Art by Alan Lopez for Remezcla
Every week, we highlight some of our favorite releases in a handy list. Although we try to cover as much new music as possible, there are so many stellar releases to talk about. Consider this our genre-diverse guide to songs we have on repeat.
Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Los Angeles’ Inner Wave call themselves a psych rock band, but with “Whoa,” their collaboration with Long Beach’s Bane’s World, they have evolved their mutant style just enough to scratch the surface of glossy, hip-hop-tinged pop. “Somethings were made to last awhile,” singer Pablo Sotelo chants. Just like this song. –Cheky
Barcelona producer AWWZ keeps us thirsty, but her self-described “shower music” has been coming at a trickle in recent years. Refreshingly, this track is a look at what she can do with a slightly more upbeat clip and summer-sweet Afrobeats seduction from Ghanian vocalist Yaw Mini. –Caitlin Donohue
Arguably, there’s no bigger gamble for a song than whistling. You can count on one hand the songs that succeed, but most fail miserably. Madrid’s The Parrots go all in with an easygoing whistle hook for this mid-tempo garage rocker full deception and desperation, and they pull it off effortlessly. Plus, here’s an underlying dread behind the track’s happy-go-lucky exterior. –Marcos Hassan
Argentina’s Joyaz live in an existential plane where the 80s never really went away and today’s pop music remains intact. It’s a limbo of post-millennial ennui where sadness and dancing co-exist in glossy, neon tones. “Salvaje” will have you memorizing the lyrics and singing along in no time, which makes it a no. 1 hit in a parallel universe not too different from our own. –Marcos Hassan
A transatlantic connection from Venezuela to the Canary Islands emerges thanks to “Sirope,” a new joint track by Akapellah and Bejo. Riding a smooth G-funk-splashed instrumental by Nico Miseria, the pair raps about nothing in particular, making this song the perfect companion for those laid-back moments when you just need to burn one and kick it. –Cheky
NYC-based, Caracas-raised artist MPeach is at her best tracing the outlines of Afro-Caribbean, electronic rhythms. Her latest single was created with analog hardware and an MPC sampler before getting a digital gloss – a collage meant to communicate the history of the dembow riddim. Do you hear the throwback? –Caitlin Donohue
They said it couldn’t be done – that you’d never get a higher octane out of Daddy Yankee’s 2004 contribution to humanity. But Uruguay’s Pobvio and pump partner Iñaki didn’t listen, and shot “Gasolina” through with Metallica’s “Fuel.” Call it an obvious mash-up — we’re still betting on this track’s power of ignition. –Caitlin Donohue
Mexico collective Tau have released a new compilation full of digital stunners for rhythm lovers who are looking for adventure. “Comisión Federal” is a clear highlight, thanks to its broken dembow riddim and prominent use of digital cowbell. It’ll send shocks down your spine and have you perreando the right way, even before DJ Chedraui drops Wisin y Yandel’s hot lava classic “Llamé Pa’ Verte” vocals to raise the temperature. –Marcos Hassan
Hazy power pop from Brazil sung sweetly and driven by brash guitars, Oxy blend traditions in a way few could imagine, resulting in rock music that’s complex yet enjoyable from the moment the first chord hits your ears. “Realdaze” is bittersweet candy best enjoyed late at night in a dark room. –Marcos Hassan
NYC-based Mexican artist Marrón is following up his successful debut album with a song to make us dream about finally finding a place we can call home. Produced by former Los Amigos Invisibles member Cheo Pardo, “No Other Place” is a feel-good hit adorned with acoustic percussion and electronic embellishments, where Marrón acts like a tender voice of conscience reminding us to seize the moment. –Cheky
Ecuadorian artist Paola Navarrete closes her new album Verde Fugaz with the gorgeous “Éramos,” a moving composition that grows from a delicate trip-hop spark to an epic pop-rock supernova. It’s a four-minute out-of-body experience that makes us float and see the past, present, and future of the relationship she sings about from above, complete with all the passion and insecurities. You’ll live it as though it’s your own. –Cheky