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20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Gordo to Keysokeys

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12.13.2024 at 09:23

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 Gordo with Mc Gw and Malifoo, Keysokeys, and RaiNao. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more por aquí o por acá.

Gordo, Mc Gw, Malifoo - “Mexe Mexe”

This year proved to be a staple arrival of a new arc for producer Gordo — but he’s not letting the year wrap up without getting one last beat in. This is a new phase in his career, ditching the previous moniker and electronic tendencies for a new name and a style with more of his character at the forefront. While DIAMANTE was the producer’s first impression of a new identity, his latest EP is him running a victory laugh. The deep cut from Gordo’s latest EP fuses Latine sensibilities from his upbringing with House influences, resulting in a bonafide sound that’s explicitly Gordo only. This is Gordo going international, assembling heavyweights within the dance music realm but from all over Latin America and Europe. “Mexe Mexe” features the likes of Mc Gw and Malifoo, showing love while representing the hearty bounce and spirit of Brazilian culture, as well as its elements like the hypnotic rhythm and vocals melding with the drums. – Alan Baez

Keysokeys - “Mini Mini”

Keysokeys isn’t content with being known as a reliable and gritty MC, and why should she when she has so many influences to draw from? This week, she releases “Mini Mini,” a sweaty perreo made for grindin’ at the club that demonstrates she still has bite no matter what genre she tackles. Produced by Søul and Keyboy, she channels her signature raw wordplay towards a reggaeton begging to be played at bass-shaking volume. Earlier this year, Keys surprised with the contemplative “NAVEGANDO.” Now heading into 2025, she continues her mission of showing the world just how many doors she can open. — Juan J. Arroyo

RaiNao - “BSUKEO”

RaiNao is throwing a party inside her mouth, and we’re all invited. On her latest “BSUKEO,” the Puerto Rican artist is experimenting with the boundaries of reggaeton by bringing us a track that subverts its rhythms and progressions for something fresh and captivating, all while bringing new meanings of self-pleasure on her autonomous terms. It is accompanied by a music video that not only plays out the sensuality of its lyrics but also adds layers of sensory exploration between its colors, fashion, and visual textures. The result is something not only to be heard but fully experienced and shared between all six — maybe more if we join her in stepping out of the box every once in a while — senses. — Jeanette Diaz

Óscar Maydon - “Otra Mentira”

After his viral hit “Tu Boda,” Mexican singer Óscar Maydon is back with his latest guitar-driven offering, “Otra Mentira.” This song shows the sentimental and vulnerable side of the young star, who is pleading with a former lover to return — regardless if she’s a liar. The romantic ballad strips away any brass instrument distractions and only features Maydon’s echoing vocals on top of an acoustic guitar and bass to show that his voice carries the emotion he’s singing about. Overall, it demonstrates the rising singer’s talent to captivate the listener with his heartfelt croons. – Jeanette Hernandez

070 Shake - "Vagabond"

The feeling of home is almost entirely a state of mind. In some cases, it’s more of a dream that comes to fruition through deep, once-in-a-lifetime love, and Danielle Balbuena, aka 070 Shake, proves this on her third album Petrichor and her latest single “Vagabond.” “Fantasize about a home with you, let me fire warm the bones with you, we belong nowhere else,” the elusive singer murmurs over a thick wall of distorted guitars, contorted cellos, and screeching violins in a single that, at some moments, sounds like a cross between a big goth rock ballad, Mazzy Star and an outtake from Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. – Nayeli Portillo

Sachellys, Kiko - “No Somos Nada”

In a world that tries to pigeonhole what it means to be a Latine in music, British Colombian artist Sachellys is shaping the future of the U.K. Latine music scene with her standout twist of genre-blending and Spanglish storytelling. Her latest single, “No Somos Nada,” featuring her childhood friend and rising Colombian U.K. rapper Kiko, is co-produced by British Colombian producers Esco1sst and DZeus — making for the ultimate Colombian connection that brings both artists together in their experience navigating being Colombian in London. The collaboration centers on a past love story gone wrong, proving that todo tiene su final. Not one to shy away from experimenting with sounds, merging U.K. drill and R&B on the track, Sachellys soothing vocals alongside Kiko’s bilingual heartbroken raps are seamless together. “This song is a true reflection of UK Latin artistry and community — two Colombian artists, raised in the UK, deeply connected to both cultures,” Sachellys said in a statement about the track. — Brenda Barrientos

Paco - “BODY SHOP. (feat. Tommy Richman)”

Mexican-American artist Paco cranks the sensual vibes up with his latest release, “BODY SHOP,” a collaboration with his friend Tommy Richman. The tune takes the audience by the hand, right to the middle of the dancefloor, and compels you to move in sync with the slow, swaggy beats of the song. Despite being a pop track adorned with some rap moments, the R&B influences are clear in its rhythm. The blend of musical genres idealized by Paco works perfectly to create a catchy, sexy song that is bound to make its way into your brain sooner than later. – Júlia Henn

Hidrogenesse - “Volver”

Barcelona duo Hidrogenesse celebrates their recent visit to Mexico with a song about yearning to visit a special city again and again. Fittingly recorded at CDMX’s Progreso Nacional, “Volver” is a nostalgia-heavy playful tune in the guise of an electronic baroque pop song. Through vocoders, vintage synths, and delicate drum machines, Hidrogenesse captures the magical feeling of traveling to a place that totally makes us want to spend more time there. “Volver” is funny, a little sad, and wonderful all around. With music as great as this, we can only hope that Hidrogenesse keeps coming back again and again. — Marcos Hassan

Lisa Scha, Fermin - “Femenino Masculino”

Contrast is the spice of life, but on “Femenino Masculino,” the new single from Argentine pop chanteuse Lisa Scha, gendered lines blur and crumble at the feet of pummeling club bedlam. Enlisting rising hitmaker Fermin on both vocals and production, the pair juxtaposes hard against soft, adorning throbbing bass lines with whispered bars, while the accompanying music video offsets rigid suiting with skimpy, sweaty clubwear. The result is an invitation to flip the script on social norms and release the constraints of gender, with pleasure and ecstasy awaiting on the other side. – Richard Villegas

Ana Tijoux - “Niñx”

If you thought that Ana Tijoux’s return to the limelight was finished, you’d be sorely mistaken. After taking a seven-year hiatus to focus on personal affairs and take a breather from music, French-Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux returned to lay perspective on a world worsened within her break from music. Despite such a long hiatus, Tijoux returned swinging, dropping an excellent independent record, multiple features, and a Tiny Desk EP. She’s back just in time to close out the year with another passion project — a reinterpretation of works from her project, Vida. “Niñx” was a standout on the record for its luscious yet embracive instrumental, but the new remix brings out the bounce of the song’s essence, keeping the original verse intact while making the whole more lively yet maintaining the sentiment. – Alan Baez

Isa - “más preguntas”

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter and La Voz Mexico 2022 finalist Isabela Rodríguez, or simply Isa, continues to give us a taste of her world on her brand new single “más preguntas.” Built around acoustic guitar strums and layers of Isa’s angelic voice, “más preguntas” is a pop jam lightly splashed with hints of R&B where she acknowledges she’s a work in progress but is certain the pieces will fall into place in due time. Meanwhile, as she achieves her goals, a question always runs in her mind: what’s next? – Cheky

Krystal - “inevitable.”

Krystal appeared out of nowhere and made an immediate impact on the Puerto Rican indie scene. Dropping her debut EP, desde mi cuarto, with no fanfare, it took off once discovered, and it’s easy to hear why. Independently recorded and produced all by her lonesome in her dorm room(!) and on her phone(!!), she made one of the most exciting pop releases of the year. Now, riding the fan enthusiasm comes the music video for “inevitable.” and the opportunity for even more people to see the face and personality of a surefire future star. Rarely has someone burst through as ready for the moment like Krystal, and she’s ready to prove it. — Juan J. Arroyo

El Dusty, João Brasil, Deize Tigrona - “VUK VUK TODO EL DÍA”

Bringing together their love for igniting an immediate dancefloor, Texas-based nu-cumbia founder El Dusty and renowned Brazilian DJ João Brasil have taken their longtime friendship and collaborations from in-person festivals to an exciting new project Baile Funk Cumbia. On their debut drop “VUK VUK TODO EL DÍA,” they enlist powerhouse Deize Tigrona to reign in the vocals on the electrifyingly high-energy track where electro-cumbias meet the more abrasive bass sounds of baile funk. While preserving the historically rich textures that bring out the best of both worlds, they’ve created an exhilarating new one. And while we’ll leave it up to folks to decide if they want to Vuk Vuk every day (your body, your choice!), the banger is certifiably one you’ll want to keep spinning every day anytime a bit of uninhibited fun is needed. — Jeanette Diaz

Papaya Dada - “El Abismo”

Ecuadorian cumbia and tropical group Papaya Dada released their new single “El Abismo,” part of their new album with the same name. “El Abismo” oozes traditional elements of cumbia, such as upbeat percussions, melodic brass instruments, and high-pitched spacey synthesizers, directing you to the dancefloor. However, although the song is danceable, the vocalist sings about the hardships after a fallout. But who says you can’t dance your troubles way? – Jeanette Hernandez

Hamilton - “La Favorita de Mi Mamá”

Hamilton gives us a preview of his forthcoming debut album Afro Rockstar with “La Favorita de Mi Mamá.” The single comes at the tail end of a pretty active year for the Cartagena-based singer, who appeared beside Ryan Castro on the track “A POCA LUZ.” This time, the Colombian Afrobeats connoisseur blends traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms with more contemporary electropop-tinted melodies for an easy-paced, feel-good track that has all the necessary elements for a dancefloor-packing earworm. – Nayeli Portillo

Casper Magico & Henry Santos - “Mi Amuleto”

Reggaetonero Casper Magico is stepping into his bachata bag. In his latest single, “Mi Amuleto,” he teams up with Aventura’s very own Henry Santos to venture into a new space that shows a more endearing and vulnerable side of Casper. “It is an honor to collaborate with someone I admire as much as Henry Santos,” he said in a statement. The Dominican bachatero’s tranquilizing vocals complement the love-struck track that centers an unforgettable love so special it’s wearable like an amulet. Towards the end of the video music, Casper honors the life of his sister, who died in 2001 in a private jet crash in the Dominican Republic. “This song has a very special meaning to me, and I dedicate it with all my heart to my sister Debbie, who was a constant inspiration in my life,” he stated. As a solidified power player in reggaeton, the Puerto Rican rapper’s upcoming project, “Los Mágicos,” seems promising as he proves his ability to navigate across genres effortlessly. — Brenda Barrientos

April Nicole - “Sound Off”

Often, it’s hard to tell where inspiration comes from. With April Nicole’s latest release, “Sound Off,” it’s quite the opposite. Conceived by the singer-songwriter during a solo campervan trip in the southwestern deserts of Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and the Mojave Desert, the track radiates the exact energy one would expect from such an adventure. Starting with the sound of a motor engine running, “Sound Off” takes the listener on a journey filled with hypnotic sounds, bass beats, and a melody that never denies the fact that it is rock music at its core. Such a personal yet challenging tune feels like it should be in one of the Twilight Saga soundtracks, next to other famous indie rock names, where April Nicole for sure belongs. – Júlia Henn

Mueran Humanos - “Cadenas de la infancia”

With their new song, Argentine duo Mueran Humanos is taking a break from terrorizing our ears with heavily distorted synths to give us their version of a sweet lullaby. “Cadenas De La Infancia” finds the band in its usual electronic setting, except this time, they conjure a gentle mood that resembles a lost New Order tape played back on a damaged cassette player. Vocalist/instrumentalist Carmen Burgess delivers her verses in a spoken word fashion, only veering into melody for the chorus. In turn, it reflects the fairy tale quality of the lyrics. Things get more epic in the outro, giving this amazing track a fitting conclusion. — Marcos Hassan

Max Tejera - “AHORA TENGO 30”

Over the past five years, Uruguayan singer and club kid Max Tejera has become a fixture of the Buenos Aires queer underground, sauntering alongside campy favorites like Matt Montero, Ceretti, and Electrochongo. But on his new single, “AHORA TENGO 30,” life beyond the club comes into focus as Tejera ponders the challenges and life achievements that come with advancing age. Co-produced with nightlife monster Kei Drama, this electropop thumper celebrates financial self-sufficiency and the presence of mind to choose your bed over drug-fueled afterparties, like a millennial reinterpretation of Pet Shop Boys’ “Being Boring.” – Richard Villegas

Las Trompas de Falopium - “DAEDRON”

Mexico’s Yamil Rezc has a long resume that includes production work for the likes of Julieta Venegas and Zoé, solo electronic experiments as Transgressorcorruptor, and bass playing in Titán’s current lineup. But now, he’s bringing back Las Trompas de Falopium, his dear project that’s been dormant since 2017. “DAEDRON,” one of two new tracks that just dropped, calls back to the project’s psychedelic roots, covering the instrumental with a dark veil of unsettling synths, chirping chopped vocals, and gothy bass fills that can potentially trigger the feeling of being watched. – Cheky

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