This is a weekly compilation of bite-sized song & EP reviews from our music writers. Discover new favs, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases & more. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Cecé – “IMYSM”
After so much time spent in lockdown, missing a lover has become a common occurrence for many, and the painful feeling has only increased—if social media is anything to go by. Venezuelan singer Cecé attempts to distill that sentiment into a sultry neo-soul track driven by a honeyed voice paired with producer LOM’s ‘90s R&B-worshipping beats. The Spanglish lyrics drive the point home while Cecé’s delivery evokes sadness in hushed and seductive tones. —Marcos Hassan
Paloma Mami – “I Love Her”
Paloma Mami comes correct with “I Love Her,” a dynamic single that shows off many sides of the Chilean artist’s influences and capabilities, making it an instant stand-out track on her debut album Suenos De Dali. Using her signature R&B reggaeton sound as the base, she infuses trap beats, dembow rhythms and bossa nova-influenced synth sounds to lay the groundwork for a hard-hitting bilingual dance track that celebrates being the muse of affinity and affection, both for herself and suitors alike. —Jeanette Diaz
The Parrots ft. C. Tangana – “Maldito”
The Parrots have started to spread their wings this year with the release of a refreshing collaboration with Spain’s hot topic C. Tangana. “Maldito,” which happens to be the first single off their second LP, mixes the garage-rock that we are accustomed to hearing from the band with elements of post-punk and pop. The Tom Furse-produced tracks come with an accompanying cinematic video directed by Canada’s Rogelio. —Joel Moya
Yeek – “Overthinking”
This offering from Yeek’s first studio album, Valencia, puts us in a light trance. Featuring lush, bouncy production, “Overthinking” flows so seamlessly it makes the listener feel as if they’re tube riding a never-ending wave. Similarly to the oft-felt inescapable cycle of overthinking, this track is the most loopable in an effortlessly smooth and vulnerable former introduction. My Mulholland drive playlist’s latest addition. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
Manoel Cordeiro & Marlon Sette – “Pupunha com Mel (Primeiro Abraço)”
Manoel Cordeiro is a guitar hero of carimbó, a genre made up of Afro-Caribbean melodies and flavored allegories rooted in the Amazon rainforest. Staying true to this traditional kind of Brazilian music, he joins forces with Marlon Sette in new single “Pupunha com Mel.” Together, they play a question-response game where Manuel frets his guitar in captivating circular lines and Marlon reveals a compelling solo voice on a short-range set of notes. If you feel like dancing along throughout the track’s two minutes, don’t worry—this is carimbó, it does that to everyone. —Felipe Maia
Gianluca, Harry Nach – "Triste y Vacía"
Chilean trap and perreo wunderkind Gianluca has been on one hell of a productive streak, dropping his highly anticipated G-Love 2 mixtape at the end of 2020 and three new singles in the new year thus far. The second installment in a conceptual storyline that deals with themes of self-destruction and death, this song and video follows up the funerary imagery of previous single “Invierno” by giving us insight as to how Gianluca’s character died in the first place. The track features production from Pablo Feliú and some bouncy verses from Chilean reggaeton sensation Harry Nach that are sure to make “Triste y Vacía” the sadboy rump shaker of the summer. —Richard Villegas
Harmless – “Call Katie”
Los Angeles’ Harmless keeps on dropping little bedroom gems we can dance to, like last month’s quarantine-inspired house-tinted jam “Nacho’s.” This time he gives us “Call Katie,” a melancholic track led by rhythmic organ-like synth stabs and vocals that melt over reverb clouds. It’s about wanting to be with someone who isn’t really committed to, or worse, interested in having, a relationship—and it’s breaking our hearts. —Cheky
Jelani Aryeh – “Marigold”
This is the sound of Winter transitioning to Spring, and we’re ready. Jelani Aryeh’s voice is a delight as he takes on a more radio pop approach here with the popcorn-style ramblings of a young soul “praying we live long lives.” This is a refreshingly fun track that doesn’t take itself too seriously (despite Aryeh’s soul-piercing gaze in the visualizer). Don’t sleep on this 19-year-old on the rise. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
Kotanna – “Imágenes Plásticas”
Usually, ambient music has the ability to melt into the background while subtly influencing the mood in whatever room it’s playing. Puebla, Mexico’s Kotanna approach to the genre is quite different. “Imágenes Plásticas” cranks the emotional weight of synthesizers into soundscapes that approach the same epic levels soundtrack giants like Vangelis and Tangerine Dream popularized in ‘80s films. “Imágenes Plásticas” is music to melt your feelings to. —Marcos Hassan
J Balvin – “Tu Veneno”
J Balvin just dropped the follow-up to “Ma’ G” and second single off his forthcoming album, and after a few spins, we’re left feeling… underwhelmed. “Tu Veneno” finds the Colombian megastar back on his signature languid reggaeton vibes, threading on some softcore descriptions to tell the tale of a toxic relationship. And while there’s no doubt people will sing the crap out of it, it’s hard not to think of this track as another one of the bunch. —Cheky
Duda Beat – “Meu Pisêro”
A few years ago, forró—a set of cultural practices from secular traditions in Brazilian Northeast—gave birth to a new electronic strain: the pisadinha (or piseiro), a music genre loaded with punchy drum rolls, catchy keyboard phrases and brokenhearted lyrics. This is the foundation of Duda Beat’s new single, “Meu Pisêro,” as she keeps making her way through the ranks of Brazilian pop. Once again, Duda plays with sounds embodied in popular culture while fusing contemporary timbres, from PC music melodies to bleached hyperpop. The music video, a heavily-saturated tribute to horror cinema, is the icing on the cake of a delightful song. —Felipe Maia
Señor Kino – “Plantita”
Sonoran experimental garage-indie band Señor Kino have released their new track “Plantita” which explores their more sedated side. Delivering a hazy psych-rock fueled by melodic synths and muted percussion, the lyricism unravels in a story of the circle of life. Reminders that, though sudden uprootedness and change is met with the inevitability of death in some form, there is always hope for the beauty of rebirth to take its place. —Jeanette Diaz
Rompiste Mis Flores – "Bailar Sin Ti"
With her first release since 2020’s excellent Fúnebre EP, Costa Rican DJ and producer Rompiste Mis Flores is back in the spotlight with a wild, deep house cover of Marco Antonio Solis’ heartbreak anthem “Si No Te Hubieras Ido.” Putting a hedonistic spin on a nostalgic classic, Rompiste Mis Flores transforms El Buki’s pleading lines into cheeky, sexy declarations of independence that dance over a thumping club beat embellished with moans and atmospheric synths. —Richard Villegas