teams up with Colombian songstress Chell, who he previously collaborated on “BESOS X SIEMPRE.” Produced by Balbi, the track is part-dreampop, part-love rap, and all emotion. The duo sing about infatuation and disillusionment, how frustratingly linked those two tend to be, and not really knowing (album title aside) whether the blame is on themselves or the other. The catchy hook and chorus elevate the song and set the tone for what’s looking to be a solid debut for the Puerto Rican singer. — Juan J. Arroyo

duendita - “big one”

Chicago’s duendita is back to overflow the dancefloor with love with their new single, “big one.” Released together with the smokey “bassline” and produced by friend and collaborator Noah Becker, “big one” is a gorgeously understated dance track that fills us with the overpowering joy of being hit by a wave of gratitude while dancing in the middle of the club. A driving kick pattern contrasts against the soft synths and occasional piano fluorishes, and together with duendita’s distinctly velvety voice, heightened with harmonies from Emily Akpan and Vanessa Camacho, we’re embraced by the song like it’s a best friend at a party right before the sun comes out. — Cheky

Juyè, Jorge Vercillo - “Jeito Certo"

The easy, calming flow of Jorge Vercillo’s most famous hits get a brand new version in Juyè’s voice. For “Jeito Certo,” the young singer from the indigenous village of Parakaña in the northern region of Brazil creates an amalgamation of Vercillo’s works in her own personal style. The project is a way to honor the more experienced artist and the importance of his work in Juyè’s life, particularly since her mother is a big fan of his. Getting Vercillo’s voice in the track also contributes with the sense of paying homage to an artist that helped with shaping the musical scenario of which she is now a part of. “Jeito Certo” is sure to please those who look for the comfort of old favorites and those who are open to experiencing new iterations of those same tunes. – Júlia Henn

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