19 New Songs to Listen to This Week From MJ Nebreda to Camila Fernández

MJ Nebreda - “Icónica”

La Icónica en proceso regresa con otra joya. After releasing an onslaught of distinctive club bangers all throughout the summer, powerhouse Venezuela producer, singer, and vibe-setter MJ Nebreda returns with a brand new collection of eclectic sounds and beats with Corazón Vol.1. The project is a mastercraft of sonically pleasing aesthetics and textures woven effortlessly to present a dynamic style built from Nebreda’s appreciation and knowledge of perreo, house, and more. Every track Nebreda has released in the year’s second half carries a specific identity while being grounded in her distinctive house production style. But the opener “Icónica” manages to keep her astray from any expectations set. As Nebreda has touched on different shades of reggaeton and trance, “Icónica” takes a different approach, steering away from heavy drums for a more ethereal sound. The synth bridge blends with a thumping drum loop and Nebreda’s repetition of the chorus, making for an enchanting listening experience. – Alan Baez

Camila Fernández - “La Caminera”

Mariachi singer Camila Fernández has had a pretty busy year. After celebrating the release of her self-titled debut album and making plans to tour across North America all the way into early 2025, she brings us the ultimate antidote to heartbreak with a lighthearted new single called “La Caminera.” Dedicated to those who don’t appreciate who they have until it’s too late, “La Caminera” reminds us that sometimes the best cure for a heart-wrenching breakup is to knock back shots of tequila with friends until the sun comes up and to celebrate the journey along the way, no matter how devastating it can be. – Nayeli Portillo

El Dusty, Drty Tropix - “The Phoenix”

As seasoned electronic music artist El Dusty lands in Miami for this year’s Latin Grammy Awards as a nominee for his production work on Gabriella’s album Siempre Gabriella, he explores a darker side and drops a new collaboration with local duo Drty Tropix. “The Phoenix” takes elements from cumbia and techno marinated in psychedelia and mysticism to give us the soundtrack to a dark beachy night out that we probably won’t remember all that well the next morning. — Cheky

Boy Wonder CF, Nino Freestyle, Flow 28, The Chosen Few, Three Seven Music - "Descarada"

“Descarada” is a raunchy, high-energy track made para darle hasta abajo as it bumps with the pulse of classic dembow percussions. The duo take turns delivering the snappy chorus, “Tú ta qué, el que no te entrega, no te da,” with a playful cadence that naturally loops on repeat in the mind and hypes the song’s energy back up. In the accompanying video, the room is smoky, the liquor is flowing, and the house party is live as a group of dancers bounce to the electrifying melody. Throughout the track, Nino Freestyle and Flow 28’s flex their wealth as they pursue the leading lady in red, who makes the rules as she counts her own racks. “Descarada” is the perfect single for getting on the dancefloor and raising the temperature of any room it’s played in. – Rosy Alvarez

ZTVZ - “Más Que Amor”

Puerto Rican sibling duo ZTVZ has been working hard for three years to get their sound out to the masses, and their efforts have paid off handsomely. Their music has been featured at New York Fashion Week, and two tracks made it onto Bad Bunny’s “Veranito” Apple Music playlist this year. Their newest single is “Más Que Amor,” which continues their brand of vintage synth-pop, this time incorporating some G-funk and timbales for a vibe they describe as “Caribbean futuristic.” In their words, it’s music for a party in space. And they would know: before diving into music, they studied astrophysics. Who better to say what’s popping in the nebulas? — Juan J. Arroyo

Nero Lvigui, Norick - “Iglesias Vacías”

Hip-hop remains a great platform to speak truth to power, and Perú’s Nero Lvigi is here to prove that you can do that while demonstrating lyrical prowess. Boom bap beats snap and crackle under which murky and cinematic samples give the track its gravitas, complemented by some good ol’ fashioned record scratches. Guest Norick matches the Lvigi’s energy with frank sociopolitical rhymes, with both emcees switch keep listeners on their toes. “Iglesias Vacías” is the kind of long-standing sonic temple that Latin American hip-hop fans will continue to worship in, and we’re all the better for it. — Marcos Hassan

Las Palabras - “Fe”

Las Palabras — the individual project of multi-instrumentalist and !!! member Rafael Cohen — has released his sophomore album Fe. Produced in his home studio in Brooklyn and mixed by Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), the 10-track compilation features the title track “Fe,” an earnest and stripped-down nylon-stringed guitar ballad inspired by his family’s complex history with religion, reflecting on the idea of faith and the multitudes it can carry. With the minimization of instruments, the single highly focuses on the singer’s pensive lyricism and soothing harmonization to bring a lightness to what can often trickle into a heavy topic. But, as noted in the song, faith can be found in everything that surrounds us if we choose to pay attention. A most fitting track for current times. — Jeanette Diaz

Olivia Herdt - “SIGNS”

Just beating the two-minute mark by six short seconds, Olivia Herdt’s “SIGNS” showcases the Uruguayan singer’s vocal strength and artistic personality in what feels like a teaser to her full musical potential. The song, with lyrics in both English and Spanish, is a romantic tune that envelops the listener in its delicate atmosphere while still presenting electronic elements that complement it wisely by not letting it become overly sweet. According to the lyrics, this is the first time Herdt falls in love with love itself, and this might just be the first time you fall in love with her as well. – Júlia Henn

Susobrino, Lander Gyselink - “Bolivia”

Throughout 2024, Bolivian-Belgian producer Susobrino has released a four-part EP series synthesizing the sounds soaked up during his global travels, showcasing kaleidoscopic forays into tango, cumbia, and jagged club. With collaborators ranging from Mexican techno lord DJ Fucci to Colombian Pacific ensemble Bejuco, the result is a textured study in boundless Latin American dance music. From his latest drop, NO, the percussive track “Bolivia” not only captures diasporic nostalgia of a distant homeland, but also harnesses quotidian sounds of pan flutes and marching bands, reimagining busy Andean streets as crowded clandestine dance floors. – Richard Villegas

Oses - “Tal Vez”

Mexico City-based artist Oses shared his debut project Amor a Roma. After offering a preview of the EP through various pre-released singles, the tracklist included some new songs, like a standout with “Tal Vez.” Biting heavily into the influence of dark post-punk, the single also finds itself blended with hazed melodic moments of hip-hop-laced beats and rock-inspired guitar riffs to fill choruses that create a unique and intriguing soundscape that lures you straight in. Although slower in BPM, the track reminds us that there’s still plenty of charm in the somber and even the darkest edges of music can be reimagined and inspire a lot of desire to get bodies moving. — Jeanette Diaz

Young Miko - “pinot grigio”

Oozing charisma and easy smiles, Puerto Rican artist Young Miko attempts (and succeeds) to seduce her audience into her lavish lifestyle with all the mellowness of her newest single, “pinot grigio.” Excelling at rapping, singing, and performing the song in question, Young Miko incorporates all the best characteristics of a fine pinot grigio wine into her art: lightness, freshness, and just that much acidity to make one stop and actually pay attention to the flavor of the product they are consuming before getting too drunk on its addictive vibes. – Júlia Henn

Six Sex - “U&ME”

Buenos Aires’s vixen and producer Six Sex is back with another sultry expression of body positivity and electrifying tempos with her latest dance track, “U&ME.” In her second solo track since her EP from earlier this year, Six Sex taps in long-time collaborators Luca Eck and Dauner for a new track. “U&ME” oozes this sexy energy without being profoundly sexual in nature. Six Sex’s open-ended lyricism embracing sharing partners and taking pride in your orientation is straight to the point, but it’s the tempo and kick drum in the instrumental that leaves the ears wanting more. Six Sex’s production style presents an ethereal bounce that puts the listener in a trance, but “U&ME” blends perreo with acid house influences for a track that’s vividly seductive. – Alan Baez

Nath - "Secretito"

Since 2020, Nath has been unleashing steamy earworms and has received cosigns from mainstream acts like Goyo, FARIANA, Ryan Castro, and KEVIN ROLDAN, making her an emerging artist to watch out for. After landing a highly-coveted credit on FIFA’s official song of the 2024 Colombian Women’s World Cup “AHEH AHEH” earlier this summer, the Medellín-based artist is back with the surprise new single “Secretito.” Nath’s latest work shows her embracing a sweeter, more pop-influenced reggaeton sound, despite its melancholic overtones, as she reflects on an intoxicating unrequited romance that continues to haunt her.  – Nayeli Portillo

Fabuloso - “Fin del Mundo”

Based in Mexico City, Peruvian artist Fabián Nobile gives us one more single under his Fabuloso moniker this 2024, this time with Guatemala’s Bumont handling production duties. “Fin del Mundo” is an understated melancholic indie rock anthem suited for our times. With simple instrumentation and a vocal delivery that doesn’t go over the soft croon line, Fabuloso sees love as a cycle, and as such, its end is inevitable. But in today’s political climate, lyrics like “Me pasas a buscar antes que se acabe el mundo / Me pones a bailar, todo está desapareciendo” hit especially hard. — Cheky

Jóvenes y Sexys - “¿Dónde Está?"

Venezuelan duo Jóvenes y Sexys finally released their track “¿Dónde Está?” on streaming after being originally recorded in 2009. Formed by Lorena Orlando (also known as Loocila or Hilandera) and Remezcla contributor Cheky Bertho (also known as Algodón Egipcio), the musical pair takes us on an ethereal sonic journey featuring mesmerizing acoustic strings and a subtle bass line, topped by entrancing vocals with an echoing flair. Recorded in Mexico City, “¿Dónde Está?” gives the listener a sense of nostalgia dipped with hope for the future. Moreover, the same track is featured in the movie Hermano directed by Venezuelan director Marcel Rasquin. – Jeanette Hernandez

SEYE - “El Cigarrillo”

“El Cigarillo” is a bolero-pop single that burns with desire. In it, rising Dominican singer SEYE encapsulates the multi-dimensional and metaphysical manifestations stoked by fiery love and deep yearning with poetic lyrics like, “Cuando la muerte me bese, que me despierte en tus sueños.” As the song progresses, gentle acoustics float in the background, layered with traditional tambores and peaks with a pop beat that emphasizes the grandiose emotions expressed in the chorus. The visualizer shows SEYE framed within his own custom tarot card further demonstrating the imagery of cosmic alignment when one finds a lover who feels like destiny. SEYE delicately moves around in a flowy, gauzy dress and removes his floral crown to play with his perfect coils. Oozing with romance, the visualizer evokes elegance and the romanticism of classic Roman portraiture. – Rosy Alvarez

Xico - “SALSA INDIE”

Young Venezuelan artist Xico has been working on his craft since 2019, releasing his first EP a few years later. But he began to appear on more fans’ radars with his appearances on the Motherflowers track “Porrito y a Dormir.” The song, a prologue of sorts to the trio’s acclaimed 2023 album Mamá Flor, showed off his talent for marrying his soulful sound to any project as if they were meant to be. That talent is projected in full in his debut album, Dejar De Ser Chico, and its focus single “SALSA INDIE.” In it, he skillfully traverses through a sonic landscape of dreampop, alt-R&B, and more gems, courtesy of producer and big brother Frank Lucas. — Juan J. Arroyo

Pau Vegas - “Este Cielo Naranja”

It’s not easy to bridge singalong pop with complex electronics for serious dancers and listeners, yet Pau Vegas keeps these two elements in perfect balance. This Spanish singer-songwriter deploys textured digital flourishes while her vocals provide emotional and catchy hooks to latch on to. Throughout the track, the beat remains frantic yet danceable and the melodies sand off any experimental edge that may be alienating. Boasting many layers inviting listeners to keep the repeat button pressed, “Este Cielo Naranja” showcases an artist willing to do things differently, bringing introspection and kinetic energy to the fore. — Marcos Hassan

NIKÓLA - “D’ Apaga Y Vámono”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59_XyrL6gE

Dominican pop chanteuse NIKÓLA has been on our radar for years, first making a splash with her 2021 R&B-inflected EP Embeleso and now well on her way to unveiling her sophomore LP. The latest single from this percussive new cycle is “D’ Apaga Y Vámono,” a sultry track of distorted bachata strings and galloping claps and drums perfect for waist-winding into the night. An anthem of self-affirmation, the song ponders wanderlust and personal ambition, a fiery drive to enter the pop fray that will undoubtedly propel NIKÓLA onto stages around the globe. – Richard Villegas