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 Jean Dawson, GALE, and AQUIHAYAQUIHAY. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Jean Dawson - "delusional world champion”
Being a fan of Jean Dawson feels like witnessing an unremitting level-up. From going face-to-face with inner demons in the acidic “THREE HEADS*” to perfecting wavy mutant pop gems like “GHOST,” the San Diego-born, Tijuana-raised artist has found his niche within maximalist and dimension-defying sounds. “delusional world champion” starts deceivingly mild with loops of Midwest emo-like guitar and layered vocals but then hits like a sudden sugar rush as Dawson accelerates into intensifying one-liners and thrashing hooks. – Nayeli Portillo
AQUIHAYAQUIHAY - “AMOR Y DRAMA”
Mexican “anti-boyband” AQUIHAYAQUIHAY’s sophomore album NO ME BUSQUES DONDE MISMO is out now. The third track, “AMOR Y DRAMA,” produced by Phynx, tackles traditional Latine sounds mixed with hip-hop and R&B. Although they open with “Sabes que amor con drama nunca mixeo,” the I-told-you-so sentiment quickly fades to express how badly they want things to work out. AQUIHAYAQUIHAY coined the term “M-Pop” (Mexican Pop) to mirror the cross-genre offerings similar to Korean and Japanese pop music, and “AMOR Y DRAMA” is true to it. — Chelsea Quezada
GALE - “La Mitad”
The Puerto Rican artist released “La Mitad,” the focus single from her freshly-unveiled debut album Lo Que No Te Dije. “La Mitad” takes us a step further to GALE’s intimate mind, delivering a modern pop ballad that chronicles the moment of letting someone go. In the heartfelt number, GALE shows off more of her vocal range, delivering her soprano croons that help enthrall the listener to engage in her love-and-loss story. Though Lo Que No Te Dije spans different pop sounds, punk anthems, and dream-pop, this particular track is for those who are going through a heartbreak. – Jeanette Hernandez
Dawer X Damper, La Dame Blanche - “No Azara”
Let’s keep it super real: a crossover between Colombian Afro-futurists Dawer X Damper and Cuban flute and rap prodigy La Dame Blanche is absolutely a dream come true. Their brand new single “No Azara” melds afrobeats, fluttering flute melodies, and jagged digital club production, swelling into a throbbing canvas on which this international dream team calls out liars and schemers. “No Azara” is an anthem for warding off bullshitters, like a protection spell you can wind your waist to. – Richard Villegas
Rata Negra - “Ella Está En Fiestas”
Madrid’s best goth-tinged post-punk trio is back with a two-song single that brings good times for those who love to stand in the shadows. Rata Negra brings us an uptempo good time of a track that manages to include a Bauhaus reference in the title. “Ella Está En Fiestas” lets loose a punk-inspired party where everyone’s invited to scream along, continuing the tradition of frenetic fun music dressed in black. This one goes out to those who pay lip service to wallowing in depression when, in truth, they just want to dance the night away. — Marcos Hassan
Blanco Teta - “La Luz”
Argentine avant-punk band Blanco Teta continues dropping singles from their upcoming debut album Rompe Paga like bombs, and now they give us the biting “La Luz.” The song is a dizzying ride through melting cellos, bleeping electronics, and a start-and-stop rhythm that’s a call to take back control of our human interactions in the context of an oppressive system that actively tries to manipulate and break us apart. – Cheky
Mind’s Eye - “Lies”
Songs about falling in love with someone you probably shouldn’t have fallen in love with are nothing new, but Los Angeles indie rockers Mind’s Eye have a knack for tackling that sense of uneasiness point-blank. Their latest album, Long Nights and Wasted Affairs, is packed with unrequited love songs that opt out of the doomy and gloomy sad boy trope and instead lean into jangly guitar pop and honeyed choruses. “Lies” is a diaristic reflection that marries restless, ‘80s post-punk-inspired riffs with the sun-kissed but melancholic sounds of SoCal garage rock à la Best Coast and Wavves. – Nayeli Portillo
Baiuca & Leilía - “Vai Tu”
Since his 2018 debut album Solpor, Baiuca’s electronic sound has been rooted in the traditional folkloric tambourine music exclusively found in the region of Galicia in Northwestern Spain. In his latest track, “Vai Tu,” Baiuca sampled a Galician classic titled “Verde – Gaio,” originally sung by Galician group Leilía in the ‘90s, and mixed it into a bouncy electro-pop track that only concert-goers from his Embruxo tour were able to enjoy… until now. While Baiuca’s other tracks typically incorporate sultry bass and wading synths, “Vai Tu” uses a simple snare and tom loop to create a head-bobbing, lively, and nostalgic beat. The cover of the track, a very impressionist chicken surrounded by hues of blue and green, is no doubt an ode to the song’s original title, which translates to “green chicken.” – Rosy Alvarez
Macha Kiddo - “PXRNX”
Costa Rican rapper Macha Kiddo unapologetically opens her album with the NSFW track “PXRNX.” The club banger is off her album Malacrianza, out today via Kin Kon Records, and produced by Grammy winner El Licenciado, who has worked with Becky G, Chiquis, and more. “PXRNX” is an erotic and uptempo perreo track inspired by the ‘90s hip-hop music that shaped Macha Kiddo’s style, including the textured music video directed by Brenda Yellow, which looks like it was shot on a vintage ‘90s camcorder. This is a song you shouldn’t forget to add to any summer party playlists. — Chelsea Quezada
VALÈ - “lo tengo mal”
Following “¡todo bien, valentina!”, the Barranquilla-bred singer-songwriter released her infectious new track “lo tengo mal.” In this track, VALÈ—also known as Valentina– offers an upbeat bass-driven pop melody with a witty attitude that’ll have you on your feet. Sprinkled in with brass instrument sounds, “lo tengo mal” opens up a more experimental and fun sound for VALÈ, who is mostly known for her alternative R&B tunes. Though it’s a short two-minute taste, we’re hooked on the song’s versatility and ready to hear more of what appears to be VALÈ’s most ambitious musical work yet. – Jeanette Hernandez
Javier Cali - “Otra Noche”
In the run-up to his forthcoming EP Noches, Mexico City-based singer and producer Javier Cali has been teasing a sleeker, trappier sound than in previous R&B-inflected productions. The latest highlight arrives with “Otra Noche,” a slow-burning meditation on the painful process of exorcizing negative people and energy from your life. Cali’s signature longing vocals amplify the song’s vibey catharsis, making for the perfect soundtrack as you sneak away from your day for a quick but revitalizing cry. – Richard Villegas
Midwife, Vyva Melinkolya - “Plague X”
Orbweaver, the icy melancholic collaborative album between self-proclaimed “heaven metal” artist Midwife and dream pop icon-in-the-making Angel Díaz, a.k.a. Vyva Melinkolya, has plenty of downer bangers, and “Plague X” is perhaps their most accomplished in this collection. Defined by droning waves of distortion and whispered vocals, this song builds into something hopeful despite the sadness inherently at the heart of the track. In turn, it invites you to get lost in its range of sorrow and warmth. This one is for those who like their experimental music with a full range of emotions. — Marcos Hassan
Yo y Las Bestias - “Caraballeda”
At the center of Venezuelan writer, director, and musician Nico Manzano’s award-winning opera prima Yo y Las Bestias is music and a heart that beats even harder when faced with adversity. That’s why it makes sense for the movie’s stellar soundtrack, confected by Nika Elia, Chris Mijares, and Manzano himself, to be released as a standalone piece. Second on the tracklist and featuring Diego García (The Slow Glow/Hotel) on vocals, “Caraballeda” is a poignant moment in the movie, burning slow and twinkling tenderly with elegant instrumentation and lyrics as cryptic as the mysterious “beasts” that grace the movie. – Cheky