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 Zabdiel with Mar Lucas and Seven Kayne, iiis, and Marineros. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Zabdiel, Mar Lucas, Seven Kayne - “Película”
CNCO’s Zabdiel is making a name for himself. The Puerto Rican music chameleon enlisted the Spanish social media star Mar Lucas and the Argentinian artist Seven Kayne on “Película,” where he showcases an emotional side of him carried through a Rauw Alejandro-like synth-pop earworm. The beat oozes an ‘80s groove with a pulsating beat that will have you on the dancefloor. Unlike his first solo single, “AVENTURA,” the BPM switches up and sprinkles in trap elements to emphasize the artist’s verses, giving us a different taste of his musical abilities. Point blank: If this is what Zabdiel’s future projects will sound like, we’re in. – Jeanette Hernandez
Marineros - “Salvaje y Tierno”
On their first album in nearly eight years, Chilean power-yearners Marineros have stripped back their already sparse dreampop sound into a raw manifesto of burning desire titled Al calor de un sol que acaba de morir. Collaborating once again with pop production Midas, Cristián Heyne, the pair of Cer and Sol double-down on their knack for torch song majesty, notably on the gossamer “Salvaje y Tierno.” The confessional track slows down the BPMs as the emotions accelerate, unpacking the ravaging intimacy of a relationship’s between-the-lines moments in evocative, cinematic fashion. – Richard Villegas
iiis - "Destello"
iiis (pronounced “ay ay ays”) amp up the melancholia on their latest single, “Destello.” While earlier singles like “Dientes” featuring Mexico City’s Kirnbauer boasted the density and mystique of a Cocteau Twins B-side, the more experimental “Destello” builds off of quivering guitar loops and a deep, creeping bassline. Singer and musician Estrella del Sol, aka Estrella Sánchez of shoegaze duo Mint Field, adds to the ethereality with fluttery vocals. – Nayeli Portillo
Montañera - "Tú - El Borde de Mi Arista"
It’s safe to say that no one quite sounds like Montañera. The London-via-Bogotá artist has a peculiar and highly original way to express feelings through sound. A prime example of this is “Tú – El Borde De Mi Arista,” a song that takes the basic elements of R&B — rich vocal melodies, lush chords, raw sentiments — and inserts it into an almost ambient format, with gentle percussions, long chords, and electronics giving us interesting sonic elements. The song is arranged to microscopic detail, with soundscapes rising and falling like waves to punctuate every lyric Montañera delivers, emphasizing the huge emotions found in this experimental track. — Marcos Hassan
Luna Luna - “La Tormenta”
Undoubtedly, a standout from Luna Luna’s new EP L.L. is “La Tormenta.” While it still has traces of the group’s indie-pop DNA, the bilingual song delves more into house music, which can be a fruitful lane for the Texas-based quartet to explore further in the future. Singing about wanting to embrace everything and the kitchen sink about a person, “La Tormenta” is a song you can’t help but let loose to. After being pieced together through voice memos in a McDonald’s drive-thru, it proves that the best inspiration — like a bolt of lightning — can strike anywhere. — Chelsea Quezada
Baby Pau - “Filis en Mis Nalgas”
Baby Pau has been a regular in the Puerto Rican indie trap scene for a while now, bringing her winking lyrics and catchy hooks to a space that’s been welcoming more female artists, especially those of her caliber. This week, she drops “Filis en Mis Nalgas,” which parlays its cheeky title into an irresistible singalong track about the irreverent ways a relationship can be fun. Produced by fellow trapper HF Diez and with an accompanying video that includes a bevy of female artists, models, and influencers backing her up (no pun intended), Baby Pau may have just found her anthem. — Juan J. Arroyo
Virlán García, Daniel Vazquez, Gael Gallegos - “Coronamos”
The Mexican crooner Virlán García teamed up with Daniel Vazquez and Gael Gallegos on their newest collaboration, “Coronamos.” The new downtempo música mexicana track is influenced by corridos tumbados with a melancholic string touch that gives them a more alternative twist. Together, the trio injects a sad boy vibe that counters the alt-corrido singing about the lavish lifestyles they’re currently enjoying. “Coronamos” is part of García’s upcoming musical project Corridos Alternativos, which we’re curious to listen to. – Jeanette Hernandez
Empress Of - “Kiss Me (feat. Rina Sawayama)"
As Lorely Rodriguez, aka Empress Of, continues her run supporting Rina Sawayama’s Hold the Girl Tour throughout the U.S., the Honduran-American and the British-Japanese artists join forces on “Kiss Me.” It’s the first preview of Rodriguez’s upcoming new full-length, and it’s pure pop goodness. Their voices sit on the moody piano strokes and throwback beat like they’ve always belonged together while singing about pouring their unconditional love down somebody as long as they’re willing to reciprocate. – Cheky
Matilda - “Bailando en la tempestad”
For nearly 20 years, Argentine electropop band Matilda has championed their local scene in the city of Rosario with a whimsical cocktail of shimmering synths and deadpan poetry. On the title track from their new album Bailando en la tempestad, disco, synthpop, and surrealistic storytelling bleed into each other as our narrator unspools memories of a defunct romance. Melancholy abounds, but so does gratitude for every minute spent dancing in the rain. – Richard Villegas
Sofia Campos - “Rua Lisboa”
Each of Argentine singer and songwriter Sofia Campos’s songs beam with the grace of a golden hour sunset. Sung entirely in Portuguese, “Rua Lisboa” shimmers with bright acoustic chords and angelic “oohs” that reach Bon Iver heights. Written and recorded during her time living in Los Angeles, “Rua Lisboa” arrives as a previously unreleased bonus track off of last month’s stunning Lisboa. – Nayeli Portillo
Amor Muere - "LA"
With “LA,” the supergroup formed by experimental musicians Mabe Fratti, Camille Mandoki, Concepcion Huerta, and Gibrana Cervantes demonstrates how they balance mood, melody, and experimentation. In their new song, strings provide the rhythm while deep atmospherics ricochet in the background. Vocally, the track is a whirlwind of melodies and harmonies that weave in and out from each other, giving us warm and chilling vibes. Amor Muere proves that, even though each of the members of the band has their own unquestionable talent, the sum of their parts can create unique and otherworldly music. — Marcos Hassan
Adrie - “Japón”
Ahead of the release of Adrie’s debut EP Motel Kilomango, she dropped her newest single, “Japón.” The Mexican and Spanish singer-songwriter showcases her transformative journey after the end of a relationship, holding optimism for her newfound freedom. Sonically, the track features a variety of percussion instruments commonly heard in Japanese music, in addition to a consistent bassline. The music video features animated sequences that see Adrie as an anime character and the use of origami. East-Asian influences are not so common in Latine music, so Adrie’s incorporation of it in “Japón” feels fresh and compelling. — Chelsea Quezada
water - “mi amiga y yo”
With three albums and an equal number of EPs released in less than one year, water (stylized in lowercase) has certainly earned the right to tout their productivity. Thankfully, the quality holds up just as well, with the Puerto Rico native being one of the more talented indie hip-hop acts to pop up in the last year. Their new EP, dios bendiga el odio, continues their tack of laying down breakneck raps over chopped soul and jazz samples, and the results are often exhilarating. On “mi amiga y yo,” water’s freestyle flow breaks against the beat, dousing the listener in lyrics that feel both flippant and fresh. — Juan J. Arroyo