20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Planta Industrial to Boza

02.14.25 at 00:19

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 Planta Industrial, Boza with Greeicy, and The Altons. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.

Planta Industrial - “Anormales”

Gothy, hard-rocking projects out of the Caribbean have existed for eons. But even in 2025, artists that step beyond expectations of sunny effervescence are met with resistance from audiences and the industry alike. Enter Planta Industrial, the new supergroup of Bronx-based Dominicanos Saso and akathedarknight, who’ve set course for the heart of post-punk darkness while injecting their productions with unmistakable Afro-Antillean swagger. Their new single, “Anormales,” is an anthem for all the little freaks chided for loving Green Day as much as Calle 13, arguing that you can, indeed, headbang at the center of a perreo circle. With a fashion-forward music video that bounces between the theatrical staging of a classic NYC bodega and a warehouse rave, the pair proves that true saoco knows no genre. – Richard Villegas

Boza, Greeicy - “Todavía"

After capturing the steps and hearts of listeners with last year’s “Orion,” Boza is back for another go at mastering Latine pop. “Todavía” is the latest from the Panamanian artist, following the hard-hitting “Parley.” But this track encapsulates the innate rhythm and feeling of Boza’s experience in dancehall, reggaeton, and trap in tandem with a heightened sense of tenderness within the lyrics. “Todavía” is Boza pushing his sound into more progressive territories, showcasing pop sentiment while keeping true to his roots. The infectious rhythm keeps the body moving throughout and captures the melodic marriage of dynamic sounds. This sentiment is only boosted with the help from Greeicy, whose buttery chorus completes the track for one of the most ambitious Latine afrobeats hits of the year. – Alan Baez

The Altons - "Where Did She Go"

Singers Adriana Flores and Bryan Ponce work their magic once more on “Where Did She Go,” the latest track by East L.A. soul-meets-R&B band The Altons. “Where Did She Go,” the closer on their newly-released album Where Did She Go, was inspired by Flores’s experiences with watching her parents grow older and those fleeting moments ingrained in our memory. Here, the band nestles into the sounds of doo-wop with sweet falsettos and minimal instrumentation, and the result is a stunning, deeply nostalgic ballad that is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings at first listen. – Nayeli Portillo

Jesse y Joy, Elsa y Elmar - "Accidente"

There’s no doubt that Mexican duo Jesse y Joy are masterminds at crafting sentimental pop ballads. In this new collaboration, “Accidente” with Elsa y Elmar, both artists share their music-making excellence by intertwining their powerful vocals with a soundscape full of melancholic pop chords, acoustic strings, a captivating hook, and a cadenced beat that mix seamlessly as if they were a harmonizing trio. As far as lyrics go, “Accidente” gives us a glimpse of the downside of romance, using an accident as a metaphor for what a couple can go through. Although the song illustrates post-breakup sentiments, the vocals of each artist create a divine piece for listeners to enjoy while crying over someone they used to love. – Jeanette Hernandez

Manu Manzo, Isadora Figueroa - “Mami del Caribe”

What better way to commemorate Valentine’s Day than to honor yourself with a hot girl anthem that exudes self-love? Venezuelan singer-songwriter Manu Manzo and emerging Puerto Rican artist Isadora Figueroa came together to cook up “Mami del Caribe,” supplying us with a joint track that mentally places you near a palm tree, living a soft life in the Caribbean. Figueroa, daughter of music titan Cheyenne, and Manzo both hail from Miami, FL, so this tropical pop sensation makes sense for the two mujeres. The woman-empowered song will get you out your feels and serve as a reminder that you’re a baddie in every lifetime. — Brenda Barrientos

Ela Taubert - “¿Es En Serio?”

Latin Grammy’s latest Best New Artist winner Ela Taubert shares her first single of the year with “¿Es En Serio?” The most recent in the Colombian artist’s repertoire is an emotion-driven pop single that explores a timely social media trend started by Taubert coined “the February Theory,” a month in which life takes the most unexpected turns, especially in the realm of romance. With production help from legendary pop producer Max Martin, Latine music’s rising pop-it-girl creates a vulnerable, rhythmic storyline of breaking free from a partner’s disillusionment and unfulfilled promises. It’s angsty pop done right, with juxtaposed upbeat melodies underlying lyrically dense feelings to find glimmers of breakthroughs amidst even the toughest of heartbreaks. — Jeanette Diaz

Marc Seguí, Rawayana - “FULL TIME”

Mallorca native Marc Seguí closed out 2023 with a collab alongside Venezuelan band Rawayana for the hit song “Se Te Nota.” Now, he hopes to channel the good vibes of that success with another joint track, this time “FULL TIME.” Immersed in alt-pop sounds with a funky background bass, the song counts all the ways the girl at its center makes the two throw their cares away and leaves them “morón” because of her beauty. It’s a track that’s lovely any time of the year, but especially during Valentine’s weekend for any who wish to dedicate it to their significant other. — Juan J. Arroyo

G.O.K.B., Moffa - “Trust Issues”

With his latest project, the carefully crafted EP Hybreds, five-time Grammy nominee producer and DJ G.O.K.B. goes sentimental in a R&B-filled ride, showcasing a more vulnerable side of the artist. The focus track “Trust Issues” features Puerto Rican singer Moffa voicing out the producer’s intimate lyrics with an emotional performance that reflects the nature of the song. Understated and subdued melodies provide the listener with enough room to deeply relate to the tune, which is easily achieved with such a well-thought-out partnership. – Júlia Henn

L.A. Witch - “777”

On the first sneak peek at its new album DOGGOD, L.A. Witch delivers a song that tries to balance goth melodrama with garage rock intensity. “777” features a buzzing guitar riff that stings like a thousand bees yet occasionally approaches shoegaze dreaminess, creating a unique atmosphere. Deadpan vocals and hectic drumming round out an amazing track that’s as catchy as it is angsty, giving an appropriate sonic background to a song about staying beside one’s love until death, even willing to die for them. Giving a new definition to deathrock, this power trio delivers a song that’s dark yet life-affirming. — Marcos Hassan

Josyara, Pitty - “Ensacado”

Bahía singer-songwriter Josyara is getting ready for the release of AVIA, her upcoming fourth album, and she dropped a collaboration with Pitty as the first single. “Ensacado” is a reinterpretation of Cátia de França’s original song from 1979, which Josyara stripped down to bare acoustic guitars and embellished with string arrangements. Together with Pitty, they inject both power and tenderness into the song’s poetry-wrapped message about pushing through loneliness and sadness, effectively creating a musical moment we can recur to when we’re feeling down. – Cheky

Inundaremos - “Nota Clara”

When Inundaremos released their debut EP back in 2022, they entered the fray of a new generation of artists studying and experimenting with Chile’s vast folk canon. Sunnier than noisy contemporaries like Javiera Electra and Phuyu y la Fantasma, the band has instead cultivated a delightfully twee sound, evolving from DIY minimalism to chamber pop rapture. Their new single, “Nota Clara,” is a deceptively sweet slice of anti-Valentine’s Day vitriol, unspooling the sorrow of a protagonist who eventually dies of heartbreak. Evoking Dënver at their most majestic while unafraid to lash out on petty lines like, “se puede ir a la chucha por favor,” Inundaremos are carrying the torch of Chilean folk-pop steadily into the future. – Richard Villegas

Majarete Sound Machine - “Entre Las Palmas (feat. Jeary & Sallywood)”

Rising from the ashes of what once was, only undoubtedly funkier, is Majarete, a new band with a familiar yet charming new sound. Majarete is the remnants of the Venezuelan group Majarete Sound Machine, rebranding under its ex-founder Rainer Díaz, aka “Raifunky,” and debuting a more concrete, consistently groovy sound. “Entre Las Palmas” is the potent intro to their new album, the first since 2018. “Entre Las Palmas” sheds the external layers of pop and disco influence for something a little more true to form, experimenting with those same ideas for something more ambitious and playful. From the start, “Entre Las Palmas” is an example of the culmination of multiple funk and soul sounds spread throughout the Latin American diaspora, with the band members all bringing influence and different ideas from different regions to the writing room, resulting in something beaming with good energy and a breath of fresh air. – Alan Baez

Nino Freestyle & Angel Dior - “Limpiecito”

If you want a break from the abundance of overly saccharine love songs that typically soundtrack Valentine’s Day weekend, look no further. Nino Freestyle and Angel Dior turn up the raunch factor in their latest collaboration, “Limpiecito,” a single that is strictly for those looking to twerk it out in the club. Riding on a mashup of both dembow and reggaeton, Dior and Nino harness the power of sweatiest house parties combined and deliver what is perhaps one of the horniest bars of 2025 so far: “Yo limpiecito ando buscando una sucia/Yo, yo limpiecito ando buscando una sucia/Andamos limpiecito buscando una sucia.” – Nayeli Portillo

EFXTO - "ENAMORANDO"

Five-piece outfit EFXTO is back with their newest single “ENAMORANDO” in time for Valentine’s Day. Though this commercial and overrated holiday cues all types of eye-rolls, hear us out as we tell you why this is a love song worth hitting play for. The rising group – formed by Ivon, Francisco, J.C, Scottie, and Lori – uses their alluring lyrics dipped with boyish charm to create a harmonizing earworm. Moreover, the pop melody mirrors reggaeton and pop traces that pave the way for the members’ silky bilingual vocals, which narrate a curious story of going from friends to lovers. Together, they offer a smooth, sticky tune that is perfect to offer motivation for those who are shooting their shot at love this week. What’s there to lose? – Jeanette Hernandez

Sahir, Jeyyff, Juhn - "Linda"

Love is in the air, and the boys are in their feels. Puerto Rican breakout artists Sahir, Jeyyff, and Juhn came together to drop a steamy track titled “Linda” ahead of the long weekend meant to celebrate la amistad. Sahir’s tranquilizing vocals over Juhn’s sensual wordplay and Jeyyff’s touch of Spanglish in his sultry lyrics form the ultimate go-to song to add to your moody playlist. “[The song] is dedicated to all the cute and beautiful women in the world,” Sahir mentioned in an Instagram caption showcasing the trio jamming out to their anticipated collab out now. — Brenda Barrientos

HUAN62, EL ALFA, ⁠HADES66 - “ABAYARDE”

Homelands and generations collide on “ABAYARDE,” the latest drop from HUAN62, HADES66, and El Alfa. Bridging Puerto Rican and Dominican stylings of rap-heavy reggaeton, the self-coined Generation Z rising acts get a co-sign by the seasoned El Alfa, proving that the state of el movimiento has not only been successful, but will continue to be in good hands as it leans into the future. The single is a heater, finding common ground across its freestylers when it comes to their experiences growing up in the same business – the streets. As their flows take their respective turns, their verses detail an intimate reflection of what commonly looked at criminal activity as nothing more than business as usual and survival where they’re from. There’s no shame or judgment, just pride and respect, and they want the world to get that insight too, one fire collaboration at a time. — Jeanette Diaz

Ozuna, Kapo - “Más Que Tú”

This week, Ozuna teams up with Kapo for “Más Que Tú,” fusing Caribbean rhythms with afrobeats for a romantic ditty just in time for Valentine’s Day. The Puerto Rican and Colombian superstars, respectively, have been enjoying one of the better phases of their careers: Ozuna spent much of 2024 riding the coattails of his Afro EP with successful collabs, while Kapo’s trajectory took off in earnest with hits like “UWAIE” and “Ohnana.” Here, Ozuna’s flirty lyrics fuse with Kapo’s more amorous words, coming together for a song that covers all the bases of what a lover would want to convey to their partner. — Juan J. Arroyo

DannyLux - “Ya No Estas”

20-year-old singer-songwriter DannyLux has been facing exponential growth in fame and popularity for the last five years. Such achievements are well-deserved, considering the talent displayed by the artist in his creations. As a taste of his upcoming album, he has now released the heartbreak anthem “Ya No Estás,” a melodic single about facing the ghosts of a failed relationship. The melancholic lyrics describing the longing for a past that is not coming back, accompanied by calming guitar chords, make this track a safe haven for every hopeless romantic out there. – Júlia Henn

Gente De Zona - “Cosas Bonitas de eso Se Trata”

This Cubano duo remains an important force behind modern Latine music, not only for their power to produce hit songs but also to boost new talent from the island, in this case, collaborating with El Kamel and L Kimii. This two-part song is all about getting people moving their feet as well as their feelings, first by telling listeners about passion and later giving them advice on how to nurture a loving, long-term relationship. Romantic touches like acoustic guitars give the track some subtlety within its bouncy rhythms, making “Cosas Bonitas” the perfect Valentine’s Day song for people to dedicate to their loved ones on this special date. — Marcos Hassan

Nova Materia - “Change Mutate Transform”

French-Chilean duo Nova Materia are getting closer to the release of their new EP Current Mutations, out March 7. But for us who can’t wait, we’re now treated with “Change Mutate Transform,” the closing track. The words from the song title are whispered sporadically, drowned in effects, calling for change, while the song itself transforms in time in a subtle way. Built for the dancefloor and inspired by experimental krautrock, its circular drum machine pattern and synth bass quickly send us into a trance, while small variations in pattern and distorted elements that come and go in over five minutes remind us that change can come gradually. – Cheky

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