20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From La Cassandra to RØZ & Yng Lvcas

04.18.2025 at 02:32

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 La Cassandra, RØZ with Yng Lvcas, and Pablo EEE with Ysa C. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.

La Cassandra - “Loco”

Coming off the heels of her previous track “No Tengo Dueño,” Dominican singer-songwriter La Cassandra is showing out for her sophomore project, Gloria & Dolores, meditating between dynamic new sounds and familiar melodies. “Loco” is an exploration of merengue as a whole, teetering between these ideas for something blissfully nostalgic. Gloria & Dolores is the culmination of years of cultivating your craft while reconnecting with your roots, and while La Cassandra has been sonically perfecting the art, she’s been exploring other avenues of performance and reflecting on the connection between her music and Dominican heritage. While “Loco” may have a simple name, the song structure is quite the opposite. From the playful yet subtle drums to the crescendo within the vocal performance, La Cassandra’s track presents something refreshing within merengue music while paying homage to the tropical sounds that shaped her upbringing. – Alan Baez

RØZ & Yng Lvcas - “flashes”

The wait for Mexican duo RØZ’s music video for “flashes” featuring Yng Lvcas is over. The song, which was originally released in October, has elements of techno house and Latine trap intertwined, with Yng Lvcas switching from English to Spanish throughout the song, he seamlessly blends his own twist to the beloved tune. The video encompasses a ’90s-esque vibe that is set to take the audience into a one-of-a-kind night. One that feels like you’re in Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” music video. Manolo Cabrera and Hugo Lara of RØZ are working towards becoming standout artists taking over the Mexican music scene. — Brenda Barrientos

Pablo EEE, Ysa C - “Pa’ Toa La Vida”

Late last year, Colombian singer Ysa C released her EP Bella, and included the standout track “Pa Toa La Vida.” This week, fellow compatriot Pablo EEE puts a salsa spin on it and, alongside Ysa, elevates an already-inspiring song to new levels. Where the original was a melancholic Afrobeats that leaned into that tumultuous emotion, this new version tacks an upbeat note that shines like a light at the end of the tunnel, all while maintaining its heart on its sleeve. It’s a team-up that works well and shows the exciting possibilities of how a song can take on a new life. — Juan J. Arroyo

Dariell Cano, Yng Naz - "Lágrimas de Cristal"

Gen Z artists aren’t scared of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Sierreño artist Dariell Cano teamed up with Yng Naz for their newest collaboration, “Lágrimas de Cristal.” The new acoustic track narrates a story of unsuccessful long-distance love, paired with nostalgic guitar chords, a soft bass, and an ethereal synth-like reverb ambiance that adds a special and emotional nuance. Together, the duo’s voices spearhead the tune, leveling up the poetic track with their distinctive and serene melodic croons. “Lágrimas de Cristal” is part of Cano’s upcoming album Romántico Sin Esperanza, due May 22. – Jeanette Hernandez

Judeline, MC Morena - “Tú Et Moi"

Following her first weekend Coachella debut, breakout Spanish artist Judeline brings an incredibly fresh new single with “Tú Et Moi.” The seduction-drenched track is a baile funk-infused house and electro-pop banger that dances through a growing impassioned connection between Judeline and her lover. Layered in textures, sounds, and languages, with Brazilian artist MC Morena bringing the heat on the opening and the beat drops, the song sensually glides effortlessly like a whispered secret between lovers in Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Because when the chemistry’s this electric, one language isn’t enough — and neither is playing it safe when surrender is the only thing left to say. — Jeanette Diaz

AQNO - “Já Me Vu”

Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer AQNO shines in his newest album Latino Brega Love, a passion project that features iconic artists such as Dona Onete, Gang do Eletro, and Layse. The release is accompanied by a short film that theatrically illustrates every track, making it a very interesting visual album. Filled to the brim with references to the best of northern Brazilian music, Latino Brega Love honors Amazonian rhythms such as cumbia, bachata, zouk, lambada, brega, and more. “Já Me Vu,” one of the main tracks on the project, might fool those who don’t understand Portuguese, since its fun, exciting, and flamboyant sound doesn’t give a clue about the seductive nature of the lyrics, that speak of the prospect of a night enjoyed in three, except for the sultry vocalizations of AQNO himself. – Júlia Henn

Chicarica - “Parará”

Chile’s Chicarica explores melody and electronic textures with their latest single, revealing a warmer side to their sounds. Nineties rave-flavored cybernetic synths adorn Lorena Pulgar’s vocals — subdued and frank — singing a no-nonsense melody that picks up speed as the track progresses. With “Parará,” this trio proves they can weave together sounds and silences, giving each note room to breathe and achieving a minimalistic approach that gives us a track that should go hard on the dancefloor. Add a hopeful outlook in the lyrics and poppy topline to result in a song that’s icy-yet-warm, and the right balance of ingredients for a rave classic in the making. — Marcos Hassan

Juana Rozas, Chita - “Besito a las Flores”

Within the thriving landscape of Argentine pop girlies, Juana Rozas beams with messy glee. Her new album, Tanya, is a rocking, industrial celebration of the bad girls shut out of Heaven but who’d rather hit the club down the block anyway. And still, the witchy Porteña creates moments of beautiful vulnerability, as on “Besito a las Flores,” where she teams up with the chameleonic siren Chita to eulogize a crumbling romance. “Si me mentís, escóndelo, escóndelo no quiero saber / porque te quiero y me hace daño tu querer,” they harmonize, blowing farewell kisses over a throbbing canvas of rioplatense strings and saturated electronic kicks. The result is an oasis of raw emotion in an album rife with hedonistic antics, and a reminder that smudged mascara is proof of beating, feeling hearts. – Richard Villegas

Ariza, Morat - “Ciudad Amurallada”

Singer-songwriter Ariza joins forces with fellow Colombian rockers Morat for a swooning new single that will surely tug at your heartstrings. “Ciudad Amurallada” is a deeply intimate moment that echoes the tenderness of some of Ariza’s most recent work, like “Te Volvere a Encontrar.” The two Bogota-born artists channel the sonic magic of soft-rock sounds and piano-led pop ballads to talk about breaking down one’s walls and offering a sense of emotional safety through complete vulnerability: “Quiero ser la calma que te cubre en las mañanas, quiero ser el viento que se cuela en tu ventana.” – Nayeli Portillo

Entrañas, Lukrø - “Gostosa”

Ecuador’s Entrañas and Peru’s Lukrø joined forces on a new EP for Matraca titled Carburador, where they grabbed inspiration from the São Paulo nightlife to bring us three tracks built especially to be blasted at raves around the world. “Gostosa” is the closing track, and it’s a smokey, high-octane number that borrows heavily from U.K. bass music. It features vocals in Portuguese that conjure a baile funk feel, and together with its deep, hollow bass line and frenetic drum breaks, “Gostosa” begs us to let loose and lose control in the club. – Cheky

Dinamarca & Meth Math - “diluvio”

Building off ethereal soundscapes and the clashing of mid 2000s YouTube-era music videos, the latest from collaborators Dinamarca & Meth Math offers a colorful insight into their indie-painted world. There’s unmatched chemistry between Dinamarca and Meth Math, one that can only be cultivated through sheer understanding of their craft and matching of vibes. There’s a distinct energy that their friendship captures and bleeds throughout their music, resulting in a strange yet comforting sound. With the hype continuing to build for their upcoming collaborative album, “diluvio” is the latest single from the two and continues to demonstrate how effective their chemistry is. Blending eerie nightcore-esque vocals with surreal synthetic keys and reggaeton drums makes for a song that doesn’t work on paper, but the end result sounds like the perfect song for someone’s MySpace page. – Alan Baez

Pablo Chill-E, Young Cister, Polimá Westcoast - “Eres Tú”

Pablo Chill-E’s new track “Eres Tu” is a top contender for song of the summer. The Chilean rapper tapped his fellow Chilean colleagues Young Cister and Polimá Westcoast to create the ultimate melodic pop perreo. The video follows the trio on a boat alongside women enjoying the vibes on a beautiful sunny day. The song may make you feel like you want to be on an undisclosed island on a boat somewhere — it’s catchy and a testament to the work Pablo Chill-E has been putting into crafting himself as a rapper and storyteller. — Brenda Barrientos

Golden - “Quién La Mató?”

Colombian rapper Golden has two Grammy noms under his belt and numerous collaborations with big artists like Beéle, Shenseea, Coco Jones, Ryan Castro, and more. But it’s his newest single “Quién La Mató?” that might make his fans most proud of him. A heart-wrenching ode to victims of domestic violence, Golden allies with survivors and laments how most suffer in silence behind closed doors while putting on a brave face in front of others. His titular question isn’t just literal, but also indignation against how women’s dreams and enthusiasm are often extinguished by abusers. The song’s beat might be confused as lively, but his goal is a call to action. — Juan J. Arroyo

Angelina Victoria - “Mejor Nada”

Emerging música mexicana artist Angelina Victoria released her newest single “Mejor Nada,” a mesh between corridos tumbados with pop flair. Coated with passionate vocals about a heartbreak, the new song showcases an interesting blend that features guitar chords, brass instruments, and a pop soundscape. Throughout the song, the artist narrates a love story going nowhere. With fierce lyrics like, “La neta mejor nada, eres pura labia / Ya no me esta gustando, tu tiempo esta contado,” Angelica Victoria decides it’s better to let the unrequited love go, rather than continue to wait for an indecisive lover to realize what she’s worth. And you know what? Good for her. – Jeanette Hernandez

Ana Tijoux, Hordatoj - “Retome la pluma”

Formidable Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux returns to drop a follow-up to last year’s album VIDA with EP Serpiente de Madera. The latest collection, named in ode to this year’s Chinese horoscope of the Wood Snake, was produced with the help of Hortadoj — the same dynamic that brought her breakthrough album 1977 to its acclaimed fame. “Retome la pluma,” the EPs focus track, sees the artist return to her signature melodic turntable-scratched beats as she simultaneously also makes a lyrical dive back to her musical beginnings and the unapologetic expression music has provided from the start. As the track goes on, so does her unravelling of a journey inward that finds her recentering herself and reclaiming the strength to remain fearless in flow and the emotional power that freedom of expression, even when difficult, can bring. — Jeanette Diaz

Rachel Reis - “Casca”

Young Brazilian singer-songwriter Rachel Reis establishes her musical identity as a modern axé icon with her sophomore studio album, Divina Casca, featuring guests such as Psirico, Rincon Sapiência, and BaianaSystem. The project unravels the layers of the artist’s personality and career, ultimately laying it bare before the audience with deep, self-exploration lyrics. The title track, “Casca,” echoes the sentiment spread throughout the album, repeating over and over “there’s no one I want to be but myself.” The accompanying music video beautifully illustrates the feelings of self-discovery, acceptance and peace Rachel so easily conveys through her lyrics and relaxing beats. – Júlia Henn

Josiah Flores - “Young, Dumb, and Full Of Beer”

San Francisco’s Josiah Flores is not here to revolutionize country music. Rather, he’s here to use the classic formula to deliver a melancholic tune for the sad times. Featuring classic honky tonk elements like fiddle and lap steel, Flores’s bare, unadorned voice gives the track its gravitas, a heartbreaking account of a fuckup who doesn’t care enough to be better for his partner even if he wants to. Flores walks a delicate line to deliver a song that’s equal parts homage to the golden age of heartbroken country ballads and contemporary emotion that makes this sound appealing for a new generation. — Marcos Hassan

Nicolás y Los Fumadores - “El Adversario”

Nicolás y Los Fumadores have emerged as one of the Colombian rock bands most effectively capturing the agita of early adulthood, notably with the call center laments of their breakthrough, “El Túnel,” back in 2022. As they prepare the release of their fourth studio LP, Nochenegra, the crisis turns existential with “El Adversario,” a new single unpacking patterns of intrusive thoughts and self-sabotage over blistering post-punk. “Angelito bueno cuídame / diablito malo aléjate de mí,” sings Santiago García, aka El Profe, channeling the turmoil of a man at war with himself and setting the stage for future mosh-pit therapy. – Richard Villegas

Xavi, Neton Vega - “Hija de Papi”

After a super successful 2024 and earning back-to-back accolades for his self-described “corridos romanticos,” Xavi returns with another fiery single. Switching gears from the dimly lit bachata-fueled slow dance on “En Privado” with Colombia’s Manuel Turizo, Xavi links up with newcoming regional artist Netón Vega for a track about living fast and the allure of a certain “daddy’s girl” who loves the same. “Hija de Papi” shouts out the Birkin bag-toting baddies que se visten “bien fresa” and turn heads by working their charm each time they set foot in the club. – Nayeli Portillo

TRY - “With Me (feat. Empress Of)"

Producers SAM I and Shmuck the Loyal are debuting TRY, their new joint adventure, with a star-studded eponymous debut album that features the likes of RZA, EARTHGANG, Mikky Ekko, and more. Sitting fifth on the tracklist is “With Me,” featuring Empress Of, and it’s a dance jam that could fit perfectly in the Honduran-American artist’s club music-packed live shows. “With Me” is an arena-sized Chicago-Detroit house concoction with a splash of Miami bass that creeps in towards the end. Empress Of brings emotion to the mix, singing about everlasting love and warming up this dancefloor smasher. – Cheky

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