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 División Minúscula, Immasoul, and Tei Shi. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
División Minúscula - “Todo Se Detiene Aquí”
One of Mexico’s most popular alternative rock bands, División Minúscula, is officially back! In “Todo Se Detiene Aquí,” the band does what they do best: they mesh a pop-rock melody with a contagious electric guitar riff and charming synthesizers that reminds us back of their heyday in the early 2000s. Now, the band’s back in the spotlight with their new album, Escombros, after five years since their last project. With Escombros, the band originally from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, picks up where they left off with plans to reel back in their audience and conquer the Latine rock scene again. – Jeanette Hernandez
Immasoul - "Belize"
Chetumal, Mexico-born R&B songstress Immasoul waxes nostalgia about a lost love on the dreamy “Belize,” the lead single from her new EP Amores Pasajeros. Ethereal choruses overlap with an intoxicating dembow rhythm in this sweet but melancholic ballad ideal for those solo singalongs during late-summer night drives. – Nayeli Portillo
Moffa, King Savagge, Juanka - “Fechorías”
Moffa’s newest track, “Fechorías,” is best suited for sweaty summer nights in a darkened club, much like is seen in the music video directed by Young Rey Justin. The artist is joined on the song by fellow Puerto Rican Juanka and Chilean artist King Savagge. The trio sings about criminally sultry behavior, and it’s done with gumption and confidence. It’s a bold track all around, and each artist makes their mark on their respective verses. — Chelsea Quezada
Tei Shi - “Mona Lisa” (Spanglish Version)
Back in March this year, Tei Shi made an impressive return to the spotlight with her BAD PREMONITION EP, which includes the single “Mona Lisa,” a perfect fit for a project that’s all about breaking free from toxic relationships, be it romantic or, in her particular case, with an oppressive record label. Now, she gave the track a Spanglish treatment, and its lyrics about feeling mistreated and used hit even harder. There’s something about singing, “Estás lleno’e mierda y lo sabes,” that conveys the message more bluntly, even when listening to her soft croon and minimalistic R&B instrumentation. – Cheky
Kofia Cross - “Me Olvidé”
With a fusion of alt-pop, bolero, neo soul, and not a little bit of legit rap prowess, Kofia Cross aims to make an indelible impression with her debut EP, Metales en Zafiro. Over four tracks and an equal number of visually arresting music videos, she spins a narrative with all the drama, tension, purpose, and catharsis of a stage play. Along with her producer Barcode, the Puerto Rico native covers themes of empowerment in “Me Olvidé” and deftly segues into the closing track “Linda y Soltera,” a throwback homage to the genre’s underground roots that still conveys the project’s deeper motif. — Juan J. Arroyo
Maggie Cubillos - “Slow Motion”
Picking yourself up after a breakup can be difficult, and sometimes the cycle of sadness and renewal doesn’t obey a strict timeline. In “Slow Motion,” singer-songwriter Maggie Cubillos explores the idea of feeling bad for not healing fast enough. Hitting a sound that’s equal parts Lilith Fair-core and Taylor Swiftian folk pop—all vulnerability and reaffirming emotions through organic arrangements—, Cubillos expresses her frustrations and fears with determination and a slightly wounded voice. “Slow Motion” is the right track to play late at night when the world feels like it’s crumbling down and you have to get up early the next morning. — Marcos Hassan
Bumont, Mezz, RIAH - “Caramelo”
Don’t sleep on Central America. Vibe-heavy trap and R&B scenes are brewing across the region, and Guatemala’s Bumont is a buzzy producer with the Midas touch. Stepping out from behind his groovy bass duties with shoegazy dreamers Easy Easy, Bumont has enlisted an all-star cast of local talent for his upcoming EP slated for release in November. The first taste comes with “Caramelo,” featuring rapper Mezz and smoky vocalist RIAH, who channel ’90s hip-hop flows from the likes of Tupac and Faith Evans for a slice of seductive nostalgia that’ll get you bouncing. – Richard Villegas
Le Coco - "ASDA"
Venezuelan singer-songwriter Le Coco dropped “ASDA,” a sensual, rhythmic pop track about a flourishing, infatuating, and irresistible love. “ASDA” starts off slow with an ethereal-like ambiance and soft piano chords that get backed up with a distinctive high-pitched ping and bass-heavy melody that follows the song to its finish. The new track follows Le Coco’s “Dos Bebes,” which also narrates a story about a daring love. With these two singles in mind, we’re excited to see what’s next for the enthralling and risqué artist that leaves her listener wanting more details from her escapades. – Jeanette Hernandez
Entropica feat. Sukubito - “LATINA”
Chilean electropop trailblazer Entrópica links up with Santiago experimental artist and musician Cris Beltrán, better known as Sukubito, to liberate the dancefloor on “LATINA.” The effervescent pop meets ‘90s house gem arrives with a striking video directed by professional voguer and performer Pretty Keller. While Pride month may have come to an end, the duo has crafted a joyous queer club anthem that deserves to be celebrated all year round. – Nayeli Portillo
VALÉ - “moody, dirty, sweaty”
VALÉ’s latest offering is “moody, dirty, sweaty,” an edgy, rock-inspired track with plenty of attitude. The Colombian singer-songwriter’s affinity for a dark and punchy bassline is all too evident here, courtesy of Mark Johns and producing trio The Fund. Like her previous single, “mr. titubeante,” “moody, dirty, sweaty,” features bilingual lyrics. VALÉ is a rising musical chameleon; she plays within different genres all at once. — Chelsea Quezada
Bruna Lucchesi & Kiko Dinucci - “Quem faz amor faz barulho”
Curitiba singer-songwriter Bruna Lucchesi took on the task of recording an entire album interpreting the songs made by the Brazilian poet and essayist Paulo Leminski. And before its release next month, she shared her version of “Quem faz amor faz barulho” featuring guitarist Kiko Dinucci. Lucchesi stands in the middle of the song, sweetly singing Leminski’s words, as the world around her turns increasingly noisy with Dinucci’s dissonant guitar work reminiscent of a mellow Arto Lindsay, giving us an overdriven samba that reinforces Leminski’s utopia: humanity will reach happiness the day everyone makes music. – Cheky
Oda Phantom - “Nueva Estrella”
They say you should get it while it’s hot, and every year, new enterprising artists step up to the challenge with dreams of becoming the next new star. It’s with that energy that Oda Phantom presents his new single, “Nueva Estrella,” a boast track from an artist whose confident rhymes and effortless flow might be just what he needs to make noise in the increasingly busy scene. With the backing of popular indie studio Blow Music and its stalwart leader Manny Dreads, expect to see more of Oda soon, and with this new song, he demonstrates that he’s earning his shot. — Juan J. Arroyo
DINA X - “xra n0 llor444r”
From the first note, DINA X owns this track about confronting the feelings you still have for a person you no longer want to be with, as painful as that can be. The Venezuelan artist embraces a cybernetic music style to express their pain and anger, delivering everything through a thick fog of effects and mechanical beats that give the song propulsion. Once the track goes from trap to full tilt-techno in the outro, the mechanical precision of the song falls into place, complementing the catchy and emotional delivery of DINA X. — Marcos Hassan
Gato e’ Monte - “La Turba”
Colombian label In-Correcto is home to a rising wave of singer-songwriters transforming the South American narrative landscape. From the searing indictments of La Muchacha to the earnest soul-searching of Briela Ojeda and Ana María Vahos, the label is steadily positioning an entire generation of storytellers. One of their newest stars is Gustavo Casallas, better known as Gato e’ Monte, who this week released his sophomore LP El Talante De La Noche dipping into cumbia, bolero, and chiefly Colombian música llanera. The mighty bandolo riffs of “La Turba” race like the fuse on a stick of dynamite as Casallas—who is accompanied by fellow strummer and vocalist Yeison Perilla—stirs and convulses to shed the gag of fear that has silenced so many throughout the country’s long history of violence and impunity. – Richard Villegas