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 Nohemy, Chicocurlyhead, and Alex Anwandter. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Nohemy - "LALALA"
Nohemy released her newest single, “LALALA,” a fast-tempo upbeat dance track from her upcoming album NOHAUS. The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is no stranger to curating party-ready music; she’s known for blending pop and dance elements to create feel-good and carefree tunes. And this new track is no different. The catchy bass-rich pop anthem paired with her flirty, sensual, and provocative lyrics make for a club-ready track made to be played on your next night out. – Jeanette Hernandez
Alex Anwandter - “Qué piensas hacer sin mi amor?”
Chile’s Alex Anwandter finds his groove and makes sure the beat never stops on the sultry “Qué piensas hacer sin mi amor?” It’s the latest from his forthcoming album El diablo en el cuerpo. The single finds a heartbroken but restless Anwandter eager to expel his pain on a smoky dancefloor. Here, the synthpop mastermind pays homage to the sensuous mystique of late ‘70s after-hours television and doubles down on his affinity for leather-heavy alternative dance culture through whirring neon synthesizers and a rapturous, throbbing bass line. – Nayeli Portillo
Humazapas - “Chichu Burru”
Ecuadorian traditional music and dance ensemble Humazapas have released “Chichu Burru,” the first single from their upcoming debut album via ZZK—a stirring ode to harmony between humans and nature rooted in indigenous Kichwa rituals. Composed by Jesus Bonilla and with lyrics by Anita Farinango, the song melds rhythmic elements of kapishka and yumbo, paying homage to the agricultural Kichwa communities of Ecuador’s northern Andes. A music video directed by Victor Manuel Checa follows four children through the mountains and out to the sacred lake of Kuykocha, where crystalline waters, verdant hillsides, and human innocence all become one. — Richard Villegas
PIERI - “Mano a La Pared”
For San Miguel de Allende-born, Brooklyn-based rapper PIERI, every night out is a chance to escape her daytime reality. And with her latest single, “Mano a La Pared,” she invites us to join her and go hasta abajo together. Following her debut project AGROLOVE, “Mano a La Pared” is a Danny Murillo-produced perreo number with a heavy bass synth that displays PIERI in her full-on nighttime persona, letting herself go and being her freest self recklessly. – Cheky
El Shirota - “Segmentaciones”
Having already shared a previous single from their upcoming album, Ni Siquiera Estamos Listos Para Hablar, Mexico’s El Shirota share another shade of what’s to come. While “Así No Fue” was slow-building, quiet, and meditative, “Segmentaciones” sees the foursome return to the raw punk-infused noise rock with which they have made their mark, giving headbanging and moshing rhythms for those inclined to partake in such activities. Give or take a sinister synth or two, “Segmentaciones” could well be a Ministry b-side, and shows that there’s still more to El Shirota than meets the ear. — Marcos Hassan
Pink Pablo - “La Vibra”
Pink Pablo’s last two music videos (“Amor de Pobre” and “Insomnia”) have taken him on a desert-setting road trip soaked in dry, sunny hues. This week, it seems like he arrives at his destination as he brings his brand of rap-infused pop/rock to pool party revelers with “La Vibra.” Pablo is ramping up for his album debut later this fall, with a planned rash of single releases over the next few months to heighten anticipation. He’s proven himself adept at this sort of genre fusion, and the snappy lyrics combined with the boppy music go a long way toward positioning him to make many fans along the way. — Juan J. Arroyo
Chicocurlyhead - "NO TE DEJO EN VISTO"
The Panamanian-born and Atlanta-raised artist Chicocurlyhead released his first newest single of the year, “NO TE DEJO EN VISTO.” This track embodies two different faces of the artist in one. The single starts off boasting a trap-like sound with synths and sparse piano chords that make up the distinctive beat. The second half takes an intimate halt, completely slowing down the tempo into a more emotional ballad accompanied by a bass-heavy beat. Overall, during the two-in-one song, Chicocurlyhead demonstrates a deeper look into his artistry and complements it with a new video that captures an intimate, IRL perspective of him–fame aside. – Jeanette Hernandez
Alexis de la Rocha - “Haze”
“How can you feel that?” singer-songwriter and producer Alexis de la Rocha chants in the meditative and hypnotic apogee on her latest single, “Haze.” Enchanted synths glow beside a rumbling bass as the Los Angeles native merges dream pop textures with elements of ‘80s goth rock minimalism. Inspired by the now cult-favorite Twin Peaks theme song composed by late pianist and arranger Angelo Daniel Badalamenti, de la Rocha leans into a surrealist aesthetic and builds an otherworldly soundscape through dreamy instrumentals. – Nayeli Portillo
Felipe Orjuela - “Manos Limpias (Cuentas Claras)”
Bogota producer and multi-instrumentalist Felipe Orjuela is hellbent on giving you cumbia in its most dazzling form. His latest single, “Manos Limpias (Cuentas Claras),” out via essential Colombian label In-Correcto, showcases his deep commitment to honoring genre trailblazers while also injecting his own curious innovation into the mix. On the track, percussion harkening to costeño ensembles swirls into psychedelic sonidero organs, while accordionist Iván Medellin of Conjunto Media Luna rips through with a devilishly staccato solo that will be stuck in your head for days. — Richard Villegas
Alcolirykoz & Daymé Arocena - “Estetograma”
On their newest single, “Estetograma,” Medellin hip hop trio Alcolirykoz tap Cuban artist Daymé Arocena to help them get through grief. Cousin rappers Gambeta and Kaztro recount their life with their departed grandma Márgara, paying a heartfelt tribute to her love and hardships with every rhyme over a soulful boom-bap beat produced by El Arkeólogo. Arocena joins in with R&B vocals intermittently, praying to a higher power to guide her in a new reality without a loved one. – Cheky
Y La Bamba - “Collapse”
Some songs have every instrument fit into what seems like a puzzle full of magic. Other types of songs flow seamlessly like a moving body of water. “Collapse” is the rare track that can be described both ways, with each sound integrating a different moving part yet all coming together into a singular mood. Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos’s vocals become a balm for the listener’s ear, and emotions swell just underneath the surface. Y La Bamba’s music has always been full of wonder, but “Collapse” elevates its components to a whole new level. — Marcos Hassan