20 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Soul de Brasileiro to Manu Manzo

Soul de Brasileiro - “Minha Vibra”

When it comes to soul music, Brazil just gets it. On “Minha Vibra,” the new single from trio Soul de Brasileiro, the coolest, sexiest mix of samba, R&B, and streetwise poetry coalesces into a phenomenally groovy listening experience, as comforting as a hot plate of soul food. Dig a little deeper and get swept up in the song’s affirmations about “gente libre / gente que escolhio sonhar,” centering the resilience of Black and working-class people around the world, and the natural swag born from hustle and resourcefulness. — Richard Villegas

Manu Manzo - “Madre Mía”

With the help of her sultry voice, Latin Grammy-nominated artist Manu Manzo seduces her audience into the fun rhythm of her latest single, “Madre Mía.” The track is part of her newly released album, Luna en Geminis II: Lado Yang, a project that allows the singer-songwriter to explore new sides of her artistic personality, venturing into genres such as urban rhythms and tropical pop. In “Madre Mía,” we begin slowly and are suddenly thrown into the unexpected flow of high energy that is present for the remainder of the song. Manu’s voice is seductive and powerful, and it reflects the best aspects of the singer herself. – Júlia Henn

Santa Fe Klan – “Perro Lobo” 

A lonely howl and a cumbia-style accordion kick off the story of “Perro Lobo,” a young man who grew up trying to be part of a community that, through violence and rejection, gave him no other choice but to defend himself in order to survive. One of the most successful and beloved Latin American rappers of our time, Santa Fe Klan brings his already iconic voice and accordion skills to this new iteration of the song, joined by none other than the iconic Regional Mexican duo Alberto y Roberto, the original composers. The three voices melt and harmonize organically on the track, and given their respective backgrounds and experience, they inject it with a raw and loaded emotion that comes through bluntly. This piece fits perfectly with the discourse that Santa Fe Klan has been outspokenly about throughout his career, one of understanding that most people who end up in such situations do so because they grew up without a loving environment or the correct opportunities. Without compromising on the danceable qualities of the track, and with a music video that stylishly and successfully goes along with the story, Santa Fe Klan proves once more that he’s inspired by those who came before him, delivering a cautionary tale for the new generations. – La Morra Lisa

Judeline, Pa Salieu - “mi breve juventud” 

Spanish avant-visionary Judeline leans into a smoky, late-night palette on “mi breve juventud,” a standout from her new EP VERANO SAUDADE. A desire-laced tension threads through the opening notes before synths widen the space around it, letting club pulses and pop instincts surface in fragments until everything blurs into something closer to a memory forming. Judeline sings in a register that feels vulnerable without cracking, holding onto the outline of a moment already slipping away. British rapper Pa Salieu arrives with a weightier, more grounded cadence, pulling the track into a darker rhythm that heightens the contrast without breaking its spell. Together, they sketch a fleeting encounter that reads cherished, volatile, and impossible to fully grasp. The song cuts off abruptly, but its afterglow lingers like a brief hit that leaves a mark long after the sound fades. – Jeanette Diaz

Rusty Santos - “Party With Ben”

Indie pop experimentalist Rusty Santos is back with a banger of a new single, and it strikes the perfect balance between bouncy and challenging. “Party With Ben” features an easy yet contagious rhythm powered by guitar strums and Rusty’s plainsong vocals, effortlessly giving us melodies to latch on to. While the beat suggests a dancing mood, there’s a sense of sentimentality that the acoustic guitars emanate, giving the song some emotional heft, like that moment you realize parties can’t last forever. Thanks to its affecting tone, “Party With Ben” is perhaps an appropriate song to properly end this eventful year. — Marcos Hassan

MKY – “Lay It On Me”

Providing dreamy soundscapes and channeling R&B forefathers from the past for futuristic production, the latest from Los Angeles artist MKY stamps a new feat in his evolution as an artist. “Lay It On Me” breathes the warm embrace of East L.A., channeling countless influences for something refreshing. There’s a magic to MKY’s approach to songwriting that keeps tracks like “Lay It On Me” interesting; a near alchemic infusion of influences riddled in the DNA to keep it from going stale. Within the depths of “Lay It On Me” lie those same notes of East L.A., thumping synths that belong in some tio’s lowrider, anthemic, yearning vocals, but somehow it coagulates with the same elements you’d find in a 2017 Kehlani jam. MKY wears these influences proudly on his sleeve, but not without caution. – Alan Baez

Tommy Blanco - “MUEVE EL KULOUUU”

Take cover and WACHAUU, because Tommy Blanco’s back with his brand of dirtbag trap (complimentary). The Puerto Rican rapper—and member of Art Label collective alongside fellow incorrigibles Vei Habache and Fanta Rosario—debuted his second solo album 2SCOTTY2HOTTY back in October and has been steadily releasing visuals for it ever since. This week, he uses performance footage for “MUEVE EL KULOUUU,” which is another entry in his “you either like it or you don’t” body of work. Tommy and his cohorts had a hot 2025 and consistently filled out their shows, proving their devil-may-care approach to music has plenty of fans eager to tap in. — Juan J. Arroyo

Victor Valverde - "Plomo y Letra"

The corrido song “Plomo y Letra” by Víctor Valverde unfolds over a steady, muscular beat that blends classic regional elements with a polished modern edge. Its rhythm, driving percussion and tightly woven guitar lines create momentum. The groove is purposeful and controlled, still leaving space for Valverde’s vocals to breathe. This balance between heaviness and flow gives the track a distinct pulse that reflects the emotional pressure suggested by its title. The album of the same name expands this atmosphere into a fuller, more textured soundscape. Valverde builds the project on contrasts, rugged instrumentation paired with crisp production, and emotional pressure transformed into expression. Each track explores a different shade of that internal struggle while remaining tied to a cohesive sonic vision. Inspired by the idea of feeling creatively confined, Plomo y Letra reframes discipline, expectation, and emotional intensity as forces that fuel artistry. Throughout the album, Valverde turns that sense of weight, his metaphorical “plomo” into purposeful lyricism and musical release. – Natasha Melina Argudo

Adriana Ríos – “Mujeres de Alto Mando”

Adriana Ríos is back! Following her track “No Fuimos,” Ríos returned with “Mujeres de Alto Mando,” a hard-hitting track about taking control of your life and being unapologetic about your wins. With powerful acoustic guitars, a powerful bass, and a captivating accordion, mixed with a modern touch, the Mexican songstress narrates the story of being a boss b*tch who doesn’t care about repercussions. What makes this track different from the others is hearing the Tijuana queen’s strong, feminine vocals about staying ahead of her competition in a male-dominated genre. “Mujeres de Alto Mando” is Ríos’ first single under her independent record label, Diabla Records. – Jeanette Hernandez

Delamatu - “Dorada”

Venezuela’s Sunsplash and Lulannie and Mexico’s Belmar have just shared Ficciones, their first full-length as Delamatu, a new joint project that harvests their individual power to give us tropical-tinted electronic pop tracks that warm our hearts. Here included is “Dorada,” the album’s fifth track, a sun-kissed club track powered by sampled plucked strings that, along with the swirling reverbs and clouded, barely intelligible vocals, create a nostalgic haze that sends us into a daydream. The house-inspired beat eventually flows into a surprise breakbeat ending, bringing us back to earth after an ethereal ride. – Cheky

El Culto Casero - “Dormir”

If you’re curious about Paraguay’s fertile but underexposed scene, grunge-pop band El Culto Casero might be your surest way in. Unveiling their first new single since the MTV evocations of 2024’s Mi Verano Oscuro LP, “Dormir” is a tender-hearted love letter from singer Franco Ocampo to his inner child, wrapped in propulsive guitar riffs and anthemic hooks. “No es que el tiempo está pasando / no estás haciendo lo que soñaste tanto / tu niño interno adentro está jugando / y la muerte afuera está esperando,” he sings, as gravely angst gives way to euphoric release. The result is emotionally affecting as it is motivating; a call to action to reimagine your dreams as projects you’ve just not started yet. — Richard Villegas

GALE, Abraham Mateo - “No Quería Quererte” 

Puerto-Rican artist GALE’s latest collaboration, “No Quería Quererte,” with Spanish singer Abraham Mateo is one of the highlights of her newest album, Lo Que Puede Pasar. The track is a hyperpop collab that tells a story of surrendering to love after resisting its charming pull for too long. As their voices match up beautifully, the accompanying music video shows them happily striding along through Madrid and enjoying the little things in life, together. “No Quería Quererte” ends up being a good lesson for anyone who feels too skeptical to believe in the power of love in modern times. – Júlia Henn

NXNNI - “Heridas”

Wrapping up a successful year following the release of her album MI MUNDO KAWAII, Monterrey-born Diva NXNNI presents a live version of that same project. In this iteration, and rocking her iconic half-red half-black hair, she puts her powerful voice and personality in full display while being surrounded by her team of musicians, inviting us into an intimate space that feels like a concert in her own bedroom. Within this vault full of treasures, “Heridas” stands out as an emotional and relatable track where she tells the story of leaving friends, parties, and herself behind for someone that in the end was not the one. She comes to that realization after putting effort into healing that person’s wounds and finding out that hers were being completely disregarded. Through instrumentation classic to the genre, a beautiful background piano that softens and embellishes the sound, and a melancholic trumpet outro, NXNNI’s commanding and honest voice turns “Heridas” into the perfect track to blast and scream along with after a rant session with your girls. If this is the spectacular way NXNNI is closing up this year, we cannot wait to see what she has in store for the new one, it surely will be amazing. And, hopefully, very, very pink. – La Morra Lisa

Draag - “Miracle Drug” 

To celebrate the announcement of their new EP Miracle Drug, Los Angeles-based shoegaze experimentalists Draag return with a gnarled, static-burning title track. True to their signature alchemy, the band threads textural grit, spectral harmonies, and warped guitar lines into something that sways between fuzzed abrasion and dream-haze. But this time, the emotional undercurrent lands deeper as vocalist Adrian Acosta channels the invisible weight of living with an autoimmune condition, tracing the quiet desperation of wanting relief while learning to savor the world in a new kind of focus. Miracle Drug brings that tension to the surface and lets the friction breathe, showing how even the heaviest fog can’t smother the minor softness still insisting on pushing through. — Jeanette Diaz

Sunset Images - “El Tiempo Oscila y Muere Al Inicio (Tommy)”

Sunset Images continues to give us music to bliss out and rock out to, and their latest is a hypnotic one. These Mexican psych rock mind-melters set this song in motion with a repetitive drum pattern that will surely get your head nodding and your feet pogoing, with layers of guitars and effects adding to the hallucinatory nature of the song, building little by little as the reverb-drenched vocals guide you to another dimension. The song climaxes with waves of distortion that increases and threatens to drag the listener into another realm, making a solid case for rock music as a vital genre in today’s landscape. — Marcos Hassan

duendita - "uplifted one" 

Today is a day to say thank you, a message read loud and clear on the new single from New York artist, duendita. The 10K Global affiliate’s been having a hell of a year, having released a new and vastly intimate album to critical and positive fan reception to appearing on their first Tiny Desk as a background singer for colleague MIKE. Now, “uplifted one” is the perfect closer to a year set on change. In a painfully short runtime of a minute and some change, duendita meditates on surreal feelings of joy over industrial trip hop drums, a sonic contrast to the themes presented on her album, A Strong Desire to Survive, from earlier this year. “uplifted one” defines duendita just as that. It flips the narrative and presents the aftermath of the lessons she learned through her previous album and revels in the joy of survival. – Alan Baez

Ivana Loyola - “Besos Digitales”

As she continues the rollout of her upcoming debut album, Cuerdas en el Ocaso, singer-songwriter Ivana Loyola launches the music video for the LP’s second single, “Besos Digitales.” The Dominican-Ecuadorian artist fuses bossa nova with her native bachata for a lively look at the dynamics of a long-distance relationship. In contrast to other pieces that take a more pessimistic view, here Ivana acknowledges how difficult it is on the heart but also validates the way two people can communicate genuine tenderness and longing despite their circumstances, and how those feelings can still feel warm even through a screen. — Juan J. Arroyo

DFZM - "PONTE"

DFZM ignites el movimiento with “PONTE,” a high-voltage reggaeton track built to be felt. The beat hits hard from the first second, it’s sensual, and loaded with that unmistakable perreo pulse. Backed by a powerhouse team of producers, the song moves with a raw, physical energy that refuses to slow down. DFZM’s voice cuts through the rhythm with confidence, slipping between provocative lines and a hypnotic cadence that locks the listener in. He delivers the track with the swagger of someone who knows exactly how to command the moment, turning desire and movement into the core language of the song. “PONTE” is an instant club staple, direct, heated, and built for dancing without hesitation. With it, DFZM shows he’s operating with full artistic clarity and “PONTE” invites you to feel it, move with it, and let DFZM’s energy take over. – Natasha Melina Argudo

Lucho SSJ, Robot95 - “Tsunami”

Argentinean trapero Lucho SSJ teamed up with Mexican hip-hop artist Robot95 on “Tsunami.” The collaboration blends two cultures into one fiery trap track about what the duo have in common: their lavish lifestyle and having baddies in each country. Produced by Ice Eyes, the two artists trade seamless verses about being different from other colleagues and about being grateful for what they have, but with an eye on what’s next. More than just a collaboration, with “Tsunami,” the duo creates an alliance with each other’s loyal fan base, with hopes of expanding their audience to an international level. – Jeanette Hernandez

Elena Carat - “La Ciudad del Frío”

Elena Carat is fast approaching the release of her second album and follow-up to 2023’s La Madrugada, and for its second single, she conjures a ‘90s alternative rock sound that sounds equal parts Mitski and Jeanette. Co-produced alongside David Baldo, “La Ciudad del Frío” finds Carat softly crooning surrounded by ever-changing electric guitar chords, overdriven bass lines, and beefy drums. She struggles with an unbalanced relationship; her lover’s coldness is palpable, but her feelings for them are stronger. As the distortion kicks in on the chorus, her resignation heightens, and she wishes at least for things to stay just as they are as long as she doesn’t lose her love. – Cheky