We are living through an era where more music is available to us than ever – whether it be via social media, streaming, or apps. But despite this wealth of options, it can be difficult to cut through the industry hype, the homogenizing algorithms, and find something new and exciting.
In our weekly Nuevo Noise playlist, you’ll find some of our favorite releases of the week – from the most exciting new names in urbano, to the burgeoning SoCal neo-Chicano soul wave, and everything in between.
Consider this your genre-diverse guide to the most exciting releases from rising Latinx artists each week. Follow our Nuevo Noise playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
1
Ivy Queen - “La Roca”
Ivy Queen has been celebrated throughout her career for her hard-hitting female empowerment anthems, but up until now, none of them have been set to the explosive beat of Afro-pop. “La Roca” is a dancefloor-smashing Afro-inspired track spiced up with timbales where she owns the trail she blazed for herself, comparing herself to a rock that nobody can break or get out of the way. -Cheky
2
Robie - “Contigo” prod. by Javiera Mena
Just because we haven’t heard Javiera Mena sing us a sticky reggaeton tune (yet,) it doesn’t mean she’s not comfortable producing the hell out of it for other artists. The latest single from Spanish newcomer Robie finds Mena operating behind the scenes while the former plunges us into her hedonistic world of pink, trapper keeper perreo seemingly inspired by Mean Girls and early Britney Spears videos. -Richard Villegas
3
Sotomayor - “Quema”
Mexican brother-sister duo Sotomayor are months away from releasing Orígenes, their third album and Wonderwheel Recording debut co-produced by Eduardo Cabra, and they have finally shared its first single. “Quema” is fueled by the irresistible sounds of Colombian cumbia, living harmoniously with a glitzy electro production. It also features vocals by Puerto Rican bomba singer Totin “Arará” Agosto, who helps take this club party anthem to the streets. -Cheky
4
Lechuga Zafiro - "Sudor en Vapor"
Montevideo producer Lechuga Zafiro is always down to go further down a new road — check out his recent project candombe-electronica project F5 for proof. On “Sudor en Vapor” he shows that same sense for mixing percussion with glitchy synthetics, resulting in an improbably organic production. -Caitlin Donohue
5
Ms Nina - "Coqueta"
“Coqueta” is another upstart anthem from the “Sicaria” underground perreo standard bearer, and is impeccably tuned for a symmetric booty bounce. As Halloween 2019 comes to a close, you’re not going to want to miss the track’s video: A horror movie send-up with a rampantly kitsch finale. You wanna know what’s camp? Ms Nina is camp. -Caitlin Donohue
6
Juana Molina - “Un Día Punk”
Juana Molina injected four selections from her discography with punk steroids and compiled them into a new Crammed Discs-released EP called Forfun. One of the reworked tracks is “Un Día,” the title track from her 2008 album, and it’s deliciously unrecognizable. It retains the urgency and chaos from the original, but it’s now packed with distorted guitar and bass riffs that have us opening up the mosh pit. -Cheky
7
Gio Chamba feat Principe Q - “La Futura”
Houston cumbia duo Gio Chamba have linked up with the godfather of Texas cumbia, Principe Q, for an unexpectedly psychedelic new jam called “La Futura.” Spacey and whimsical, the track collides electro-cumbia with pan flutes and a colorful virtual reality music video that transforms the whole experience into a trip to the depths of cosmic pachanga. -Richard Villegas
8
Kiddie Gang - “Adicción”
Monterrey foursome Kiddie Gang blend their unique personalities on their new track “Adicción,” effectively making us come back to it over and over again. The Phynx-produced R&B/trap track goes from tender vocals to intense rapping, and tryies to make sense of a relationship that is as addictive as a drug— as it feels so good but does them so much harm. -Cheky
9
SUPIČIĆ feat. Tomassetti and Fer Casillas - “Ladrones”
Mexico’s bedroom-R&B wave is maturing beautifully, seemingly pouring bigger budgets, bravado and killer features into every new release. Supičić are a perfect example of this growing polish, conceiving of a sleek and sexy trap-flavored R&B bop in “Ladrones,” with its rapid fire rhymes from Tomassetti and angelic vocal runs from Fer Casillas. It all coalesces into a glossy, dangerous romantic epic of Bonnie and Clyde proportions. -Richard Villegas
10
Elmar Bete - "Sola"
A true coming together of modern Dominican music icons, these three figures are here with a track that’s like a metaphorical blue flame, lit and creepy at the same time. Mediopicky delivers hushed verses under the production of Diego Raposo for something you won’t be able to hear anywhere else. Inspired by sleep paralysis, “Sola” features some great use of the triplet flow against minimalist beats, giving us the creeps in the best possible way. -Marcos Hassan
11
Dom La Nena - "Oiseau Sauvage"
Just in time for the spooky season, Brazilian-born French musician Dom La Nena is gifting us with a track that will help you soundtrack these chilling nights of horror. True to form, “Oiseau Sauvage” features string plucking for a sense of suspense and ice-cold keyboard chords floating around like if it wanted to one-up The Nightmare Before Christmas score, but there’s also a lot of playfulness within the song to keep it fun as well as dark. -Marcos Hassan
12
Brainstory - "Dead End"
This trio of stoners keeps on giving us good vibes that sound straight out of a record crate digger’s dream. Their jazzy and funky music communicates a laid back feeling that’s difficult to fake, while the vocals will have you singing along in a state of hypnotic happiness. Bonus points go to the startling video that contrasts nicely with the sunshine pop vibes of “Dead End.” -Marcos Hassan