20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Hidrogenesse to YADAM

Hidrogenesse - “Imaginado es Todo”

One of the foundations of Pride is remembering and celebrating the elders, many of whom have been lost to history too early, whether through illness, violence, or the inability to exist freely and wholly. Catalonian electropop duo Hidrogenesse have made a habit of tributing gay trailblazers, like English mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing and the egregiously underrated Movida Madrileña genius Carlos Berlanga. Now the pair is diving into the vast literary canon of Álvaro Pombo, adapting his 1977 poem “Variación 38ª” into a groovy, wistful slice of sophistipop called “Imaginado es Todo.” Navigating philosophical quandaries of beauty and loss, the song’s bouncy drum machines and dreamlike synths wash over the listener as Hidrogenesse reach the inevitable conclusion that even love could be a figment of one’s imagination, but death will always be terribly real. – Richard Villegas

YADAM - “Pórtate Bien”

YADAM is still riding high on the success of his debut album BELAMOR, and two years after its release, he’s back with a new six-track EP just in time for Pride Month. The Venezuelan artist is known to thrive in drama and intense soul-searching explorations, but on “Pórtate Bien,” he lets loose and breaks the rules. It’s an upbeat pop track to jump in your bedroom to, powered by an infectious beat and palm-muted guitar motifs. Here, YADAM remembers his mom’s advice to stay out of trouble and away from bad company, but he’s willing to make mistakes of his own and learn life lessons his own way, even if it’s the hard way. – Cheky

BENDI LA BENDICIÓN feat. Ana Macho - “EKELEKUÁ”

Pride Month might be winding down, but it always goes out with a bang as the biggest festivities heat up at the end of the month. In anticipation of his newest EP, #BROKEBOYSUMMER, Puerto Rican and NYC native BENDI LA BENDICIÓN releases his newest single, “EKELEKUÁ,” which sees him teaming up with fellow compatriot and most jayá Ana Macho for a “dark jersey club” anthem. The track embraces the expressive energy of being queer and fearless — flaunt it or go home, now more than ever. Dominican DJ duo Dos Flakos cameo at the beginning, giving club legitimacy to a song that lives up to its promise. — Juan J. Arroyo

Isabella Lovestory - “Vanity”

After tremendous success with her first project, Isabella Lovestory confirms her place as an experimental pop Queen with Vanity, her second album and also the title for this track, where the Honduran singer presents the dangers of getting lost in the dark side of a mirror and the superficiality of modern life. “I am my own illusion,” she sings as she strolls and runs away from herself in the hypnotizing music video, which seems like the most current and fashionable version of Alice in Wonderland. With top-notch production, addictive beats, and a mesmerizing voice that pierces with its cleanliness and crystal clear qualities, it is a strong reminder to be cautious about the lie of vanity becoming our only reality, a maze of mirrors and self-indulgence that, if we let it, can be impossible to escape. – La Morra Lisa

Nino Freestyle, La Insuperable, Boy Wonder CF - “Doy”

Dominican artists Nino Freestyle and La Insuperable linked up on their newest dembow banger “Doy.” Produced by Boy Wonder CF, the high-energy track exudes attitude, with each artist letting it be known that they give it all — face, body, and flow included. With fierce baddie energy, La Insuperable lays her verse, saying she’s got everything that you desire. Nino Freestyle matches her vibe with perhaps one of the song’s most memorable lines: “Si no es de esta liga, ¿por qué se compara?” pushing his haters to the side. Point blank: “Doy” is the perfect go-to dembow to get hyped before hitting the sizzling streets this summer. – Jeanette Hernandez

Adiós Cometa - “Candelaria”

Costa Rica’s Adiós Cometa gives us a preview of their forthcoming record Un Destello de Luz with a biting new single entitled “Candelaria.” Since the release of 2020’s “Franco,” the San José outfit has spent the last few years crafting serene gems tinted with the sounds of dream pop, but the rumbly distorted guitars that open their latest track hint at a stormier new sonic direction for the shoegaze rockers. “Candelaria” is melodic but heavy and turbulent as guitarist and vocalist Mark Murillo howls out fragmented, dread-loaded thoughts that beef up the track’s chilly atmosphere: “Mi intención no fue olvidarte/Mi tradición es escaparme…Luz tan solo fue/Dices la verdad?” — Nayeli Portillo

Adrian Quesada, Ed Maverick – “Afuera”

Adrian Quesada unveils his long-awaited follow-up project Boleros Psicodélicos II, and with it arrives the final lead single “Afuera.” Reigning in beloved Chihuahuan crooner Ed Maverick, the duo transmute sound into a haunting, hypnotic realm where Quesada’s signature blend of psychedelic Latin American rhythms and hip-hop beats transports listeners into something both familiar and uncannily unknown. Ghostly harmonies fade into jagged guitar strums and melodic percussion, while Maverick’s voice floods the track with aching presence. Renowned for its emotional pull, his vocal delivery drifts like the kind of ache that resurfaces like a lover’s memory turned back into painful flesh, unraveling from the mind and spilling into the body. The result feels otherworldly, like a place you didn’t know you were aching to return to until the song took you there. And we want to live there immediately, heartbreak and all. — Jeanette Diaz

ALMAS - "VERANO CRUEL"

ALMAS is the definition of when individual talents come together to create something bigger. The Mexican girl group composed of Alegría, Dae, Dany, and Steph has just released their newest single. “Verano Cruel” is an exploration of the bittersweet feelings revolving around a summer fling, a romance sweet as can be, but with a glaring expiration date. Despite the less happy undertones, the track is generally optimistic, paying tribute to the nostalgic whimsy of early 2000s synth pop and R&B, making even its melancholy enticing to the listening ear. The accompanying music video adds to the nostalgic feelings created by the song, showing the girls playing with cupid arrows and reminiscing about their lost summer love in a rather Grease-like manner. – Júlia Henn

Bluecommand - “Quantum Reality” 

With this track, Mexican deep techno artist Bluecommand demonstrates her ability to balance dancefloor energy with introspective sensibility. On “Quantum Reality,” her contribution to the Various Hearts compilation from the Secuencias Temporales label, we hear elements that work in harmony through contrast. Namely, sustained ambient chords, sampled dialogs, upbeat drum machines, and danceable basslines. The song emanates both a sense of calmness and kinetic energy, placing the listener in a warm sonic atmosphere. A highlight of the comp, “Quantum Reality” gives a window to the soul of an artist who manages to speak with their unique artistic voice. — Marcos Hassan

Fillas de Cassandra, Çantamarta - "A todas partes"

Fillas de Cassandra and Çantamarta have written a love letter to the land that gave them life. “A todas partes” is a testament to the idea that no matter where you are or how far you stray from home, you can always remain connected to your roots and feel the pull to return to what is, ultimately, home. Proudly representing Spain, they sing “Teño un acento que chega a todas partes, tengo una voz que llega a todas partes,” acknowledging that their voices, angelic and resonant, carry Spain in every vowel they speak, and that their sound travels far, expressing who they are. The artists explore an experimental sound enriched by the inclusion of traditional instruments like piano and drums. A true work of art, the song makes you feel every word and every note, as they pour their heart and soul into both the lyrics and the composition. — Natasha Melina Argudo

Mula, Javiera Mena - “Acelero”

If there’s one major takeaway from Mula’s highly anticipated new album, Eterna, it’s that the Dominican trio loves women. The absurdly stacked guest list includes Mexican punk queen Jessy Bulbo, Dominican pop vixen Letón Pé, Argentine electropop producer Lucia Tacchetti, and an explosive techno-merengue turn from Chilean indie pop priestess Javiera Mena on “Acelero.” Arriving with a music video overflowing with sapphic imagery, the track plunges into sexual awakening, teasing on the chorus, “Aunque tus ojos ponen pero, me miran y los libero.” The seductive mix of galloping merengue tambora and dark bass lines prime “Acelero” for nightclub glory and sweaty backroom kissing – a new favorite for all seasons. – Richard Villegas

Linda Mirada - “Morena del Apóstol”

For all of us who were submerged in the Spanish indiesphere in the 2010s, Ana Naranjo made us dream with her first two albums made under her Linda Mirada moniker, China Es Otra Cultura and Con Mi Tiempo y El Progreso, and after twelve years away from the spotlight, she’s officially back and with, Qué Largo Es El Verano, her upcoming album. “Morena del Apóstol,” her latest single, brings us back to her signature retro aesthetic, a blend of Balearic pop and Italo Disco concocted by collaborator North Satellite, where evocative sun-kissed synths set the scene for Naranjo’s memories of a girl she saw from behind a gate in the Madrilenian neighborhood of La Guindalera. It’s a beach-scented song for a summer in the city. – Cheky

PJ Sin Suela, Mike Bahía, Sebas Bárcenas - “Ella es Pa’ Mí”

PJ Sin Suela had the best year of his career in 2024, with his album Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto receiving wide acclaim from fans and critics alike. Not resting on his laurels, the Puerto Rican rapper is already cooking up a follow-up and this week drops a new collab with Colombian Mike Bahía and Guatemalan Sebas Barcenas. The song is upbeat in both its production and lyrics, with all three crooners fawning over a love interest that brings out the best in them. Every summer deserves a cute bop to dance under the sun’s warmth alongside a boo, and “Ella es Pa’ Mí” is tailored for exactly that. — Juan J. Arroyo

Max Tejera - “NUESTRO SECRETO (Hypersonic Angel Remix)” 

Uruguayan artist Max Tejera injects new life into his electropop project, La Comedia, with a deluxe edition featuring a series of shiny remixes. “Bailar y Llorar” gets reimagined by Argentinian Artist TINXH, who turns it into a high-energy banger that will surely pump you up at the gym or make the dancefloor explode. “Dreamteam” gets revisited by underground Drag Performer and Producer Kei Drama, providing this romantic love letter with an industrial flair sure to entrance your crush when you send it to them. “Nuestro Secreto” gets two remixes: one very, very strong, almost violent treatment by musician, beatmaker, and DJ Hypersonic Angel, and another one by Max Tejera himself, bringing an energetic hyperpop dance vibe to it reminiscent of the best parts of Charli xcx’s Brat. Be sure to check out these re-editions to enjoy the full album and dive into Max’s creative vision. – La Morra Lisa

Edwin - “Date Cuenta” 

Tijuana-born artist Edwin released his newest single, “Date Cuenta,” off his EP, Primavera, in time for Pride. “Date Cuenta” is an encouraging love ballad to his best friend — a reminder that she’s better than the hardships she’s going through. With lyrics like, “Si tú pudieras ver lo que hay en ti / Si tú supieras que eres tan bella y perfecta,” and “El universo es tan pequeño junto a ti,” he weaves a love letter paired with gentle guitar chords, and a harmonizing chorus that gives ode to ‘60s rock and roll. “This single is a reminder that we are all special and to embrace who we are,” Edwin said about the new track. “I hope that my music will inspire others to see the beauty in themselves.” – Jeanette Hernandez

Cristóval Dilunar - "La Última Fiesta" 

Cristóval Dilunar is a producer and DJ based in Santiago, Chile, whose catalog incorporates everything from glitchy trance to witchy dembow speckled with old-school warehouse party rave music. On “La Última Fiesta,” the artist melds ethereal synths with a springy house beat for a lush and hypnotizing, tenderhearted love song about losing yourself on the dance floor. “Pegate a mi y pásalo bien…es tan triste y tan hermoso/bailar contigo, mirándote a los hojos por última vez,” Dilunar murmurs over the song’s driving four on the floor thump, as they savor that final sweat-stained dance of the night. — Nayeli Portillo

Sexpeace - “Lexapro”

LA-based artist Marco Soto, who performs under the moniker SEXPEACE, shares his latest single and video for “LEXAPRO.” The track is raw, volatile, and plays like a gritty alt-indie spiral, soaked in hazy textures and distorted vocals, as the lyrics try to navigate a fog that never lifts. Named after the antidepressant often prescribed for anxiety, the song captures the emotional paralysis of heartbreak, where being with someone or without them starts to feel indistinguishably dulled. “LEXAPRO” sits in that numbed-out liminal space where detachment feels like the goal, but feeling everything still wins. Every day starts to blur, with or without them, and the only way out is to scream every word loud enough to finally shift something, anything, in hopes that detachment might finally stick. — Jeanette Diaz

Linxes - “Hoy Estoy En Otra Parte” 

“Hoy estoy en otra parte,” the latest release by Argentinian duo LINXES — composed of artists Danny Brichetti and Lucas Stefenón — is a perfect summarization of the label the duo bestowed upon their own brand of sound, which is post-pop. Every note of the song feels innovative, futuristic, and yet familiar, in some ways, never losing sight of the essence of their own sound and pop itself as a music genre. The familiarity found in the track also feels like a tribute to the Y2K sonic aesthetic, employing the usage of the pop variant known as synth pop, sounding especially reminiscent of songs by another duo, Russia’s t.A.T.u. Whether they are exploring the endless possibilities that lie in the future or searching the past for inspiration, it is certain that LINXES creations are to be enjoyed in the present, and as soon as possible.  – Júlia Henn

Lathe Of Heaven - “Aurora”

Here, modern goth rock quartet Lathe Of Heaven shows us what makes it one of the most evocative acts in the current scene. The title track of their forthcoming album, “Aurora” stacks insistent four-on-the-floor beats and the prominent bassline that places one boot firmly in graveyard fun territory. Meanwhile, swirling guitars give it a jangly quality that allows its emotional undertones to shine through, adding a bit of shoegaze to the proceedings. With “Aurora,” Lathe Of Heaven gives us a song of gothic brilliance that can also lift the listener’s spirits. — Marcos Hassan

Randy, Young Miko - “Jetski”

You can catch Randy and Young Miko living the playboy lifestyle this summer to the beat of their new anthem, “Jetski.” Vibrant and laid-back, the track paints a picture of their ideal summer day. The duo takes us out to sea, basking in the tropical sun with a bottle of bubbly, beautiful women, and a carefree vibe as they ride jet skis and cruise on yachts. Following the success of their previous collaborations, “ID” and “Colmillo,” it’s clear the Puerto Rican hitmakers know exactly what their fans want. Randy’s verses are suave and confident, affirming that they continue to level up, while Young Miko’s bars declare that she’s that girl, with the power to bring whoever she wants, from coast to coast, to live the movie she loves. “Jetski” marks the first single from Randy’s upcoming solo album, Romances de una Nota, Vol. 3. — Natasha Melina Argudo