This is our weekly compilation of newly released bite-sized song reviews from 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 Charlotte Dos Santos, Álvaro Díaz, and Javiera Mena. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Charlotte Dos Santos - “Angel in Disguise”
Throughout the jazz-influenced Cleo EP, Brazilian-Norwegian singer and composer Charlotte Dos Santos detailed the metamorphosis of a woman who ultimately recognizes her own power after having loved and lost hard. On the self-aware “Angel in Disguise” (from her forthcoming album Morfo, out Oct. 14), the songstress fully actualizes that newfound autonomy beside layers of ornate, atmospheric R&B driven by crisp percussion and a haunting, ethereal hook. Dos Santos’s tone is bold yet tactfully subtle as her silken, neo-soul style vocals and near-whisper falsettos ripple across an ensemble of winding keys and violins. – Nayeli Portillo
Javiera Mena - “Peligrosa”
We have been waiting with bated breath for Javiera Mena’s new album ever since she dropped her excellent I. Entusiasmo EP last year, teaming with epic piano ballads (“Dos”) and hedonistic house music (“Diva”). Nocturna is finally here; an LP designed for nighttime frolics that includes subsequent singles like the R&B-tinged “Debilidad” and her theatrical road-to-Eurovision contender “Culpa.” Among the new crop of extremely danceable bangers, “Peligrosa” stands out for its ambitious mix of new jack swing and straight-up sexual electropop. Javiera is at her most seductive here, likening herself to a sharpshooter who’ll plant her kiss wherever she lays her eyes, and all you can do is blush. – Richard Villegas
Álvaro DÍaz - “Lentito”
Puerto Rican artist Álvaro Díaz shares an exhilarating new single, “Lentito” – which despite the name, is guaranteed to get you out to a dance floor incredibly fast. Propelling him into a new sonic lane, the track showcases Díaz’s ability to create hits in multifaceted genres as he bridges the worlds of rap, reggaeton, and house with the production help of award-winning names like Manuel Lara, Caleb Calloway, and Orteez. The accompanying visuals got the lucrative Gallery Sessions treatment in Barcelona, Spain, with Díaz’s segment taking place in a white-lit window display. — Jeanette Diaz
Linda Ronstadt - “El Sueño”
The Mexican-American veteran star Linda Ronstadt released Feels Like Home: Songs from the Sonoran Borderlands, a pristine collection inspired by the Sonoran borderlands and her intimate lifelong memories. The 10-track album spans classic Mexican songs and others that inspired her throughout her diverse musical career. It features the creative touch of emblematic artists that inspired her, such as Dolly Parton, Neil Young, and Lalo Guerrero, to name a few. On her signature “El Sueño,” Ronstadt’s recorded vocals are sharp, hard-hitting, and soulful as she sings a yearning ranchera alongside her brothers Peter and Mike, which instantly takes you back to her prime singing years. The heart-wrenching tune highlights her past sorrowful – and beautiful – vocals that helped categorize her as one of our history’s game changers. – Jeanette Hernandez
Sangre Nueva - “Moskito”
When Kelman Duran, Florentino, and DJ Python teamed up last year for Goteo, their first EP under the name Sangre Nueva, they called it an effort to “build something bigger and better, together.” This week, they drop their sophomore effort, a two-track EP that continues their vision of global club music for increasingly eager and hungry listeners. “Moskito” especially stands out as an example of the project’s goals, bringing together reggaetón breaks and drums with a pseudo-industrial sound. It’s a recipe that in less-talented hands could end up discordant and grating, but Sangre Nueva’s triple-threat talents know how to give clubgoers a good time. — Juan J. Arroyo
TIMPANA - “Zayanqu”
Gwandena, out now on Sounds and Colours, is the first full-length by Bolivian artist Alejandra Lanza under her TIMPANA alias. Crafted alongside co-producer Chuntu by mixing electronics with Andean, Amazonian, and Afro-Latine traditional instruments, the album follows a young girl named Talina and her journey of self-knowledge. And in its second chapter, “Zayanqu,” the plot thickens. The song hypnotizes with circular synth riffs and repetitive drum patterns as Lanza follows her ancestors’ tradition of storytelling in Quechua to narrate the moment when Talina discovers her true power, one that shoots out through the speakers. – Cheky
Chancha Via Circuito, Meridian Brothers - “El Pavo Real”
Like its namesake bird, “El Pavo Real” is a majestic and colorful creature that becomes more fascinating the more attention you pay to it. Argentinian producer Pedro Canale keeps the electronic cumbia vibes in check while adding new elements to his repertoire, like violin melodies that spring every so often on the track. With Meridian Brothers’ Eblis Alvarez bringing the hooks and a bit of his experimental spirit to the mix, “El Pavo Real” becomes an expansive yet fun track that will keep you dancing for days. — Marcos Hassan
Rock Danger feat. Derxan, Major RD, Big Bllakk e LEALL - "Diz Quem Tá Na Pista (Prod: Pedro Apoema)"
Taking a break from Rio’s never-ending summer and showing off woo moves with flashy jackets and techwear, the Brazilian hip-hop label Rockdanger kicks off its operations with a full crew in Chile for the “Rock Danger” music video. The team comes with Major RD’s gnarly vocals, Big Bllakk’s baritone style, stitching bars, and melody lines, and LEALL’s decisive pen game — jabbing any contenders who dare to say they own drill in Brazil. Pedro Apoema’s sped-up beat is only surpassed by Derxan’s punchline – “Vida louca, os menorzin pronto pra trocar” is a crystal clear nod to Russ Millions’ now classic line in Tion Wayne’s “Body.” — Felipe Maia
French Horn Rebellion, Cimafunk, Stalking Gia - “Ya Llegué”
Brothers David and Robert Perlick-Molinari (aka French Horn Rebellion) enlist visionary and Afro-Cubano funkstar Cimafunk and NYC singer-songwriter Stalking Gia for their first release in over two years. From the opening staccato beat to its bouncy, syncopated grooves, “Ya Llegué” encapsulates the boundless, kinetic energy of the dancefloor. The song is steered by electrified Afro-Cuban rhythms and accented with elements of EDM as Cimafunk and Stalking Gia’s playful, charismatic vocal synergy takes center stage. – Nayeli Portillo
Santiago Navas, Felipe Orjuela - “Cumbia de Capital”
Bogotá’s underground cumbia scene is no joke. From renewed political messaging to absurdist performance art, the new school of Colombian cumbia is expanding the genre’s possibilities while sticking to classic, already perfected sounds. Prime examples of this wave are producer Santiago Navas and bassist-composer Felipe Orjuela, who’ve teamed up for a new psychedelic thumper aptly titled “Cumbia de Capital.” Navas’ hypnotic percussion meets an otherworldly call for “Cumbia!” while Orjuela’s funky bass lines and deranged organ melodies set the stage for delectable dance floor antics. – Richard Villegas
Victor Internet - “Olvidar”
“Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind” gets a dreamy lo-fi indie pop makeover on Victor Internet’s latest single and music video. The love-scorned track delivers a slow-tempo bedroom pop banger that is softly infused with electro-reggaeton beats that move swiftly to replace the memories of someone you ache to move on from with its catchy melody. “No quiero llorar, te voy a olvidar” is delivered over and over by the young artist-to-watch until it’s the only remaining thought stuck in your head. By the end of the song, you’ll be left asking “heartbreak, who?” — Jeanette Diaz
Paraisos - “Palmeras”
The emerging Colombian duo Paraísos released their new electro-pop dance track “Palmeras” from their forthcoming debut album Lo Que No Me Mata. It was produced by one half of the duo, Jose Castillo, who’s recently been nominated for the Latin Grammys for his work with Bomba Estéreo. On “Palmera,” the melody takes on a carefree, playful synth-driven tune paired with sweet vocals that encourage you to live without regrets. Makes sense since the artist even self-describes the fresh tune as “POV: when you dance and close your eyes and feel free.” Based on this and Castillo’s latest work, we can’t wait to hear what’s next for the duo. – Jeanette Hernandez
CRISTNA - “Que Lo Que”
Cristy Quiñones, aka CRISTNA, is no stranger to the music scene. The ATL-based Mexican-American beauty and budding pop siren has been chipping away at the gates for a while now, but 2022 might end up being a definitive year in her career. Her new single “Que Lo Que” is a springy-yet-sharp exaltation of feminine desire with agency, and CRISTNA’s voice knows when to soar and when to growl, giving the track color and personality. Spanglish songs are sure to increasingly become a staple of pop and R&B in the future, and CRISTNA has the makings of an artist who can take center stage. — Juan J. Arroyo
Austin TV - “De la Orquídea y la Avispa”
After an extended hiatus that lasted almost a decade, beloved Mexican instrumental rock band Austin TV surprise-released a brand-new song, “De la Orquídea y la Avispa,” along with performing a comeback show and announcing their participation in next year’s Vive Latino festival. The masked quintet (now sans founding member Mario “Chavo” Sánchez) picked up where they left off, giving us a dramatic emo-splashed post-rock number with a spoken word bit that encourages us to believe we’re part of something bigger. That’s why Austin TV never really died, because its community kept the band alive. – Cheky
Thank You Lord For Satan - “Conversations Al Amanecer”
“Conversations Al Amanecer” flows like a half-remembered dream that floats around your head when waking up. This duo from Lima, Peru, make the most out of their minimalist instrumentation, letting darkness sip through the spoken word verses in a way that’s both poppy and sinister, layering textures in small but significant ways. When the chorus arrives, its sweetness comes in the form of a spectral melody. Thank You Lord For Satan is a revelation of different shades of light and darkness. — Marcos Hassan
Ludmilla - "Tic Tac feat. Sean Paul"
It has been almost one year since Brazilian trail-blazing superstar Ludmilla released her last hit, “Rainha da Favela,” with a music video that scored not only several cameos but also an after-credits, cliffhanger scene. From her private jet, Ludmilla speaks with an unknown caller that she would be landing somewhere soon. The flight took a while, but the wait was worth it. In her new single, “Tic Tac,” Lud tags along with masked producer Topo la Maskara, repeating a successful collaboration as in “Socadona” and “Verdinha,” and gets Jamaican householder Sean Paul to sing by her side. The result is a tight dancehall beat crossed with baile funk tones. — Felipe Maia