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 La Dame Blanche, Jasiel Nuñez, and Dillom with FERMIN. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
La Dame Blanche - “Mi Negro”
“Mi Negra,” the 2020 anthem penned by Venezuelan rapper Akapellah uplifting Black women, now has an equally splendid answer thanks to Cuba’s La Dame Blanche. The reggae-scented “Mi Negro,” included in the artist’s brand-new fifth album ATÓMICA, is a stunning document of Black admiration and an exercise on gratitude, as La Dame Blanche showers Akapellah with loving words of respect for striking a chord in her own power and self-worth. She gave us a beautiful jam where, on its own or in combination with “Mi Negra,” Afro-Latines can find a refuge of affirmation and celebration. – Cheky
Jasiel Nuñez - "Nos Entendemos"
The nearly three-minute lust letter from Jasiel Nuñez, “Nos Entendemos,” is a cheeky ode to a relationship. This is the Mexican singer’s solo debut as one of the first artists signed to Peso Pluma’s record label Double P Records, and it comes after a few collaborations with the hitmaker. Nuñez details the undeniable chemistry between him and his love interest in the lyrics, even how they will inevitably get back together if they split. It’s palpable in the music video, where they’re having an all-out romantic date — the kind you see on reality dating shows. That’s not the only match made in heaven either; the newcomer’s reimagining of regional music layered with a reggaeton beat shows his promise in the genre. — Chelsea Quezada
Bb Trickz - “Cash Cobain”
Spanish up-and-comer Bb Trickz worked with New York artist/producer Cash Cobain to create a unique blend of pop/trap romantico in her latest single, which is also featured in her new EP Sadtrickz. No doubt inspired by the mainstream success of the freshest class of pop and rap princesses like PinkPantheress and Ice Spice, “Cash Cobain” is sugar-coated in delicate, dreamy synths that float above booming bass and percussions commonly heard pounding the streets of uptown New York City, creating an atmosphere of dissociation and sentimentality. Bb Trickz pulls the song back to earth with her delivery of introspective lyrics that, while more intimate than listeners may be used to, still embrace the unruly persona that grabbed people’s attention during her earliest aughts of TikTok virality. – Rosy Alvarez
FERMIN, Dillom - “Paraiso”
The Buenos Aires indie pop landscape is fertile as ever, and singer-producer FERMIN has proven to be one of the key players of a new wave of artists weaving nostalgic synthpop and house with avant club beats. On his adventurous new album Todo Sobre La Nada, he plunges into the ass-shaking madness of baile funk on “Elemento,” later summoning perreo vixen Six Sex for an ethereal ballad on “Down.” But it’s FERMIN’s soaring disco reunion with rap agitator Dillom on “Paraiso” that will have you running to the dance floor, sounding like the euphoric crossover between Kylie Minogue and La Casa Azul that pop fans could only ever dream of. – Richard Villegas
Dayme Arocena - “American Boy”
“American Boy” is a reaffirmation of a new style for Dayme Arocena in which she incorporates many different elements into a style that is all her own. The Afro-Cuban artist brings the Caribbean flavor early in the track with light percussion and deep vocalizations before launching into a sophisti-pop chorus that is an explosion of melody and catchy lyrics. With “American Boy,” Arocena proves to be a vital artist working in today’s Latine music and a welcome addition to this year’s great pop songs that search for something beyond genre. — Marcos Hassan
Carmen DeLeon - “Que Chimbo”
Carmen DeLeon is tired of scrubs. The Venezuelan pop star’s new single, “Qué Chimbo,” makes that clear as day with its statement chorus — you only need to date a loser once to realize you’ll never do that again. Hopefully, her busy schedule will keep her away from that sort, too. Her rise over the past three years has been quietly meteoric, including collaborations with Tainy, Feid, and Ne-Yo, as well as appearances on the soundtracks of Academy Award-winning movies. With its eclectic fusion of genres on the production side and the catchy, relatable message of its lyrics, “Qué Chimbo” is another win on her road to even bigger stardom. — Juan J. Arroyo
MJ Nebreda, Mussa Medusa - “Teta”
MJ Nebreda linked up with Mussa Medusa on new visuals for their hypnotic, healing, and hype perreo track “Teta” off her recent Arepa Mixtape. The new earworm features a banging bassline with the Venezuelan singer-producer’s signature Raptor house elements that she’s known to delicately curate. The track’s BPM bounces back and forth throughout the song, giving its listener time to “da[r]le abajo, hasta el suelo” at their preferred leisure. As far as the song’s lyrics go, not only does it encourage you to be unapologetic about your sexuality, the song even has lowkey affirmations like, “No me importa de donde seas / Tu siempre puedes estar en la frecuencia que tú quieras / Y todo fluye, todo será / Porque la cura y la cura en tu mente puede estar,” giving a little bit of everything in just about three minutes of music magic. What else can we say? It’s going to stay on repeat until further notice. – Jeanette Hernandez
Ariel y su Venadito - “Los Que No Se Olvidan”
For the past five years, Oaxacan singer Ariel Serrano has cut her teeth on stages across Mexico with performance collective Ariel y su Venadito, earning a buzzy co-sign from Lila Downs and performing on massive stages, including Mexico City’s Zócalo. Melding genres like cumbia and huapángo with lyrics and poetry in Spanish and indigenous Mixtec and Zapotec, the group is finally making its studio debut with the single “Los Que No Se Olvidan.” Co-written with Vivir Quintana and Manú Jalil, the song recounts Serrano’s experiences as a trans woman dating cis-het men, where so often prejudice and social stigma doom these relationships from the start. The heady storytelling unfolds over a seductive hybrid canvas of cumbia and reggaeton, which will leave you feeling like Los Angeles Azules just popped up at your favorite perreo. – Richard Villegas
Marina Melo - “Mar de Ver Além”
After spending her last three EPs diving into themes of technology and dystopia, São Paulo artist Marina Melo takes a step back, breathes in, and gives us “Mar de Ver Além,” her latest single. Produced by Fernando Sagawa, Melo stands in the middle of a whirlwind of flute and sax melodies and sparse synths to give us almost a mantra that conjures water as a life force that brings the kind of strength that she needed the moment she wrote the song. We’re gradually led into a slick electro-pop dance party, and in no time, we begin to feel we can overcome anything that comes our way. – Cheky
Ana Macho - "Charreando En La Disco feat. Cita"
Off their upcoming debut album Radio Sunshine, Ana Macho releases “Charreando En La Disco,” a reggaeton earworm with Puerto Rican rapper Cita. The duo rails against men who try to intrude on their night out with friends, even bluntly telling them that nobody is interested. The sentiment over half the population knows all too well is visualized in the animated music video for the two-step dance track, done by Venezuelan artist Francisco Sanabria. Macho cleverly shares their experiences through their identity as a queer musician, even the dream of having one fun night that doesn’t involve a man selfishly getting in the way. – Chelsea Quezada
Bendi La Bendición & DJ Guari - “MAROMA”
DJ Guari, popular underground New York DJ and producer and rising Boricua artist Bendi La Bendicion tap into underground reggaeton rave culture for their new single “MAROMA.” Draped in electric synths that are reminiscent of Tainy’s Data or any of Álvarito Díaz’s recent singles, the track opens with slow pulsing horns before diving headfirst into a speedy UK breakbeat that lasts for about one verse and transitions again into an intense perreo lento at the halfway mark. The sumptuously chaotic collection of electronic cadences layered over reggaeton percussions pair perfectly with the story of twilight dalliances con una gata that refuses to be tied down. While women’s moans are traditionally used as a sonic sprinkle to a raunchy song, the duo utilizes them as a metronome, one that can easily instigate hot and heavy grinding on the dancefloor. The “MAROMA” visualizer also briefly pans to a mood board the duo created, which features stand-out photos of the Powerpuff Girls, FKA Twigs, and the Daddy Yankee Barrio Fino album cover. If this is any indication of future collabs, we hope the duo continues to drop perreo electrico vibes in the near future. – Rosy Alvarez
Kaixara, Javier Cali - “Loop Energía REMIX”
Last year, when Argentine pop singer Kaixara released her solo debut Animales Espirituales, she melded introspective songs with atmospheric reggaeton to carve a lane parallel to her beloved pop-rock band Amor Elefante. Now she’s linked up with Mexican R&B singer and producer Javier Cali for a remix of the single “Loop Energía,” ramping up the kicks and bass lines to make it a sexy dance floor grinder. While the original finds Kaixara musing on how to protect her energy and peace of mind after a breakup, a new verse from Cali takes the song from monologue to contentious dialogue, boosting their delicious sensual tension. – Richard Villegas
Vaya Futuro - “Sin Nombre”
With “Sin Nombre,” this Mexican band continues their journey toward a heavier sound. Indebted to the ‘90s trip-hop holy trinity — Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tricky — the song treads similar murky-yet-sensual waters thanks to its dark atmosphere and mid-tempo groove that possess a barely contained menace. There’s also a hint of Deftones’ style atmosphere in how the guitars weave together and almost explode in distortion, giving the track an extra kick of danger to the mix. Vaya Futuro knows how to keep the tension running to give “Sin Nombre” its sense of melody and atmosphere, giving us another side of this very eclectic and talented band. — Marcos Hassan
Floores x Chasing Nomads - “15 MINUTOS”
Two groups team up as Floores and Chasing Nomads align for the neon lo-fi indie pop rock of their new single, “15 MINUTOS.” Basking in synthwave vibes and grooves, the two duos collaborate on the occasion of Floores’ debut EP, SIENTO QUE YA NO ESTAMOS EN LO MISMO…. The atmospheric production and lyrics about a toxic “vicious cycle” inform the music video, with the camera twirling slowly as the band members dawdle on miscellaneous quirky distractions — perhaps anything to get their minds off the anxieties of life. The pop sound’s umbrella is wider than people give credit for, and this union further proves how rich the genre can actually be. — Juan J. Arroyo
Bebi Monsuta - “Cvnt”
Whether you need a new pick-me-up mantra or a song to vogue to, Bebi Monsuta has you covered. Following their self-described femrage track “Kitty,” the New York-based sisters Bebi Monsuta released their newest club-ready banger, “Cvnt.” By meshing electronic and house music, the duo with Brazilian, Trinbagonian, and Japanese roots delivered a bad bitch anthem that sets an immaculate vibe for 2024. The new track features catchy, repetitive lines such as, “They so basic that’s so tragic,” giving us a new mantra to repeat as we get hyped for a new year. Full of empowering verses, an on-point attitude, and an infectious house melody, the ever-evolving musical pair — Akira and Manami — assembled a new perfect soundtrack to even walk the runway to. – Jeanette Hernandez