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
Nomi Ruíz - “Cocaino”
Nomi Ruíz has been one of the brightest stars of the NYC underground for years, first gaining mainstream attention during her tenure fronting glitzy electro-club band Hercules & Love Affair and later with the sultry wiles of her nightlife goddess persona, Jessica 6. However, newcomers might be unfamiliar with Ruíz’s sinuous R&B and hip-hop roots, which she puts on full display with new single “Cocaino” – both a slow burning confessional about how sex can be as intoxicating as any other drug, and the first taste of her upcoming album Jet Black. -Richard Villegas
2
Darell - “No Vuelvas Mas”
The gruff-voiced “Te Boté” co-originator — old heads will remember him from the short-lived duo Belto & Darell — unleashes a bachatón banger with cheeky lyrics that invoke King-Kong metaphors to describe the conquest of a desirable baby. Darell’s first solo single in over a year also takes us back to the sound of mid 2000s bachaton, while he pulls a double shift as singer-rapper. -Caitlin Donohue
3
Lido Pimienta - "No Pude"
Fans of this Colombian-born singer thrilled to her first drop since 2016’s La Papessa album. Per usual, Pimienta’s voice surges powerfully, this time in the key of dread over current events in her home country. The track’s timing is astute. Recent #21N worker protests over the elimination of pension plans have been brutally suppressed by the Colombian government, and snowballed into civilian uprisings over corruption. Pimienta is not the only one stretching to comprehend Colombian futures at the moment. -Caitlin Donohue
4
Linda Sjöquist - “Pasado”
Malmö-based Venezuelan singer/songwriter Linda Sjöquist (previously known as Cancioneira and …Al Cruzar La Calle) quietly picked up her guitar in the early morning to make this gentle exercise on devotion. “Pasado” is a quiet folk song where she thanks her significant other for loving her and spending time with her, and she sounds so honest our hearts are weeping. -Cheky
5
Edgar Mondragón - "Tonight" Feat. Forecast in Rome
After releasing two excellent EPs earlier this year, Mexico City producer Edgar Mondragón has just unveiled his final ambient meditation of 2019. Despite alleging this is his most pop effort to date, the centerpiece of “Tonight” continues to lie in Mondragón’s ability to summon and shape subtle sonic textures into rousing and unexpectedly accessible set pieces. On “Tonight,” the producer enlists the future-R&B talents of Forecast in Rome, who contribute a substantial dose of gauzy vocal melancholy to the producer’s already moody canvas. -Richard Villegas
6
Masoniería - "Tengo Tu Número Apuntado En Un Folio"
Masoniería’s debut single “Tengo Tu Número Apuntado En Un Folio” might remind you of a classic pop number from a bygone era by virtue of its straightforward synth-pop structure and delightfully unfussy storytelling. She’s singing about writing her crush’s phone number on an old receipt, for crying out loud! And honestly, that’s the retro charm of it all. Temporarily straying from her duties as bassist for Papa Topo and collaborating with Hidrogenesse on production, Sònia Montoya has taken a sunny and endearing first step into the spotlight. -Richard Villegas
7
Mercuriana - “Agua, Arena, Sol y Viento”
Like fellow travelers in the ancestral planes of Prehispanic culture, Bogotá’s Mercuriana finds much common ground with many nu-cumbia exponents on labels like ZZK; which means we get to hear a bit of Andean sound along with the more contemporary melodic elements of the project’s music. Mercuriana does this with the added warmth of acoustic instrumentation that connects them to the Earth’s elements in a very satisfying way. -Marcos Hassan
8
Lao Ra & C. Tangana - "Picaflor"
C. Tangana has had a big 2019 and seems determined to finish the year strong. During Thanksgiving week, the singer turned in this fraught duet with Colombian, London-based singer Lao Ra. “Picaflor”’s lyrics tell of a desperate attraction to “la flor más linda del lugar”, but its claustrophobic video is worth watching for the pair’s ridiculous chemistry and thoroughly gothic climax. -Caitlin Donohue
9
Tomasa del Real feat. Tech Grl - "420"
There’s no one better at emitting marihuanera sex drive than Tomasa, and here she teams with Neoperreo protegé Tech Grl for the best late night directive issued from digi-reggaeton’s corner in a minute: “Yo no quiero after, quiero el sex,” she said, over a beat by Chilean producer Nass G. Curfew is in effect. -Caitlin Donohue
10
Eter Montés y La Onsa - “Delmar”
Bedroom pop has become the sound of a certain generation at the turn of the decade, which has made it become almost like a cliché. Argentina’s Eter Montés y La Onsa are attempting a new way to approach said limited sound, finding a way to inject sophistication that makes their music seem grand yet intimate. “Delmar” shows significant influence from jazz’s harmonic composition and the lo-fi beats place them in the same league as prime-era trip-hop, yet every element is chill as fuck. This is music to feel sad with a killer martini in hand. -Marcos Hassan
11
Kibi James - “Cada Día”
Atlanta’s Kibi James look for the roots of their shared identity through their highly catchy take on psych guitar music. There are strains of Latin America and Africa in their sound, but “Cada Día” strips it down to the barest of easy-going melodic takes of Latinx soul. Their awareness of its roots in the 60s give it reassurance and a sense of calmness that feels electric. Bliss yourself with perfect breezy pop music. -Marcos Hassan
12
DrefQuila - “Nadie Va A Molestar”
When it comes to relationships in the current hyperconnected reality, DrefQuila has the perfect recipe for making things work, and he now shares it with us on his new single “Nadie Va A Molestar.” Pairing up Afro-pop elements with a Caribbean feel, the Chilean singer is all about finding time and space in his day to generate intimate moments with his loved one away from any distractions. -Cheky
13
Solo Fernández - “Multicolor II”
Off from their 2019 debut album Multicolor, Dominican quartet Solo Fernández’s new single “Multicolor II” is a magnetic pop-rock jam that urges us to get up on our feet and dance. While the beat is fast, singer Giancarlo Rojas actually begs his lover to slow things down while he desperately tries to understand them and figure them out. Good luck with that! -Cheky