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.
Follow our Nuevo Noise playlists featuring these tracks and more on Apple Music and Spotify.
Omar Apollo - "Stayback"
While we’re still waiting for Omar Apollo to finally announce his debut album, the Indiana artist keeps on bringing the funk, now with a single titled “Stayback.” Apollo gets his falsetto in full gear, injecting the ballad with all the soul it needs to highlight his lyrics that deal with getting over unrequited love and failed relationships. This is a high mark in Apollo’s discography to date. –Cheky
Jessie Reyez - "BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US"
Perched on that precipice between love and resignation, “BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL” spins out a tale of a relationship that crushed itself, retro guitars establishing Reyez’ reminisce of “June in the West End” as pure nostalgia for a ship that seems to have sailed. You don’t remember 2016’s “Figures?” Songwriter Reyez long ago established her prowess in documenting the details you repeat to yourself after a breakup, in order to feel something. –Caitlin Donohue
Esteman & Daniela Spalla - "Te Alejas Más De Mí"
With their new collaborative effort “Te Alejas Más De Mí,” Colombia’s Esteman and Argentina’s Daniela Spalla show us a heartbreaking picture of fading love. A minimalist take on a ’70s chanson française ballad. Featuring Adan Jodorowsky on production duties, the track finds the singers reflecting on a relationship that, even though love still exists, it ultimately has to end for their own sake. –Cheky
AQUIHAYAQUIHAY - "MUACK"
With “Muack,” the Mexican boy band gives us an anthem for those people at the end of a relationship, trying to move on yet have lingering feelings. The dirty trap beat and delivery ooze of attitude and horniness with the five members of AQUÍHAYAQUÍHAY sing-rap their kiss-off to a lover, taking turns boasting how better off they will be without them while hinting of regret. The results are bopping, yet a sense of sadness makes it a repeat listen. –Marcos Hassan
Savi – "Milkshake"
Chilean newcomer Savi just dropped her debut EP Sombra, a bass heavy record teaming with sumptuous collisions of trap, R&B, acoustic guitar, and sweet confessional lyrics spinning bilingual tales of heartbreak and bag-securing ambition. Among the EP’s many highlights, you’ll find “Milkshake,” a vulnerable cut where the Vancouver-based singer and producer mourns for a defunct romance, bouncing between evocative vocal runs and swaggy raps about longing for the stomach fluttering of happier times. –Richard Villegas
Alex Ferreira - "Una Fecha En El Calendario"
Following his single “No Se Rompe,” Alex Ferreira has a new balm suited for these pandemic times called, “Una Fecha En El Calendario.” A hopeless romantic at heart, Ferreira conjures Dominican sounds and a whole lot of Mexico City imagery to tell us a vivid tale of two newfound lovers who are ready to follow each other to every single last corner of the Earth. –Cheky
Belmar & Sotomayor - “Solamente”
Venezuelan producer Belmar has a long list of singles and a full-length that prove his mastery in the R&B department, but he has now paired up with Mexico’s Sotomayor to give us his first song entirely in Spanish, a Caribbean-inspired jam to daydream to. Singer Paulina Sotomayor can’t get her crush out of her mind, and together with the bubbly reggaeton-inspired beat, it’s just one big endorphin rush. –Cheky
Bianca Oblivion - "Bubble Pon Di Bed"
Producer and longtime DJ Bianca Oblivion brings this surprising dancehall cut, featuring Puerto Rican MC XL Mad, decidedly into LA club territory. Following her thundering first single release in March, “Bumbum Pra Cá,” “Bubble Pon Di Bed” is a clean track for dirty moves. –Caitlin Donohue
Dr. Honey - "Nana"
Colombian duo Dr. Honey are making a buzzy splash with their second single “Honey,” an acid techno fantasy about portals to other worlds and the soothing energy of the moon. Following the success of their debut “Loud,” the producers and real life sisters from the city of Pasto, in Southern Colombia, are rapidly developing a sonic signature of aggressive techno beats, ghostly chants and nigh industrial grit. Keep your eyes peeled because Dr. Honey will be spinning at massive festival tents before you know it. –Richard Villegas
Gabriel Rammsy - "El Cortejo" (feat. Chini.png)
Chilean singer-songwriter Gabriel Rammsy has released his long-teased debut album Imaginación Activa, summoning a wildly diverse cast of collaborators, including pop singer María Colores, visual artist Cecilia Rojas, and ascending trap wunderkind Gianluca. One of the album’s high points comes with “El Cortejo,” where Rammsy enlists the guitar prowess and gauzy vocals of Chini.png–the dynamic storyteller behind folk-rock outfit Chini and the Technicians and now a burgeoning solo career. The track is a sunny, lighthearted bout of pop experimentation reminiscent of El Guincho’s Alegranza days, mixing champeta guitars, sitar, and hypnotic vocal loops for a euphoric concoction of South American tropi-pop. –Richard Villegas
Velvet Hallucinations & the Furry Animals - "Artes Marciales"
The aptly named Uruguayan psych pop band invites us to take a gentle stroll on a particularly trippy Sunday afternoon. There’s enough melody in the languid “Artes Marciales” to send your thoughts into infinity. The song’s hooks work effortlessly over the Beatles meets Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd with production reminiscent of Flaming Lips in their prime. Velvet Hallucinations & the Furry Animals display a song full of imagination and musicality that will stick with you for days. –Marcos Hassan
Mock The Zuma - "Duna Tifón"
Finding depth within the inherent rhythm of ancient strings and flutes, Mexico’s Mock The Zuma uses these elements subtly to bring us a lush and expansive track that plainly bangs. “Duna Tifón” is a slow built track that takes its time before 808 kicks rumble the speakers with a mid-tempo bass groove. The song blossoms like a flower in the jungle, with the initial urgency of turning into a pleasant stroll through a futuristic landscape. –Marcos Hassan
Las Abejas - "Al Frente"
Balancing urgency with delicacy, Puerto Rico’s Las Abejas presents us with a paradox that is easy on the ears. “Al Frente” is post punk that relishes on its melody through its effective guitar interplay. It’s just a bit yelpier than you would like around polite company, but will satisfy that sophisticated new wave and first wave rock en Español can scratch. Just like the real deal. –Marcos Hassan