20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Luedji Luna to Yendruy Aquinx

Luedji Luna - “Banho de Folhas”

Brazilian singer-songwriter Luedji Luna celebrates the fifth year since the release of her award-winning album Bom Mesmo É Estar Debaixo D’Água with the EP BMDA Deluxe Ao Vivo, which presents new live renditions of some of the artist’s most iconic songs, like “Metáfora” and “Blue.” The last of five tracks, however, is the one that closes the deal for even new listeners. “Banho de Folhas” fills the air with positivity, despite the somewhat bittersweet lyrics, where the singer faces whatever hardship comes her way by relying on the protection that herbs related to Afro-Brazilian religions might offer. A deep dive into this part of Brazilian culture, this deluxe version offers the audience a new side of Luedji Luna herself. – Júlia Henn

Yendruy Aquinx - “Erstúloqncsito”

Dominican singer and producer Yendruy Aquinx began stirring buzz in 2021 with a series of singles melding hyperpop and garage, while last year’s SOUL LP earned major praise with an immersive tracklist that flowed from groovy pop to introspective ambient. In his latest single, “Erstúloqncsito,” the Terrenas native finds the middle ground of all these past influences, opening the floodgates of yearning and desire over a spacey house beat. “Tu cuerpo me envuelve en un vicio que es infinito,” he croons, passionately serenading a lover who perfectly compliments him on the dance floor and in his bedroom. Leading the charge of a growing Dominican electronic scene alongside Boundary and NMNL, Yendruy Aquinx walks the line between sonic experimentation and full-blown pop earworms with the self-assuredness of a budding star. – Richard Villegas

Gepe & Niño de Elche y Las Guitarras de Miguel Molina - “La Cueca del Canario (V.2)”

Singer and songwriter Gepe taps Spain’s Niño de Elche for a soul-stirring new version of “la cueca del canario,” a standout from last year’s UNDESASTRE. Typically known for his experimental approach and electropop-tinged style of folk rock, Gepe dials back for a more stripped-down sound on “La Cueca del Canario (V.2)” and takes inspiration from Chilean cueca for a folkier and more traditional atmosphere. Gorgeous flamenco guitars sweeten gleaming harmonies in this perfect collaboration, hopefully leading to more in the near future. – Nayeli Portillo

Isabella Lovestory - “Putita Boutique (feat. TAICHU)”

Isabella Lovestory is an anomaly, constantly upgrading different facets of her art while shedding any moment of potential stasis. “Putita Boutique” is the latest from the up-and-coming icon and serves as the first teaser this year for a new album, encompassing the same knack for unconventional sounds and playful beats with a hedonistic twist. The instrumental is electrifying in every sense of the word, incorporating so many layers of sounds that create this magnitude of experimental pop. It’s playful. It’s engaging. It manages to be dreamy, cutesy, and aggressive all at once. Matched with niche internet samples and an addicting synth, it packs so much character in so little time. It breathes like an art-pop piece you’d find on the radio in the early 2000s, showcasing Lovestory’s influences confidently without falling into any trend or genre. With a run time that’s only a little over two minutes, Lovestory paints an extremely vivid world overrun with bright colors and expressive tempos; a world that captures the organic and lively run of big city nightlife and the joys that come with it. – Alan Baez

AKRIILA & Dinamarca - “sexo virtual ( ˘ ³˘)♡(´ε｀*)”

It’s safe to say there’s no song out in the wild that Akriila hasn’t bodied. Swedish-Chilean DJ Dinamarca tapped Chile’s very own rapera to take part in a joint EP titled headphones ! set to release on Feb. 26. With the announcement of the three-pack comes their first collaboration, “sexo virtual <3,” in which you can hear the Santiago-based artist’s dreamy vocals over a majestic cumbia beat by Dinamarca. “Initially, I wanted to work with Dinamarca because I wanted to explore sounds very different from what I was used to creating,” the 20-year-old says of the collab in a statement. The project is set to represent Akriila tapping into a sonically new place she hasn’t been before (Dinamarca’s world). But with her trajectory and skill, it’s easily a collaboration project to look forward to this year. – Brenda Barrientos

Banda Los Sebastianes - "Pinche Cupido" 

February is not all about roses and love letters. Sometimes, you have to blame Cupid for giving you the short end of the stick. Banda Los Sebastianes is back with their newest anthem, “Pinche Cupido.” The new banda track explores heartbreak coated with their signature trombone and tuba-forward melody. As always, Banda Los Sebastianes’ high-pitched vocalist delivers passion and emotion, making the track one to listen to if your heart is going through a rough patch. Point blank: “Pinche Cupido” is your new go-to post-breakup karaoke song to belt out with your compas. – Jeanette Hernandez

Alexis Jae - “I Wanna Love”

Alexis Jae has a mission, and it’s to bring back Latine freestyle and see it embraced in 2025. Channeling the sound of legends like Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, the young Nuyorican artist has demonstrated over the past year’s worth of singles like “Move for Me” and “On Those Nights” that she has the talent to capture the vibes of that era. This week, she drops “I Wanna Love,” this time with director Ana Paula Teixeira lending her eye for a hypnotic music video that portrays Jae as a siren coming ashore in Puerto Rico to lure a man with her silky voice and bumping rhythm. It’s a temptation that you can hardly blame anyone for not resisting.  — Juan J. Arroyo

Hyldon & Adrian Younge - “Favela Do Rio De Janeiro”

In recent years, Adrian Younge has served as one of the guiding lights of the rediscovery of bossa legends and forgotten heroes as part of the Jazz Is Dead label. He continues his endeavor with Hyldon, a revered voice from the golden age of Brazilian music in the ‘70s. Finding common ground between bossa nova, MPB, and classic ‘70s soul, “Favela Do Rio De Janeiro” is a track that manages to find deep soulful vocals, tropical grooves, and jazz-informed harmonic richness. The smooth richness of Hyldon’s vocals will have you entranced from start to finish. — Marcos Hassan

BK’ - “Ninguém Vai Tirar Minha Paz (feat. Melly, Milton Nascimento, JXNV$)”

Carioca rap giant BK’ kicked off his 2025 with the release of Damantes, Lágrimas e Rostros para Esquecer, an ambitious new album that pushes Brazilian hip-hop forward. Right before closing the album, BK’ gives us a dance moment on “Ninguém Vai Tirar Minha Paz,” powered by samples of Milton Nascimento’s 1982 track “Certas Canções.” Produced by JXNV$ and Theo Zagrae and featuring stunning vocals by Melly, the song stands on the intersection of hip-hop, R&B, and house, beaming a joyous light as MK’ and Melly trade verses about going the extra mile to protect their inner peace. – Cheky

Shego - “Manifesting”

Rising Spanish female-fronted rock band Shego shares its highly anticipated second album No lo volveré a hacer. On standout track “Manifesting,” the alternative trio inhabits the spirit of early aughts garage alternative rock with piercing lo-fi guitar riffs that could walk right into the essence of NYC’s booming grunge scene of the time. Place that between hum-driven bass and rhythm-keeping drums and you get a lusciously laid-back anthem that encapsulates the ruminating feelings of thinking of the various timelines that could have been with someone to the point of willing into existence the erasure of their existence all together. – Jeanette Diaz

Sofi Mayen - “Ahora que no estás”

Acclaimed Mexican singer Sofi Mayen, widely known as Gran Sur’s vocalist, makes her comeback as a soloist with the song “Ahora que no estás,” a beautiful, introspective hymn of heartbreak. Mayen’s deep voice adds to the somber feeling expressed in the track, along with melancholic melodies and regretful lyrics. Even so, the chorus presents a slightly more hopeful outlook on the situation, with quickening beats acting as the light in the darkness of the gloomy prison that is to have a broken heart. – Júlia Henn

Bandalos Chinos - “El Ritmo”

Since their luminous 2018 breakthrough, BACH, Bandalos Chinos have been at the forefront of Argentina’s dulcet disco pop wave, ruling over romantic nostalgia with anthems like “Vámonos de Viaje” and “Departamento,” as well as touring non-stop. This week, the band announced a new album titled Vandalos, slated for release on April 1, and lead single “El Ritmo” is kicking off this new era with a grittier, more nocturnal sound crafted alongside Dillom-producer FERMIN. Though we haven’t quite arrived at sleaze, Bandalos Chinos seem eager to shed their “take home to mama” reputation, as singer Goyo Degano spins a contemptuous tale calling someone out on their bullshit. The song arrives with a Tomás Terzano-directed music video that casts Casi Ángeles actor Peter Lanzani in the role of an authoritative yoga instructor, maneuvering his followers until he’s eventually showered in dollar bills. Despite the pointed symbolism, the song’s rhythmic canvas of thumping bass and crunchy synths promises their warning against greed and sophistry will proliferate across dance floors far and wide. – Richard Villegas

BeMyFiasco - “Free”

Grammy-nominated singer Bianca Rodriguez, better known by her stage name BeMyFiasco, finds total tranquility in her solitude on a reworking of “Free.” Originally released on last year’s Pretty Little Love, this new edition features a beefed-up live rhythm section and production touches by Misha Band. Wavy guitars and Rodriguez’s dulcet vocals set the scene for a mellowed-out meditation on maintaining a sense of harmony with oneself reminiscent of the music from ‘90s neo-soul icons like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. – Nayeli Portillo

pablopablo, Carin Leon, Ralphie Choo - “Eso Que Tu Llamas Amor”

Intimate, eccentric, yet concrete in its execution all describe the latest from Madrid-born singer, songwriter, and multi-hyphenate artist pablopablo. pablo has never been afraid to play with ambitious sounds and mix layers that shouldn’t sonically work, but “Eso Que Tu Llamas Amor” is a distorted, genre-bending example of good experimentation. The single hits you from all angles, striking a chord from a platitude of pools of ideas. The tender vocals from pablo are carried with warped vocals and equally quantized acoustic chords but are joined with some incredible avant-garde instrumentation. It carries this triumphant swagger in each step it takes, one that’s fully fulfilled by Carín León’s guest verse. “Eso Que Tu Llamas Amor” is a teaser for his follow-up to his debut album from 2022 and captures the same playful, romantic energy pablo teases through his music, but with a grandiose twist. – Alan Baez

Alex Luna - “Lo Siento?”

Singer and songwriter Alex Luna is unveiling his most vulnerable work yet with his debut album FUTURALGIA, out now. On the rising Mexican artist’s latest single “Lo Siento?,” he’s clearing up any misconceptions about his feelings and putting it all out on the table over a melodic popish beat. The self-awareness in his songwriting is crystal clear and leaves no more room for betrayal or the unknown, which mirrors what we see in his latest project. “During these two years, each song has been a journey of emotions and experiences that only with music I have been able to express and somehow heal,” he said on an Instagram post. “You’re going to know me way better when you hear the album.” With Luna’s storytelling and heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics, it’s hard not to sing along and feel seen. — Brenda Barrientos

Soyiby - “De Contrabando”

Rising Mexican singer Soyiby released her own version of the classic música mexicana hit “De Contrabado.” Penned by the late iconic Mexican artist Joan Sebastian, the new rendition shies away from the popular Jenni Rivera banda version and instead focuses on Soyiby’s soft voice, accompanied by nothing more than her acoustic guitar. Though the change may be drastic, Soyiby tenderly delivers the lyrics’ sentiment about wanting a forbidden love in a gentle way. Known for covering hits, the young singer has a way of adding a nostalgic touch to her interpretations, making them worth listening to. – Jeanette Hernandez

Letón Pé, Bodine - “BUNDA”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae9geI8nW58

When you call perpetually warm spots like the Dominican Republic and Miami home, as Letón Pé and Bodine do, the instinct to walk around with your “cachas” out is hard to resist. This week, the two fiery pop stars join forces and lean into that feeling with their sizzling single, “Bunda.” Both Letón and Bodine are currently on a hot streak that’s only going to keep boiling with this Brazilian funk bonfire of a track. It doesn’t need such a spicy music video to raise temperatures, but they made sure they covered all bases when it came to grabbing everyone’s attention. — Juan J. Arroyo

Tufic - “En Popopopocas Palabras”

Inhabiting the fun and rhythm of cumbia in the style of Bronco and other stalwarts, Tufic gets to walk the fine line between respectful homage and humorous parody. The singer demonstrates skill as well as charisma in this romantic song that even manages to include a Temerarios-style spoken word section, with the digital backing providing ear candy for most of its run time. Whether you take it seriously or not, the groove is so undeniably contagious that it becomes irrelevant. In other words, “En Popopopocas Palabras” is all about having a campy, great time. — Marcos Hassan

Franc Castillejos - “La Mariposa y el Sol”

Hailing from Guatemala, artist Franc Castillejos just shared a heartfelt folk-inspired song titled “La Mariposa y el Sol,” where he blends understated instrumentation, delicate poetry, and skilled songwriting to drive us through the lights and shadows of new love. Conjuring a foggy melancholic atmosphere, Castillejos places every thoughtful word on top of gentle guitar chords that mirror the beauty of discovering each other in a relationship while also wearing past pain on their sleeve. It’s a cinematic piece that remains hopeful in the face of uncertainty. – Cheky

Twin Seas - “Say Goodbye”

Los Angeles-based indie band Twin Seas released an atmospherically fun cover of Hiroshi Sao’s “Say Goodbye.” Extracting the bouncy nature of the originals’ Japanese ‘80s city pop flair, the band adds touches of more traditional rock instrumentation to create an overall fuller sound. The result is an intersection where both retro and modern synth-infused pop get elevated to satiated sensations of bouncy electronic key riffs, pulsating synths, and harmonized silken vocals. The accompanying visualizers take viewers on a VHS-ified journey through the personal backends of the band, getting a first-hand view of their daily lives, whether it be scenes from the road to rehearsals in their garage. – Jeanette Diaz