The Latin GRAMMYs Awards are coming in hot! This year, the 25th edition’s most-nominated public figures include Mexican-American songwriter Edgar Barrera, Colombian pop star Karol G, and Puerto Rican icon Bad Bunny. However, there is more to unpack when it comes to this year’s official nominee list. As we gear up for this year’s ceremony, praising our community’s biggest stars and spotlighting the nominees you might not know about yet is essential. Not only do we cheer for these nominees, but so does the Latin Recording Academy. Some are being recognized for the first time under the Academy’s two new categories — Latine EDM and contemporary música mexicana albums.
Let’s start with the most nominated names. Barrera is up for nine awards this year, including three nods in the category of Song of the Year thanks to “(Entre Paréntesis)” performed by Shakira and Grupo Frontera, “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” performed by Karol G, and “Según Quién” performed by Maluma and Carín León. Karol G, for her part, is up for eight grammophones. Her nominations include Record of the Year for “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and Album of the Year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season). As for Bad Bunny, his smash single “MONACO” is nominated for Record of the Year, while his latest trap album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, is up for Best Urban Music Album.
But instead of only thinking of the names we know and love well, why not look deeper into the nominees and give flowers to the artists that could be on top of the charts soon? To name a few, the Best New Artist category this year includes Brazilian artist Os Garotin alongside Darumas, Latin Mafia, Ela Taubert, and more. The Argentine project Conociendo Rusia is nominated for Best Pop/Rock Album alongside Bruses, Jay De La Cueva, and Francisca Valenzuela. The Latin Grammy nominee pool is full of emerging and established artists who have been making waves all year long.
With the prestigious award ceremony just around the corner – on Nov. 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, FL, to be exact — let’s dive into Remezcla’s top five Latin GRAMMY nominees to keep an eye out.
Os Garotin – Best New Artist
The Latin Recording Academy nominated Brazilian R&B group Os Garotin for Best New Artist this year. Os Garotin is from São Gonçalo and composed of Anchietx, Cupertino, and Leo Guima. With popular tracks like “Zero a Cem,” “A Gente Tem Tudo a Ver,” and “Queda Livre,” the genre-bending group has made a name for themselves by effortlessly experimenting with rap, funk, soul, R&B, and more. This blend oozes sonic innovation, so we recommend you listen. And this isn’t the only nomination they are up for. Their work was also recognized by being nominated for Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album and Best Engineered Album for their latest LP, Os Garotin De São Gonçalo.
Daymé Arocena – Song of the Year
Daymé Arocena’s “A Fuego Lento” featuring Dominican singer and composer Vicente García, is nominated for Song of the Year. With her powerful harmonizing vocals and sentimental lyrics on top of the groovy, jazz-hinted reggae track, the Afro-Cuban jazz singer is as raw as can be. She doesn’t shy away from displaying her vulnerability through her strong, deep vocals and sensible lyrics, making her one of our picks this year. You can see her cry with gratitude and surprise in an Instagram post, assuring she’ll soon offer a worthwhile speech and thank her whole team. Besides “A Fuego Lento,” Arocena is also known for her hit singles like “Estetograma” with Alcolirykoz and “La Rumba Me Llamo Yo.”
Vikina – Best Electronic Music Performance
Miami-based Cuban-Ecuadorian artist Vikina partnered with Mexican-American DJ Deorro for their high-energy EDM collaboration “BAMBOLE.” This track is a hit and part of the Latin GRAMMYs’ inaugural category of electronic music called “Best Electronic Music Performance.” With her captivating bilingual pop vocals on top of a club-ready dance track, the two artists put forward an exciting mesh, opening the pathway for Latine EDM creators. We’re highlighting them because both artists have been pushing for this overdue recognition for almost a decade in their careers. They have dabbled in multiple genres throughout their careers, making them diverse and seasoned with experience. With this hit collaboration, they finally get a shot at a Latin Grammy. In a recent Instagram post, Vikina said that being nominated for a Latin GRAMMY is a significant accomplishment she has dreamed of since she was a little girl, making the achievement much more impactful. Vikina and Deorro are up against other electronic artists like Alok, Bizarrap, and Ale Acosta.
Michelle Maciel – Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album
Corridos singer Michelle Maciel is an artist who’s breaking barriers. Besides being open about being part of the LGBTQ+ community, the artist also delivered one of the most popular música mexicana albums this year. The Latin GRAMMY-nominated TRASTORNADO LP is packed with hits like the hard-hitting corrido tumbado “CCC” with Eden Muñoz, which left its mark in the regional Mexican realm. We recommend this album because Maciel dabbles in corridos, tumbados, and EDM, proving the genre floodgates are wide open when it comes to música mexicana. After being nominated, he wrote a motivational message to his fans, encouraging them to do what they want – even if doubted by others. He continued to share that the elements crucial for success are perseverance, discipline, and “a pinch” of talent. On top of it all, this also marks the first time the Latin GRAMMYs recognized the Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album category.
Conociendo Rusia – Best Pop/Rock Album
Conociendo Rusia is an Argentinean project spearheaded by singer-songwriter Mateo Sujatovich. The group’s album Jet Love is nominated for Best Pop/Rock Album against albums like Bruses’ Cuando Ella Me Besó Probé A Dios, Jay De La Cueva’s self-titled album, Draco Rosa’s Reflejos De Lo Eterno, and Francisca Valenzuela’s Adentro. What makes this album one to check out is its unique sentimental folk-tinted pop-rock compositions and ballads like “Lo Mejor,” “Cinco Horas Menos” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, and “Te Lo Voy a Decir,” which pulls heartstrings. We especially recommend this album to readers nostalgic for ‘80s rock, pop, and synth-pop that keep consistent with themes of love, loss, and trying to make a relationship work. Beyond this nominated album, Conociendo Rusia is known for other popular tracks like “Loco en el Desierto,” “Cabildo y Juramento,” and “Quiero Que Me Llames.”
