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 Miky Woodz, DannyLux, and Cazzu with La Joaqui. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Miky Woodz - “No Traje Naki”
Miky Woodz has branded himself as “the O.G.” And after over seven years successfully in the Latine trap/perreo scene, he’s arguably living up to the moniker. His newest album, OG City, drops this week, and for the first single, “No Traje Naki,” he teamed up with impish reggaetón stalwarts Jowell & Randy. The song ticks off everything you expect and look for in a track with that roster: irreverent bravado, cheeky euphemisms, and lewd storytelling that’ll make hips sway and knees bend to the beat. Miky’s been a reliable voice for a fun time in the club and hangouts, and OG City will only solidify that rep. — Juan J. Arroyo
DannyLux - “Te Extraño y Lo Siento”
Days after his successful homecoming show at Coachella’s first weekend, Mexican-American artist DannyLux takes the time to give us a new single just days before his festival round two. “Te Extraño y Lo Siento” is a beautiful acoustic pop ballad with that good sierreño groove where DannyLux mourns the end of a relationship he thought was real. His lament cuts through the guitar strums, realizing the fragility of his significant other’s love in the face of third-party rumors. – Cheky
Cazzu, La Joaqui - “Glock”
With the release of her new Nena Trampa Deluxe album, Cazzu also dropped a new music video for her song “Glock” alongside the Argentinean singer La Joaqui. “Glock” details an unconditional friendship-type of love in both the lyrics and the visuals and preaches how true friends will always be there for you at the end of the day. With a cumbia-influenced backdrop meshed with an empowering reggaeton beat, “Glock” also hints at a different side of Cazzu’s musicianship, one that would be interesting to explore. – Jeanette Hernandez
Nino Augustine - “D1”
Nino Augustine’s “D1” is a satisfyingly rhythmic track that is all about the chase. Lyrically, it’s about freeing yourself from someone who isn’t right for you and fighting for what you desire instead. The Panamanian-born artist is known for his genre-bending songs, like previous singles “HASTA ABAJO” and “TROFEOS.” “D1” sees Augustine fusing the tropical stylings of dancehall music with reggaeton, making for a danceable and easygoing record. — Chelsea Quezada
Wendy Sulca, Lido Pimienta, & Nero Lvigi - “Mírame Como Soy”
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two decades since Peruvian huayno singer Wendy Sulca skyrocketed to internet fame with the viral “La Tetita.” Since then, the singer has gone on to release everything from a somewhat polarizing cover of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” to the robust and eclectic Evolución, where she embraced a more tropical, syncopated pop palette. “Mírame Como Soy” marries traditional Andean melodies with sprawling electronic beats as Sulca joins forces with Colombian-Canadian genre-bender Lido Pimienta and Inkas Mob rapper Nero Lvigi to deliver an experimental spin on classic sounds. – Nayeli Portillo
Y La Bamba, Devendra Banhart - “Hues”
For Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos, “Hues” is a song many decades in the making. Finding inspiration in the music of Devendra Banhart, they now have the chance to duet together in this song that sounds like a balm. A meeting of many different sounds and music histories into a single entity, “Hues” marches to a bossa beat that could also be a slow bolero with harmonies piled beautifully on top of each other. Mendoza Ramos and Banhart complement each other in a lovely, psychedelic way, giving us a song that feels like a soothing color descending from heaven. — Marcos Hassan
LaTorre - “Despojo”
Ecuadorian pop priestess LaTorre has been rolling out her forthcoming EP Orillas with a series of singles canvasing a gamut of love and emotional release over thumping, asymmetrical beats. Her latest offering comes with “Despojo,” a cathartic ode to letting go produced in collaboration with Xužu. On the track, LaTorre sings from the shoreline as waves wash over her and strip away doubt and yesterday’s sorrows, giving her heart the clean slate it so desperately aches for. – Richard Villegas
Skhairripa - “GERVONTA”
Longtime fans of reggaetón have a soft spot for the heady days of Héctor “El Father” and his riotous malianteo tracks, packed with suspect namedrops and stereo-shaking beats. While trap has taken over in recent years, Puerto Rican rapper Skhairripa aims to run it back with his new single “GERVONTA.” Born in the Bronx but raised on the archipelago, his bassy voice combined with nostalgia-inducing menacing strings handily take you back to the days of “Ronca” and other classics. As the brigade of nascent indie rap acts continues making waves, Skhairripa shows off he has the grit to be at the front of the line. — Juan J. Arroyo
Iara Rennó - “Logun” (ft. Moreno Veloso)
Grammy-nominated São Paulo artist Iara Rennó’s 2022 project Oríkì is getting a spiritual sequel this May in the form of a new album titled Orí Okàn, a deeper dive into her intimate musical exploration of candomblé. “Logun,” her second single, is an ode to orixá Logun Edé, and she invited an actual son of Logun, frequent collaborator Moreno Veloso, to join her prayer. Both singers’ soft voices intertwine gorgeously in this percussion-led song where space is as important as what’s there. There’s room for us to inhabit this song with them and feel every word and sound deeply and meaningfully. – Cheky
Nikky Bourbon - “Don’t Let Me Go”
The Nuyorican artist Nikky Bourbon released “Don’t Let Me Go,” her first single of 2023. With the bilingual track, Nikky describes a deeply troubled—but ultimately sacred—love on top of a sensual Afrobeat and R&B-influenced beat topped off with an electric guitar-driven finish. “[It means] fighting for love and doing whatever you must to salvage your relationship,” Nikky said about the song in a statement. “It’s one of those songs that is more of a feeling than a thought, and the message is to love without judgment of yourself or the other person and to be in the moment with whatever it is that you’re dealing with.” The rhythmic, emotional song embodies the heart-wrenching reality of a less-than-perfect love that needs to be figured out, even if it ends in heartbreak. –Jeanette Hernandez
JONA & Ana Mancebo - "4.20 <3"
In honor of yesterday’s unofficial holiday, Honduran artist JONA and Spaniard songstress Ana Mancebo released “4.20 <3,” a bedroom pop treat. The Miami-based artists showcase their delicate vocals over a lo-fi slash Bossa Nova-inspired instrumental. “4.20 <3” is about wanting to be anywhere with the person you’re enamored with. JONA got his start during the height of the pandemic, making music in his room with his producer brother. JONA and Mancebo’s first joint effort results in a romantic, head-in-the-clouds track, a high you won’t want to come down from. — Chelsea Quezada
Guitarricadelafuente - "Romancera"
Benicàssim, Spain, native Álvaro Lafuente, who performs under the stage name Guitarricadelafuente, fuses elements of the traditional Aragonese style known as jota with ambient electronics to create ethereal folk songs. Last year, the Spanish artist teamed up with renowned producer Raül Refree, known for his work with Rosalía and C. Tangana, for his glowing and critically-acclaimed debut album La Cantera. Lush acoustic strums and Lafuente’s buoyant falsettos build to a rush of percussive clatters on this soulful ode inspired by the city of Barcelona, where he currently resides. – Nayeli Portillo
Bunny Michael - “Sure Thing”
Inspired by love, Bunny Michael brings us a sort of freestyle rap that tries to untangle deep sentiments and deliver a message we need. With a deadpan vocal style, Michael’s words flow like a stream of consciousness that find their own logical sense while siren-like synths and ornate electronics ebb and flow, which keeps the vibe lively and chill. In the end, “Sure Thing” attempts to give a spin to the inevitable, that love and good things are as guaranteed as the end of it all, something to hold on to when things are starting to look a bit too grim. — Marcos Hassan
Yasser Tejeda, Vicente García - “En El Naranjo”
Longtime friends and collaborators Yasser Tejeda and Vicente García have teamed up again for an effervescent slice of pan-Caribbean joy titled “En El Naranjo.” Here, the Dominican alchemists layer elements of congo de Villa Mella, jazz, West African guitars, and soulful scat singing into a living proof of how music is in constant movement and evolution. “En El Naranjo” is the latest taste of Yasser Tejeda’s upcoming album La Madrugá, slated for release on May 19. – Richard Villegas