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 Bella Dose, La Doña, and VOXMANA. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Bella Dose - “Adiós”
Bella Dose is effortlessly relatable. Following the release of their doo-wop R&B and pop song “FFIL,” the bilingual Latine girl group is back with “Adiós.” In “Adiós,” the four-piece group embodies a different sound: they dabble in sentimental bachata. Per usual, the girls flesh out their emotions, narrating a story about an inevitable breakup. Through sultry whispers, crisp pop vocals, and captivating harmonies, the singers continue to prove just how versatile their music can be. Their newest album L-Pop is out now. – Jeanette Hernandez
La Doña - “Loser Girl”
The ever-flourishing worlds of reggaeton, cumbia, and hyphy collide on radical Bay area singer-songwriter and musician La Doña’s new EP Can’t Eat Clout. The recently Obama-vetted Chicana artist swaps out the brassy syncopated beats on earlier singles like “Paloma No Vuelve Amar” for a lowrider souldies-esque melody on “Loser Girl.” La Doña’s silken harmonies bring it back to the days of doo-wop, but with a modernized twist and much thornier verses: “Loser girl/what would it take/to get you out my life?/Rid myself of so much anxiety and strife/Tell me, tell me, loser girl” – Nayeli Portillo
VOXMANA - “La Marea”
Thievery Corporation’s Natalia Clavier and violinist/producer/composer Andrei Matorin create something amazing from elements familiar to house music. “La Marea” features a four-on-the-floor beat, pillowy chords, and deep basslines that allow Clavier to do her disco diva act, giving VOXMANA a distinctive sound. Yes, it’s within the limits of an established genre, but house has been an inspiring genre for almost 40 years for a reason. “La Marea” is proof that you can still communicate big emotions with that language. The minimalism and catchiness give the song sharpness and tons of emotion. — Marcos Hassan
jame mingoue - "Sorri"
As summer makes her exit, so does the summer fling jame minogue sings about in his newest single, “Sorri.” The Dominican-Irish artist is following up on “YANOTAPAMI” and leans into an indie-pop sound with hints of reggaeton in his flow. He details the story of his love interest leaving him and wanting to come back into his life now that he’s doing better than he ever was. He shifts back and forth from Spanish to English, making effortless quips throughout the song. minogue is used to creating songs that don’t conform to just one genre, and “Sorri” is a compelling addition to his growing catalog. — Chelsea Quezada
Inka, Bigoblin, Dinamita, Leamback - “Palo”
This week, Dominican rap rookie Inka released his anticipated debut LP Villa Mella, a loving, layered deep dive into the rich history of one of Santo Domingo’s oldest and most culturally influential Black communities. The album’s kaleidoscopic ride of mambo, synthpop, and pri pri closes on a throbbing, boastful dembow titled “Palo.” Featuring fellow rappers Bigoblin, Dinamita, and Leamback, Inka uses the oft-maligned riddim to pay homage to the bulk of pop music rooted in Afro-diasporic drum circles, even shouting out the queen of música de salve, Enerolisa, throughout. – Richard Villegas
YADAM - “Loco”
Belamor, the debut album by Paris-based Venezuela-born artist YADAM, has officially dropped following four heart-wrenching singles. And to celebrate, he has now shared “Loco” and its music video. The song turns from an emotional ballad to an electro-pop number just as gradually and intensely as YADAM falls into self-gaslighting, battling whether he’s crazy or not for wanting his significant other to love as hard and passionately as he does. – Cheky
George Arthur Calendar - “Fantasy”
As he continues the sprint towards his upcoming album, Sugar Freak, Chicago-based Guadalajara native George Arthur Calendar remains focused on his brand of “bubblegum psych pop” that he’s cultivated. The album’s newest single, “Fantasy,” is another retro fusion of new wave and funk that harkens back to the era of music when the lines between goth and disco blurred. Here, over synth harmonies and pop drums, GAC sings to us about that electrifying feeling when you cross paths with someone who’s your fantasy turned reality. It’s a scenario he knows is timeless, but here, he communicates with a very specific sound in mind. — Juan J. Arroyo
Riovaz - “the Rake (can't complain)”
Following “waiting alonE,” Riovaz dropped “the Rake (can’t complain),” a bouncy electronic track infused with alternative R&B elements. With a pulsating, feel-good house beat countering his moody lyrics, the new single serves as a contradictive anthem about a love-and-hate situationship. With this new track, the Ecuadorian-American thrives in the electronic soundscape that meshes R&B, house, and hyperpop, echoing throwback works of OG electronic producers like Cashmere Cat and Trippy Turtle. – Jeanette Hernandez
Daniel Noah Miller - “Otherway”
Fans of folk giants like Sufjan Stevens will find a kindred spirit in Nicaraguan-American artist Daniel Noah Miller. On “Otherway,” the singer-songwriter weaves a tender melody full of breathy falsettos and serene instrumentals by chopping up a cassette tape with a razor blade and divvying them into samples. Producer Jack Hallenback (known for his work with artists like Maggie Rogers, girl in red, and HAIM) hops on this ethereal and quietly triumphant single that embraces the beauty of what Miller describes as letting go of what has metamorphosized into something unrecognizable. – Nayeli Portillo
Titanic - “Cielo Falso”
Mabe Fratti has proven to be one of the most exciting artists working today. The jazz influence presented in her latest project Titanic is still evident in this track, but this time in a minimalistic setting. A piano figure cycles throughout “Cielo Falso,” with Fratti singing melodically while a subtle drum keeps the steady tempo. It builds to a comfortable musical bed, inspired in equal parts by deliberate composition and improvisation in the vein of Spirit of Eden-era Talk Talk. The song is smooth without sacrificing excitement and melodic while also being adventurous. — Marcos Hassan
María Isabel - "I Drove U Crazy"
When it comes to María Isabel’s new track “I Drove U Crazy,” the artist herself says, “…Like fine, I can be the bad guy. Let’s talk about it.” On this soaring R&B track, she opens up about realizing the incompatibility in a relationship and feeling empowered while taking accountability for it. It’s accompanied by a music video filmed in New York City — her hometown, which also inspired the track — and directed by Olivia De Camps. The Dominican-American songstress is officially back from a two-year hiatus, and she’s ready to share more music from her upcoming full-length project and new era. — Chelsea Quezada
Laika Perra Rusa, FERMIN - “Alaska”
Argentine disco pop ensemble Laika Perra Rusa has unveiled a brand new LP titled Matanza, boldly stretching the sonic limits of their previous work with fresh injections of house and baile funk. Among the album’s many standouts is “Alaska,” an evocative, expansive synthpop banger crafted alongside buzzy singer, bassist, and producer FERMIN. The track’s barreling digital bass lines echo Charly García’s ‘80s classic “Hablando a tu Corazón,” while melancholy lyrics about feeling alone on a crowded dance floor propel the song into full-blown anthemic territory. – Richard Villegas
Pelada - “Cállate La Jeta”
After three years in the making, Pelada’s sophomore album Ahora Más Que Nunca is finally here, and it’s packing as much heat as anything they’ve done before. Sitting fourth on the tracklist and between sharp protest club jams is “Cállate La Jeta,” a straight-up electronic punk moment that will surely open the moshpit on the dancefloor. With their fist in the air, singer Chris Vargas demands people to stay out of their business. “Te lo pido con amor,” she growls, and all they want is to protect their energy. – Cheky
MELLOWAVES x Erre - “Demente”
New York-based Ecuadorian producer MELLOWAVES has seen his name rise in the Puerto Rico indie alt-R&B scene as he’s spent the last year-and-change collaborating with artists such as Los Rarxs, Nester, and more. This week, he drops his newest EP, MELLOdrama, where he debuts as a singer and teams up with artists he’s worked with in the past. It started with the catchy house-tinged “Pídeme” alongside FOKINFROID and continued with “Demente.” Here, he and Erre tag-team on a slow jam about exasperation in a toxic relationship that feels neverending. His productions have always hinged on emotional throughline. And on “Demente,” he has the opportunity to fully lean into the drama he infuses into all his work. — Juan J. Arroyo