This is a weekly compilation of bite-sized song & EP reviews from our music writers. Discover new favs, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases & more. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Xenia Rubinos – "Cógelo Suave"
Mimicking the emotional waves of quarantine, Xenia Rubinos has graced us with a new single, “Cógelo Suave.” Highlighting the eclectic nature of the artist, the jazz-inspired track ruminates in electric chaos as her vocals scat to provide an aura of warmth and calming reassurance. “Just work it out,” she asserts to the listener throughout, lifelines to help remind us to stay afloat through the turbulent process. At the end, the assembly of sounds faint to a pacified melody bringing reassurance that everything will be okay after all. —Jeanette Diaz
Tatiana Hazel – “Tired of Being Myself”
Most of us have felt that craving to break from the quotidian, and so has Tatiana Hazel, a self-described “weirdo” who struggles to fit in. On “I’m Tired of Being Myself,” the Chicago-based alt-pop artist spotlights that feeling in synth-driven shifts from analytical verses to euphoric releases. “Maybe I just wanna take a break, make a few mistakes, make a couple friends along the way,” he sings about her need to relax for a moment or lifetime. Abandoning all isn’t plausible for most, and Hazel doesn’t truly want to; she describes the feeling in a press release as belonging to those “dumb vulnerable moments.” But simply speaking the feeling out loud does a lot to scratch the itch. —Jhoni Jackson
Ambar Lucid – “Get Lost in The Music”
Ambar Lucid has just announced her new EP Get Lost in The Music by sharing the title track, in which she references ‘60s Latin rock to take us on a psychedelic trip with a poppy edge. The Dominican-Mexican artist sounds more confident than ever, giving us a musical space we can really get lost in to leave behind all the negative things that weigh on us. —Cheky
Natalia Lafourcade & Rubén Blades – "Tú Si Sabes Quererme" ft. Mare Advertencia Lirika
Just when remakes seemed to be played out, Natalia Lafourcade unveils an all-star banger that reimagines one of her best songs. The singer-songwriter invites Latino music legend Rubén Blades to transform the Musas single into a delicious duet, giving it a slight Caribbean spin, and even bringing Zapoteca rapper Mare Advertencia Lirika to slay a verse of her own. The result is as much an expansion as it is a celebration of what makes Lafourcade a constant favorite. —Marcos Hassan
The Marías – “Hush”
LA-based band The Marías have been switching things up in their last couple of singles, but for the first preview off their long-awaited debut album Cinema, dropping on June 5, they completely flipped the script. “Hush” sounds miles apart from the breezy feel-good jams we’re used to getting from the band; instead, they show us a dark, slick and more seductive side, going into a subtle but sharp bragging mode to let somebody know they’re in a league of their own. —Cheky
Luna Luna – “Golden”
After exploring their sensitive side on 2019’s Carousel EP, Dallas sweater-pop heartthrobs Luna Luna are stepping into their swaggy greatness with a groovy new single titled “Golden.” The track opens on some chicha-flavored guitar before switching gears with a velvety bass line, boastful bars and vintage harmonies led by Danny Bonilla, getting an additional boost when Pretty Boy Aaron drops in for a sexy guest verse. Aiming for maximum drip, the Ash Rosas-directed music video blasts the band to Las Vegas where they show off some fancy footwork bathed in the strip’s glorious neon lights. —Richard Villegas
Pabllo Vittar – “Ama Sofre Chora”
Less than one year after her last album, 111, Pabllo Vittar gets back on track with Brabo Music, her music-making team formed by DJs, producers and songwriters that aren’t ashamed to bridge pop and popular music. In “Ama Sofre Chora,” Pabllo brings together the bachata, high-pitched guitars and crushing drums of arrocha—the Brazilian music genre for those who are heartbroken. The chorus is a whole-hearted confession: “piranha também chora,” or “bitches also cry.” Finally, the snippet after the end of the music video gives us a hint that there’s more to come. —Felipe Maia
Riel – “Blanco y Negro”
While summer is getting closer in the northern hemisphere, down south, winter is coming, so it’s fitting that the Argentina duo Riel has come through with a sad, alt-rock track. “Blanco y Negro” finds the band playing into their melancholic side while keeping their guitars sharp and distorted as they share some of their catchiest vocals to date. Even if summer is nearing in your part of the world, “Blanco y Negro” is the kind of jam for those of us who can’t help but sigh every now and then. —Marcos Hassan
REYNA – “Quarantine Baby”
There’s only one thing to do with the abundance of time and lack of companionship quarantine has left us with, and that’s write an endearing love song to help ease the void. REYNA moves from their typical electro-pop to a more delicate indie sound to deliver a sentimental serenade that celebrates the desire to stay connected against all odds. Reading like an invitation into a personal phone call between lovers, the bilingual lyrics follow a lost-in-a-daydream train of thought of what days feel like without one another. —Jeanette Diaz
Branko & Iúri Oliveira – “CTG”
Lisbon-based producer Branko made his musical debut to the world in 2011 with “Hangover,” a dancefloor banger fusing frantic Angolan kuduro with EDM drops and kicks. Always connecting dots in the Global South electronic music, Branko hasn’t stopped working since then, but he gets a chill vibe more often now. The single “CTG,” an acronym for “contigo” or “with you” in Portuguese, orbits around breezy keys and entangled rhythmics driven by musician Iúri Oliveira. It’s a warm-up single cooked with the refinement of an experienced producer and the inventiveness of a virtuoso percussionist. —Felipe Maia
Elia Ezker – “Arcoíris”
Life in our increasingly chaotic world can feel overwhelming, which is why Seattle-based singer-songwriter Elia Ezker has returned to the airwaves with a poignant reminder to breathe and persevere. “Arcoíris” is the third single from Ezker’s forthcoming album, stepping away from the prismatic synthpop of previous releases and delving into a darker, kraut-influenced sound. The track takes a philosophical approach to the bleakness of modern living, finding solace in the fact that torrential rain is always followed by a rainbow. —Richard Villegas