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 Matt Paris, SoFFT, and Bryan Martinez. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Matt Paris - “CHIMBITA”
Matt Paris’ latest EDM-inspired track delves into the spontaneous excitement of finding a new lover. In “CHIMBITA,” Paris switches into flirt-mode after connecting with a woman that electrifies him inside. He admires her curves, her eyes, and the way she makes him feel while a tropical tom beat bounces beneath his vocals. The simplicity and sentimentality of the melody along with Paris’ descriptive language creates a sensual track perfect for lounging under the sun. In the accompanying video, the singer rides around in a red convertible with his boys, encapsulating the joys of endless adventure. Soft grain, saturated hues, and visuals of a woman in black and white create a dream-like effect that adds warmth and romanticism to the vibrant single. – Rosy Alvarez
SoFTT - “Eléctrico”
“The South Florida Trance Team” has taken our radios hostage and there’s nothing we can do. SoFFt returns with yet another reimagining of an ethereal club paradise, capturing the unholy energy of the Miami EDM scene. “Eléctrico” provides the same sensational stimulation one can find in a warehouse in South Beach, but with a more nostalgic twist and charm. Comprising of partners-turned-lovers Trevor McFedries and Kablito, aka Karen Freire, SoFTT’s music is anything like its name. “Eléctrico” is the latest in a string of consistent, vibrant club bangers that spark a tenacity in every bpm. Something incredible for a duo with no official collaborative project under their belt. McFedries and Freire come from impressive musical backgrounds with similar intersections, and “Eléctrico” proves that the energy is nowhere near stopping. – Alan Baez
Bryan Martinez - "EXOTIC"
After releasing his successful track “MINIMI,” the rising Mexican singer Bryan Martinez is back with another cumbia bélica called “EXOTIC.” If you close your eyes and listen to the track, you quickly get transported back to your family’s carne asada, blasting cumbias at full volume. With the help of a powerful sousaphone, rhythmic guiro, and danceable synthesizer notes, the song exudes a familiar ‘90s feel that makes you want to dance in a circle, balancing a beer on top of your head while at it. Case in point: at only 21 years old, the Michoacán-born artist is leading a unique musical path in the evolving cumbia-sphere, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. – Jeanette Hernandez
La Doña - “La Fama”
San Francisco singer and songwriter Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea, aka La Doña, returns with “La Fama,” the latest single from her brand new album Los Altos de la Soledad, out today. On the blazing “La Fama,” La Doña renounces the notion of chasing recognition within the music world against a stunning ensemble of strings and stomping percussion. Fame is superficial and all too fleeting in La Doña’s universe, as she charges through a series of impassioned call-and-responses, reminding us that clout-chasing always comes at a major cost: “Ay, cuánto cuesta la fama/me preguntan, yo no sé/Un centavo y todo el alma/tu mañana y tu ayer.” – Nayeli Portillo
Martox - “Si Mami Supiera”
Barely two months after releasing their latest EP, the summery Que Bien Te Queda el Caribe, Dominican duo Martox release a brand new single, “Si Mami Supiera.” If QBTQC was meant to be played at the beach under a blazing sun, this new track is perfect for cool fall nights clubbing in the tropics. The song’s lyrics navigate a curious thematic, as it embraces the open relationship of its two central characters, but still maintaining that they’re each other’s favorites. The titular mom might disapprove when she interjects in the song, but the grooviness of its vibes could convince anyone to go with the flow. — Juan J. Arroyo
Caloncho - “Popango”
If you have never been on the receiving end of a serenade, Caloncho’s “Popango” might just be your best chance at emulating that feeling. Joyful and youthful, the song (and the guitar chords) vibrates with the excitement of a love so easy, you just want to sing your heart out about it. As the 37-year-old Mexican singer repeats over and over again throughout the duration of the song, “qué fácil es amarte.” And, honestly, who could ask for more? – Júlia Henn
Murcof - “All These Worlds Pt. II”
Fernando Corona, aka Murcof, has spent most of his career at the forefront of musical experimentation. While his new work doesn’t stray from this path, you could say this is one of his most accessible works to date. There’s a vague melodic undercurrent to “All These Worlds Pt. II,” as the track rides a steady beat while exploring textures at its own leisure; yet the synthetic sounds feel cinematic and atmospheric, giving the track an epic and exploratory quality. We can find here a new found love for structure and melody in Corona’s work that makes it a very emotional experience. — Marcos Hassan
Esotérica Tropical - “Alquimia”
After four years of soaring, emotionally charged singles, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and harpist María José Montijo, aka Esotérica Tropical, has finally unveiled her resplendent self-titled debut. Melding bomba drums, synthesizers, new age harp melodies, and angelic vocal harmonies, the result is nothing short of alchemic magic. That’s why “Alquimia,” one of the record’s few previously unreleased cuts, perfectly captures the essence of Esotérica Tropical’s work as a healer, transforming the pain and frustrations of Boricuas on and off the island into rhythmic catharsis. If you’re a fan of artists like Lido Pimienta and Balún, this whole album is required listening. — Richard Villegas
Blessd, Ovy on the Drums - “Casi Algo”
Colombian rising el movimiento star Blessed and producer phenom Ovy on the Drums teamed up for a surprise drop between the powerhouse hit makers with “Casi Algo.” The reggaeton track infuses breakdown moments of hip-hop-inspired beats to create an end of summer dancelfoor banger. On the mic, Blessd drives the single with lyrical flows around the reignited desire that comes with reconnecting with a prior flame, and all the yearning hunger to play out all the passion previously left unfinished. — Jeanette Diaz
Hinds - “Hi, How Are You”
It’s finally here, guys. VIVA HINDS, the long-awaited comeback album from Madrid’s Hinds and first as a duo is now officially out, and it kicks off with a fuzzy number that’s taking us to the turn of the millennium. “Hi, How Are You,” a clear homage to the late Daniel Johnston, isn’t the lo-fi outsider folk jam its name suggests. Instead, it’s a vibrant power pop opener where they crank up the distortion so they can open their hearts, cry their hearts out if they need to, and just not be okay but still pull through life’s problems. — Cheky
Vita Set - "LOS AMANTES DIFERENTES"
Argentine hyper pop band Vita Set’s latest single is a melodic dance track enveloped in a glamorous ensemble of synths which serve to create an atmosphere akin to an ‘80s prom night. However, tugged beneath its nostalgic, euphonious energy is the emotional frenzy experienced post-breakup. “LOS AMANTES DIFERENTES” explores the tug and pull between holding on and letting go, where in one moment the singer yearns to apologize and see his ex and in the next, fears that the act will backfire and spark conflict. Vita Set is adept at capturing the complexity of vulnerable emotion and transforming it into an anthem made for the dancefloor. While the band has performed “LOS AMANTES DIFERENTES” during their live sets, its official release marks the final teaser of what fans can expect from the band’s forthcoming album, ZONA CERO. – Rosy Alvarez
Galean - “Vidriera”
Galean challenges the notion of surviving as a musical product while vapidly fighting being perceived. The Buenos Aires-based artist is back with a new track, his fourth off his forthcoming LP On the other side of the window. And while his previous singles this year have been from a place of bedroom indie with the touch from a DIY acoustic virtuoso, “Vidriera” introduces an ambitious art pop cut with a dirty synth angle, breaking away from the expectations set. “Vidriera” continues this exploration of a concept that can deeply resonate with a passionate, yet brutally detached audience. It’s spacey, yet comfortable with an out-of-this-world aesthetic to the production, meant to mimic this lack of presence Galean is currently feeling with his place in the music industry and with his own artistry. With a new album on the way, he wants to see his music succeed, but is tormented by the blistering fact that his art is subjugated to product, meant to solely sell records for an unforgiving industry. This torment is exuded in his lyrics, with a performance that perfectly encapsulates the battle he’s facing. – Alan Baez
Madame Recamier & El Mulu - “La Promesa”
Mexican singer-songwriter Madame Recamier teamed up with Chilean artist El Mulu for their new sentimental acoustic folk song “La Promesa.” By intertwining their tender vocals with a relaxing acoustic guitar and soothing violin melody, the two artists deliver a heartfelt track about loving someone from a distance. Recorded with vintage equipment to provoke a nostalgic feeling, “La Promesa” is a folk love letter specifically for those souls who are dealing with the uncertainties that come with loving someone who’s physically unattainable. – Jeanette Hernandez
Javiera Mena - “Peligrosa (Versión Aerobica)”
We’re still mourning the official end of BRAT summer 2024, but Chilean artist Javiera Mena returns just in time to remind us why we all fell in love with club ragers in the first place. On “Peligrosa,” Mena links up with Nico Castro and Pepo Fernandez of AEROBICA for a more electronic-heavy reworking of “Peligrosa,” originally from her 2022 album Nocturna. Stringy synths and clattering drum machine built-beats collide on the AEROBICA remix of “Peligrosa,” which falls somewhere between ravey early 2000s electroclash and ‘80s underground dance music, making for a sweatier and somewhat darker version of its predecessor. – Nayeli Portillo
XLLAVE - “VEREDA”
Subgenres like glitchcore, emoplugg, and others often blend into each other in ways that make the exercise of identifying them a chore, even for the artists themselves. For Puerto Rican indie rapper XLLAVE, he simply makes music with the goal of connecting with listeners who share his sensibilities, and that’s exactly what “VEREDA” is all about. The first single off his debut EP, 07, the song has him looking back on post-relationship feelings of melancholy and loneliness over a solemn hyperpop-esque beat that’s sure to connect with fans of the scene. As the music makes inroads with more and more fans on the island, artists like XLLAVE are making sure they’re ready to be the face of a movement. — Juan J. Arroyo
TIMØ - "El Canto Del Olvido"
The Grammy-nominated Colombian trio TIMØ brings out a new solution for the pain of a heartbreak with its latest single, “El Canto Del Olvido.” Making good use of their expert production skills, the band combines the characteristic percussion of tropical beats with slightly ironic lyrics that don’t sound any less sincere because of it. Singing about how one’s sorrow can be mitigated by relying on their music and singing until said feeling loses its strength, TIMØ has created a new anthem for those who wander the Earth with a broken heart and the hope of new beginnings. – Júlia Henn
MJ Guider - “To The Hour”
Ambient, by definition, is music that blends into the surroundings, so it takes a true artist like Melissa Janel Guion to take mundane sounds and form them into true expressions of art. “To The Hour” takes inspiration and samples from noises heard behind the walls of her room: a low end rumble propelling this abstract track while soft keyboards provide a bed of melodic comfort. There’s a haunting undercurrent that gives the track its gravitas, while barely decipherable vocals provide an emotional weight. Guion takes this rather simplistic style to sophisticated and sentimental territories in an effortless way. — Marcos Hassan
Saso, Aka The Darknight - “That’s My Bitch”
The premise for “That’s My Bitch” is simple: One baddie, two hustlers, and a wild love triangle. But this team up from Dominican rappers Saso and Aka The Darknight has much more to offer than a Bronx telling of “Dos Mujeres Un Camino,” injecting the mix with bouncy dance punk bass lines and a barrage of uproarious ad libs. While in the end it’s all revealed to be a thirsty fantasy, the song’s anthemic mantra will stick with you for weeks to come. — Richard Villegas
Amantina - “SHORI 3”
Colombia’s Amantina makes his debut with album PARAISO. The tracklist gets introduced with “SHORI 3,” the focus track that takes listeners into the artist’s world of his self-branded post-perreo. An entrancing hybrid that falls between sultry R&B and mellow-tempoed reggaeton, the single eases us in with soothing harmonies that make its turn into a more sensual dance as the promising young artist delivers a vulnerable and emotional ride into the dissolution of a love long gone by replacing the hope of them returning with feelings that their absence is ultimately for the best. — Jeanette Diaz
Cynthia Fión - “Todo Está Bien”
Guatemala’s Cynthia Fión follows previous single “Donde Duele Más” with “Todo Está Bien,” the second preview from her forthcoming EP due in October, and we’re loving the range. She’s giving us a more relaxed Fión this time around, floating carefree on a throwback pop track produced once again by Bumont, submerging herself in the delusion of pretending things are alright in a relationship where it’s clear her love is not reciprocated. There are drops of melancholy in her voice, and it’s clear things are more complicated than they seem. — Cheky