We are living through an era where more music is available to us than ever—whether it be via social media, streaming or apps. But despite this wealth of options, it can be difficult to cut through the industry hype, the homogenizing algorithms, and find something new and exciting.
In our weekly Nuevo Noise playlist, you’ll find some of our favorite releases of the week—from the most exciting new names in urbano to the burgeoning SoCal neo-Chicano soul wave and everything in between.
Consider this your genre-diverse guide to the most exciting releases from rising Latinx artists each week. Follow our Nuevo Noise playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
1
Chicano Batman - “Color My Life”
This week, Chicano Batman announced their new album, Invisible People, along with an extensive North American tour. Because that isn’t enough, they unleashed their single “Color My Life” to make things even more exciting. The psych-pop track is a lovely, if not prophetic, summer tune where they imagine an apocalyptic future—one where we can only dream of going back to a normal life. That future is coming full speed ahead, so we’d better start finding the color in our lives wherever we can. -Cheky
2
Angelica García - “Penny In My Back Pocket”
Maybe you’re having an off day. Maybe it’s Mercury retrograding it’s wrath on you. Or maybe you’ve just made some poor choices. Whatever the reason for your woes, Angelica García wants you to get up, dust yourself off and go about your day feeling grateful that you’re still here. On her latest single “Penny In My Back Pocket,” off her forthcoming Cha Cha Palace LP, the Mexican-Salvadoran pop singer fesses up to her wild ways—which sometimes go sideways—but since life keeps pushing, so does she. -Richard Villegas
3
Salt Cathedral - "Paris"
Paris will fix all that’s wrong in your relationship. At least that’s Salt Cathedral’s latest dream on their allusive, yet literally Francophilic single. But restorative getaways aside, “Paris” also marks the first time Nico Losada sings on a Salt Cathedral track. He makes the most of the new adventure with a dramatically Autotune-cloaked reggaeton aria. -Caitlin Donohue
4
Gabriela Triste - "Frutsi"
Salvadoran fashionista Gabriela Triste is ready for her close up. After years of making waves with lo-fi love songs to k-pop idols and uproarious SoundCloud parodies (all of which still slap), the 19-year old e-girl is finally gearing up to release her debut EP. Kicking off this new era is “Frutsi,” Gabriela Triste’s quirky calling card. The viral underground smash was initially short-lived, as it disappeared from the Internet due to a production rights dispute. But now with fresh production from Gaby Nieto and GARS, “Frutsi” is back on the airwaves, spinning a sticky-sweet fantasy of summer romance and lips as red as Cherry Cola. -Richard Villegas
5
Algora - "Poesía De La Distopía"
Like the bastard child of Hidrogenesse and Mecano, Victor Algora knows how to produce pop that can be absurd, detached and a riotous good time. Deadpan vocals link with catchy hooks and vintage synth sounds arranged into a sophisticated and hilarious song. “Poesía De La Distopía” strives to find transcendental meaning in the mundane experience of shopping, expressed wonderfully though literate lyrics not afraid to be silly from time to time. You know, like culminating with a vision of a fire in a Black Friday department store. Late capitalism has never been this fun, trust. -Marcos Hassan
6
Bianca Oblivion - "Bumbum Pra Cá"
This Los Angeles-born and bred DJ officially opens her 2020 with a crashing baile funk-grime track that sounds like the party’s final word. L.A. nightlife denizens already know about Club Aerobics co-founder Bianca Oblivion’s ability to regularly rev through tropical bass and house sets. Surely, both locals and newbies are cheering on this single, marking her debut production credit after roughly a decade on the decks. -Caitlin Donohue
7
nnux - "Piezas"
Heartbreak can take on many forms for many people and one can argue that there’s more than enough art made from it. But CDMX electronic artist Ana López makes a strong counterpoint to that claim on “Piezas.” Mixed into abstract electronic noise is López’s voice, singing, “algo se rompió dentro de mi”—communicating something intangible between digital textures and melodies. Her voice remains just out of focus, mimicking the dissociation of having your emotions pulverized. That is until a new beat appears and suddenly you’re in the middle of a panic attack that resolves into a pixelated dance number. “Piezas” pulls this mess of feelings and sounds into fresh, exciting music. -Marcos Hassan
8
Nico Megias - "Memoria de un Día"
Barcelona-based Argentine pop ingenue Nico Megias crafts songs fueled by serendipitous wonder, and “Memoria de un Día” is one of them. It perfectly captures all the poetic possibilities of a fateful lovers’ meeting, the kind that spins in your memory on an endless loop. With a smattering of synths, gauzy backup vocals and the sneakiest reggaeton beat, Megias’ tale of star crossed lovers glides right into you—making for a subtle yet delightfully engaging weekend bop. -Richard Villegas
9
Soledad Velez - “Perverso”
It’s been fun to witness Soledad Velez’s evolution from folk-rock artist to full-on synth-pop force, and she takes a new step ahead with her new single “Perverso.” Produced by Guille Mostaza, the song is Velez’s shot at reggaeton, which turns out to be sober and haunting, keeping the emphasis on the synth sounds and her powerful voice as she shuts down a lover who only wants to get in her pants. -Cheky
10
Build a Vista - "Tu Voz"
For psychedelic bands, the idea of turning music into a nebulous experience is their reason to exist (at least beyond those riffs and weird guitar pedals). Mexico City’s Build a Vista knows this too well, and “Tu Voz” represents a prime example of psych as exploration. The track—which can be found on the fourth volume of the Burger Records Latam compilation—approximates analog techno with its tremolo guitars and staccato keyboards before turning into an irresistible kosmiche-a-go-go groove, setting their controls to the heart of the sun. There are even some melodies to cling onto, for your own safety. -Marcos Hassan
11
MONOGEM - "Get You High" (Spanish Version)
At first listen, the cannabically-inclined might think this is a sweet as pie weed anthem. But in fact this singer, who comes to your eardrums from Guadalajara via Los Angeles, turns in a soaring ode to the intoxicant that is love. Luxe and relaxed, her money notes do inspire a certain kind of romantic light-headedness. -Caitlin Donohue